ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Nick Fairley reached his arms out to the side, pretending to be an airplane, while weaving in and out as he ran to the next drill during the Detroit Lions practice Tuesday.
The question, of course, is whether Air Fairley is going to crash.
Fairley, a defensive tackle, was back on the field for the Lions' OTA workout, just two days after being arrested in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., for driving under the influence of alcohol and eluding police while being clocked at 100 mph.
Fairley's teammate, receiver Titus Young, also returned to practice Tuesday after missing OTA sessions last week because of an incident in which Young sucker-punched safety Louis Delmas during an off-field workout.
Such is life these days with the Lions, who have become one of the NFL's more troubled teams this offseason.
The Lions have 90 players on their current roster, but four of them — all members of the 2011 draft class — are getting all of the attention lately, and none of it good.
Coach Jim Schwartz said he's concerned, angry and disappointed. He's also tired of it.
"I think what we have here is a case of a few guys tainting the reputations of a lot of others," Schwartz said. "There's a difference between affecting yourself and affecting your own reputation, and affecting your teammates and affecting the organization. That's the line that we've crossed over.
"The story of a few has taken over for the good story, which is the whole group. It's disappointing when our story's not about guys like Matt Stafford, Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, Jeff Backus, Rob Sims . . . and I can keep going on. That's the majority of this team."
Young released a statement apologizing for his actions, but neither he nor Fairley was available for comment. Both were escorted off the field by security to avoid the media.
General manager Martin Mayhew also declined comment.
It's the second time Fairley has been arrested in less than two months. He was charged with marijuana possession in Mobile in early April.
In all, Lions players have been arrested five times since the end of last season, including running back Mikel Leshoure twice for marijuana possession and offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath once for marijuana possession.
Fairley was the team's first-round pick, 13th overall, in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Lions then took Young and Leshoure in the second round and Culbreath in the seventh round.
Was the club guilty of taking too many character risks in last year's draft?
"There's a lot of other players (throughout the league) that had a lot of different issues in college that have come in and have been fantastic and that haven't had issues," Schwartz said.
"I think you have to take each case individually. Some of the issues that this class has had has been things that were on the radar with them, but then also we've had other incidents that were not part of their past.
"We have some other guys who have had issues in the past that have been able to put them behind them."
Schwartz indicated that the players' transgressions will not be forgotten easily or quickly.
He called Young's case a "work in progress."
"There's certain criteria in place for him to be able to come out and practice," Schwartz said. "He had an outstanding day of practice today. That doesn't erase the incidents that have occurred."
Schwartz was careful not to comment specifically on the arrests, but those players will be handled similarly.
"I don't think it's going to be behind them right away," Schwartz said. "There's going to be some process involved."
As for Fairley, Schwartz said, "Nick's a very talented player. He's been working very hard. None of that is going to matter if he's not available on the field for us.
Schwartz said he addressed the situation with Fairley before practice Tuesday, then with the entire team.
"Like Coach said, ‘You've got to get onboard or you're going to get left behind,' " Burleson said.
Fairley and Leshoure face possible suspensions from the league of up to four games to start the season because they are repeat offenders.
Both are high-end players who are expected to make significant contributions this season, although Leshoure is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.
"It's obviously a big concern that the problems have come up more than once for a few guys," Schwartz said. "It puts more focus on it from our standpoint."
While Young isn't in trouble with the law, he has been in the Lions' doghouse, including with some of his teammates.
Shortly before practice, the Lions released the following statement from Young:
"My recent actions have not always been up to the standards the Lions expect or the standards that I expect from myself. I am truly sorry for those times when I didn't meet those standards.
"My absence from the practice facility and the OTAs last week was necessary for both myself and the team.
"The time away from the team afforded me the opportunity to reflect and come to the realization that by putting those incidents behind me I will be able to focus on becoming the best teammate and player that I can be."
Burleson, a nine-year veteran receiver, said Young already has taken a step toward getting back in good standing.
"Right before we broke the offensive meeting, he stopped everybody and apologized," Burleson said. "A lot of guys make mistakes, but they're too stubborn to admit it. He stood up in front of everybody and said, ‘I apologize, it won't happen again.'
"That's a huge step for a young guy like that, to do that. We appreciate it as an offense, as veterans, just hearing a young guy kind of admit to setting us back a little bit. I'm pretty sure he has learned from his mistake."
Burleson then summed it up best, not only for Young but also Fairley and Leshoure:
"They've got to realize this is more precious than a rare diamond — being in the NFL, getting paid a ton of money, having all the praise in the world."
To this point, they haven't figured it out. They'd better soon or they're going to run out of chances, regardless of their potential.
