The Detroit Lions were purposefully vague in defining Chris Spielman's role when he joined the organization last December as special assistant to team president Rod Wood and owner Sheila Ford Hamp.
Spielman spearheaded the Lions' coaching and general manager searches. He traveled on the road to some college pro days. He was one of 10 people in the Lions' draft room. He met with sponsors and served as a bridge from the football to the business side of the organization.
To many, he looked like a team-president-in-training.
And since training camp, Spielman has had a very visible role on the field as a pseudo assistant inside linebackers coach.