Pressers and scrums: A tugboat-sized lectern, Mahogany's absence and checking in on Jake Bates

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions were in clear need of a new podium lectern in their practice facility media room, and a recent branding partnership with Meijer offered convenient timing for an upgrade. But the new version has been the source of some early training camp comedy among reporters and on social media.

It starts with the sheer size of the lectern. I tucked a measuring tape in my backpack this morning and determined it’s nearly 67,000 cubic inches. With those dimension, it makes 6-foot-5 Lions coach Dan Campbell look like a normal-sized human being. And some of the photos taken at an angle actually make him seem quite small.

That led to some funny posts on X, including a personal favorite:

No one will be using the lectern more than Campbell, and given how much he liked to lean on, bang and tilt the previous version, the heft of the replacement eliminates the very real possibility of the coach tipping it over in a moment of animated excitement.

Keeping things light before the morning practice, I asked Campbell for a scouting report of his new Q&A situation Thursday morning.

“It’s pretty big,” Campbell said. “That’s the obvious. Apparently, this is a hot topic, right? It has a good base to it, that’s for sure. I don’t know, I don’t know what to tell you about this thing.”

Let me say this, going back and looking at the video of yesterday’s presser, it actually looks pretty great. I’d be thrilled if I was Meijer.

The concern, at nearly 4.5-feet tall, is what happens when one of the team’s shorter players are scheduled to talk? How about owner Sheila Hamp? I decided to test it out with Sports Illustrated’s John Maakaron, because he was the only one still lingering around the press room this afternoon. Needless to say, I struggled to stop laughing long enough to even snap this photo.

It makes me think the current version, in its gargantuan magnificence, might get another makeover in the coming weeks. At the very least, the team should scope out Meijer for a sturdy stepstool.

Here’s the rest of the slop from the today’s trough:

• Rookie Christian Mahogany has been absent the first two camp practices and Campbell let reporters know the lineman is out with an illness.

• The four Lions players who were placed on the non-football injury list Wednesday morning were activated in the afternoon after passing their conditioning tests. Here’s what Campbell had to say about how the conditioning test has changed since his playing days, compared against what the Lions ask of their players before they’re cleared to practice.

  “Back in the day, (with former Dallas Cowboys) coach (Bill) Parcells, we ran three 300-yard shuttles. I mean that was — you were going. It was long distance, and it was endurance. But I would say it’s changed a lot since then. Ours is more change of direction, short distances, 20, 30 yards with a change of direction in the middle and then a quick turnover for rest time. That’s really it. Everybody’s required to meet that criteria and it’s all good. Those guys are back, they’re ready to roll.”

• Campbell also offered a good zinger regarding Jameson Williams’ puking episode from the previous day’s practice.

  “As long as he keeps making those plays, he can throw up all he wants.”

• New kicker Jake Bates, fresh off a successful season with the Michigan Panthers, talked for the first time about his opportunity to join the Lions.

  “I don’t know if there was ever, like, a time (kicking in the NFL was a goal),” Bates said. “It was just always kind of a hope. And obviously I didn't get all that attention out of college, but I never gave up. I’m just super happy that I never gave up. …I think good things come to those who work hard, and what’s done in the dark is going to come to light.”

• Running back Jahmyr Gibbs did a short, five-minute press session focused on his desire to improve as a receiver. He’s been working closely with Amon-Ra St. Brown on the nuances of route running, seeking more impact in that area of the offense.

  It’s a good goal, and an even better approach. Gibbs was an electric playmaker as a rookie, but it felt like there was a lot of meat left on the bone as a receiving option. He did have 52 catches in 15 games, but only 316 yards and one touchdown.

  Gibbs noted running backs typically run 5-6 different routes, while receivers have more than a dozen. Specifically, he’s working on patience and tempo to increase his effectiveness.