When Dan Campbell was leading his new team through a conditioning test Tuesday before the start of training camp, he saw something he loved in one of the Lions' newest players: Michael Brockers.
"It was outstanding," Campbell said Wednesday.
Brockers aced the test in the first of three groups. That was the good part. This was the fun part:
"He catches his breath and after about two minutes he’s just talking trash to the rest of the guys, the next two groups," Campbell said. "It’s fun, it just is, to know that you put in the work, you got it done and now you can push your teammates and poke a them a little bit. It’s just camaraderie. It’s about being around the guys. It’s about sweating. If you want something bad enough you gotta bleed a little for it, especially in this sport. That’s what makes it worth it.
"So enjoy that, man. Sh*t, enjoy the grind. It’s not for everybody. That’s what makes it great."
"That’s just my personality, man," Brockers said Wednesday. "That’s just me. I’ve always kind of been that guy who gives (teammates) a little mess here and there, just to see where they mind at, just to see, 'Can I take that guy serious? Can I play around with this guy?' It’s just part of my personality."
This kind of spirt is what Campbell wants out of his players. He said he gave them four rules before embarking on the season in a team meeting Tuesday night: "Don’t be late, keep your weight in check, don’t disrespect your teammates and don’t disrespect this game."
"We’re going to treat these guys like men until they prove otherwise," Campbell said.
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Not much is expected of the Lions this season. But Campbell expects plenty. He wants the team to win. He wants the team to bond. Maybe most of all, he wants his team to forge an identity in his first year at the helm. That starts now.
"I’ve been around some very good coaches and some real good players, too. I feel like between myself and the staff I’ve built, we understand what winning looks like and how to get players there," he said. "We understand how to motivate players, how to push them, and then we’ll teach them the scheme. But man, just to get an attitude and a swagger and confidence, and that will go a long way."