Allen Park — When Demetrius Taylor's phone didn't ring in April, throughout the three days of the NFL draft, it was disappointing, but not unexpected. When it didn't ring Tuesday, it was both validation and relief.
Undrafted after earning first-team, all-conference honors back-to-back years at Appalachian State, the undersized defensive lineman overcame long odds to make the Detroit Lions' initial 53-man roster this week. In doing so, he avoided the dreaded call to come to the practice facility and bring his playbook.
Instead, when he showed up to work as scheduled on Tuesday, he got the news he made the team via a coach in the meeting room telling the players there this was the group they'd be "rocking with" heading into the season.