ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- After failing to make an impact move to improve their biggest weakness during the offseason, the Detroit Lions are considering adding one of the NFL's all-time best cornerbacks.
Champ Bailey, 36, a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, worked out Thursday at the Lions' practice facility, five days after becoming a free agent after he was released by the New Orleans Saints.
"We worked him out, had a good look at him," said Lions coach Jim Caldwell, who offered no details on whether the team plans to sign the 15-year veteran.
Bailey, who declined to comment when approached by reporters following his workout, played in only five regular-season games last season for Denver because of a foot injury, but he did play in the Super Bowl.
He has 52 interceptions in 215 regular-season games in his career.
The five cornerbacks currently on the Lions' 53-man roster have a combined total of 35 interceptions -- 30 by Rashean Mathis, five by Cassius Vaughn, and zero by Darius Slay, Bill Bentley and rookie Nevin Lawson.
Asked what signing Bailey would bring to the Lions, Mathis said, "Experience and knowledge. You can substitute for a lot of things but knowledge is not one of them. He knows the game. When you have that much playing experience, the coaches know you know just as much as them when it comes to on-the-field stuff."
Caldwell defended his current cast of cornerbacks, but it's widely considered a flawed group that could be the downfall for the Lions.
The position suffered a major blow when Chris Houston, re-signed last year as an unrestricted free agent with the expectation that he would be the team's No. 1 corner, suffered a severe toe injury and ended up getting released.
Slay (second-round pick in 2013), Bentley (third-round in 2012) and Lawson (fourth-round this year) were drafted by the Lions over the last three years.
Two other draft picks during that time -- Chris Greenwood (fifth-round in 2012) and Jonte Green (sixth-round in 2012) -- were released last week.
Slay, who had an inconsistent rookie year, is expected to start Monday's opener against the New York Giants, along with Mathis, while Bentley is the No. 1 nickel back.
"I think we've got a great group of guys," Caldwell said of his cornerbacks. "I think we got a group of guys who are extremely focused. They have talent. They're young. Some of them are going to have to get experience on the run."
As for whether cornerback is indeed the team's weakest position, Caldwell said, "It's not a one-position game. If the pass rush is stiff enough and tough enough, you don't have nearly as much time (for quarterbacks to throw), it sort of lessens the problem that you may have (on the back end)."
SHARP-DRESSED MAN
Rookie tight end Eric Ebron has been selected by GQ to compete in a "style war" competition with other NFL players.
The winner will donate $10,000 for the charity of his choice.
Asked if he expects to win, Ebron said, smiling, "Yeah. Duh."
"I don't know," he added. "There's some very flashy guys who have a lot more money than I do. I'm going up against some great competition. These guys are serious."
The field includes Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald, among others.
Fashion interest comes natural for Ebron.
"My dad always worked in clothing stores," he said. "It's something I grew up with."
WILD ATMOSPHERE
Monday should be quite a scene downtown with the Tigers taking on the first-place Kansas City Royals at 4 p.m. at Comerica Park and then the Lions opening their season across the street in Ford Field at 7 p.m. against the New York Giants.
"One of the things I've certainly grown to appreciate is how enthusiastic and how well the fans in our region support the teams," Caldwell said. "I had a chance to go to a hockey game earlier this year. I had a chance to go to a basketball game. I've been to a baseball game as well.
"To see the support that we've gotten even in the preseason, it's a pretty special place. I think there will be a lot of excitement, a lot of enthusiasm. It's going to be a lot of fun."
FOOLISH TALK
It's difficult enough to cover Calvin Johnson. Why make it any worse?
Walter Thurmond III, listed as a second-team cornerback for the Giants, should have just kept his mouth shut.
Here's what Thurmond, who is 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, had to say about Johnson, who is 6-5, 236 pounds, according to The Star-Ledger:
"Everyone knows he's a talented guy, you know, but being a big receiver, he has some weaknesses for sure. Being able to get in and out of his cuts and breaks and stuff.
"It takes him longer to get out of stuff where the ball is coming in and we can get out and beat him to the route, we've won that play. Whether it be a knockdown or interception, that is one of the benefits of being someone smaller than he is. There's always benefits to being able to get out of a break quicker than your man."
