Usually it's not newsworthy when a player who has been out of football for two years has a workout scheduled with the Detroit Lions. A number of players work out with the Lions and more often than not nothing comes of the workouts. Sure, sometimes players are signed, but most of the time the Lions are just compiling a list of players to keep in mind in case injuries happen and added depth is needed.
↵The case of Collin Mooney is not your typical story, which is why it is newsworthy. The former Army fullback spent the last two years completing his post-graduate obligation to the military and is now hoping to get back into football. He has a workout scheduled on Thursday with the Lions, the team that friend and fellow former Army player Caleb Campbell plays for. Oh, and adding to the intrigue is the fact that Mooney is the son-in-law of former Lions general manager Matt Millen.
↵↵↵"He's given me plenty of advice," Mooney said of Millen. "He was in the league for 13 years and he knows the business. He's got a lot of great advice he's given me. He told me what I needed to do going into camp and the way to give myself the best opportunity to stick around. He's helped me out a lot."
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Mooney's connection to Millen isn't going to win any fans over, but perhaps his record-setting numbers from his final year at Army will. Mooney set the single-season rushing record for the Black Knights in 2008 with 1,339 yards. He also rushed for nine touchdowns that season, and now he is hoping to take his game to the next level with the Lions.