Detroit Dilemna: To the Tick-Tock and Ya Don't Stop. Detroit's on the Click-Clock.

Trust me, it's hard to sit here and type these words onto the screen and keep a straight face. Like me, there are many sports writers out there who are giddy over the possibility that Detroit will take Calvin Johnson with the second pick overall in the draft. We don't want them to take Johnson because he is the best talent of all the players in the draft. We don't want them to take Johnson because Detroit has needs to fill at wide receiver (which they don't). We don't want them to take Johnson because he would be a good example for Mike Williams, who can't seem to get it through his head that the NFL is not a dog and pony show where he can use the hype of his alleged skills as a talented receiver to reach superstardom.

We want the circus.

We want to jump and shout and cheer when new commissioner, Roger Goodell, addresses the podium and recites these words: "With the second pick in the two-thousand and seven NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Calvin Johnson." We want to talk about this more than the eventual circus that will surround the alleged Michael Vick dog fight scandal. We want to collectively shout, "I knew it! They couldn't resist!" Of course, there are scenarios that suggest otherwise.

Although the Lions have shored up their offensive line with addition of lineman George Foster in the Dre Bly trade with the Broncos, they still need playmakers on the line. Wisconsin tackle, Joe Thomas, could fill that void and help protect Kitna while blocking for the plethora of running backs in Tatem Bell, Kevin Jones, and T. J. Duckett. The Lions have enough talent at the running back position to help out Kitna, who threw for over 4,000 yards last season under the direction of new offensive coordinator, Mike Martz, the mad genius of offensive schemes. With a little protection and a running game, it is conceivable that Kitna could have another big year. After all, Martz is known for his ability to work with quarterbacks, ala Kurt Warner, Trent Green, Mark Bulger, and arguably, Ryan Fitzpatrick (who showed flashes of playmaking ability). With Thomas anchoring the line, Martz and company could wreak havoc in the NFC Central.

Another possible scenario is that Detroit could work out a trade with Oakland. They could trade Josh McCown or John Kitna and the second pick overall pick for Oakland's number one pick. Oakland would then have a quarterback and be free to draft Calvin Johnson, a player that Al Davis is foaming at the mouth to have on his team. Detroit could then draft LSU's golden boy quarterback, JaMarcus Russell. I'm sure Lions fans would be happy to have a franshise quarterback like Russell sit behind Kitna or McCown for a short spell while being tutored by Mad Martz to be the future poster boy of his new version of the "greatest show on turf."

Detroit could also trade down from the second pick and draft a defensive back to address the loss of Dre Bly, or they could pick up DE Gaines Adams of Clemson. Then, they could use their second-round pick on a quarterback (Trent Edwards of Stanford). They could also trade down a couple of spots from second overall pick and draft quarterback Brady Quinn, who I'm sure Martz would love to have on his offense. That is, if Cleveland doesn't pass up Adrien Peterson and snatch him up.

Detroit could also get flustered by all of these choices, and in the heat of indecision, forget to make a pick as time runs out, prompting boos and chuckles from the crowd and a two day riot by citizens of Detroit, in which they hang voodoo pin-stuck dummies resembling Matt Millen from the lamp posts surrounding Ford Field. (This is the least likely of scenarios, although, I'm sure a FIREMATTMILLEN.com website would be promptly loaded onto the internet.)

I don't know about any of you, but once Oakland selects JaMarcus Russell and Goodell announces that "the Detroit Lions are now on the clock," I'm going to be out of my seat and chanting, "Johnson, Johnson, Johnson!" And, in my heart, I know that you will, too.