Allen Park — The conditioning hill installed by the previous regime looms behind the north end zone at the Detroit Lions practice facility. These days, it's largely unused, other than providing a vantage point for photographers or a source of amusement for the children of players and coaches after a day of practice.
Offensive guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai certainly doesn't miss it.
"No comment," he said with a laugh when asked about it on Friday.
Sure, no 330-pounder is eager to run several sprints up an incline after a grueling day of work, but what some don't know is that hill was the source of the foot injury that derailed his first season with the Lions.