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Stafford says he’s all the way back, teammates agree

Locked Out Lions Football

Detroit Lions players, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, center in green, stretch at Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Mich., Tuesday, May 17, 2011. As the NFL’s lockout drags on, the Lions are back on the practice field, participating in informal workouts at the Detroit-area high school. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

AP

Lions fans have to be among the most annoyed in the league during the lockout.

This should be an offseason of wild, over-the-top optimism for the fans of the downtrodden franchise. Instead, we’re worried about whether there will actually be a football season and the young Lions aren’t able to fully practice together. At least not formally.

The Lions wrapped up four days of workouts this week at Detroit Country Day High School, and they plan to reconvene later in the offseason. The most notable item from the sessions: People are excited about Matthew Stafford again.

“I don’t think anybody even remembers he was hurt,” center Dominic Raiola told Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News. “He slings it. You hear it whizzing by your ear. He’s above 100 percent.”

We remember. It’s the one thing that could dim the growing optimism about the franchise under Jim Schwartz. Stafford, for one, sounds very happy to be back on the field and says he could play an NFL game this weekend.

“Oh, yeah, I’m good,” Stafford said. “I feel good as ever, like I’m right where I want to be.”