If the Lions are going to trade for Jay Cutler, there's a good chance it'll happen this week.

The NFL's annual meetings run today through Wednesday in Dana Point, Calif., and most of the league's important decision-makers will be in attendance. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand are there, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is expected as well, and no one would be surprised if Cutler's agent Bus Cook had urgent business matters to tend to on the west coast.

The Lions are one of a reported 10 teams that have contacted the Broncos about acquiring Cutler, a Pro Bowl quarterback whose incessant whining has made him persona non grata in Denver. Neither Mayhew nor head coach Jim Schwartz would acknowledge any interest in Cutler last week, but the Lions' most glaring need is at quarterback and chances don't come around every day to acquire a 25-year-old proven commodity.

“Nothing planned out there,” Mayhew said in a conference call when asked about his agenda for the meetings. “I'll just go and see where we are. CBA wise, that's important, obviously. Get an update on that. Hopefully meet the new union chief. But nothing planned, nothing major planned right now.”

ESPN reaffirmed Sunday morning that the Broncos would need a starting quarterback, a first-round pick and “maybe something else” to get any deal done. That limits the number of realistic suitors, but the Lions have enough draft-pick ammunition to be in the mix. (As a side note, I'm still not convinced Cutler's going anywhere, and if he does, Cleveland with Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson and possibly a renegotiated Shaun Rogers is the favorite. The Lions probably would need to involve a third team.)

Two years ago, Detroit talked trade with Kansas City for quarterback Trent Green at the league meetings. The same year, Philadelphia worked out a deal with Buffalo for linebacker Takeo Spikes. If the Broncos are serious about moving Cutler, history tells us something could happen soon.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• Now that linebacker Takeo Spikes has officially spurned the Lions — he signed with San Francisco late Sunday— it's time for the Lions to figure out which middle linebacker will change positions. The way I see it, there's two choices. Either Paris Lenon moves from starting middle linebacker to starting on the strong side, or Jordon Dizon moves from Lenon's backup to the SAM position, where he'd eventually start as well. In my opinion, Buster Davis is a backup middle linebacker, either to Lenon or Dizon.

• For the 100th time this camp, defensive coordinator Joe Barry said Monday a change of position has not even been approached yet, though he acknowledged it could happen. "We'll keep however many linebackers we keep, six or seven," Barry said. "Those will be the best six or seven linebackers. And the three guys that start will be the three best linebackers that we have on this team." Dizon, the rookie second-round pick, isn't in the top three yet, but he will be by the end of the year. He needs to be on the field. Barry said he wouldn't expect a player to change positions and be ready to start a week later at their new spot. In other words, if Dizon stays in the middle until cut day Aug. 30, it's unlikely he'll start on the strong side in the season opener Sept. 7. "We've still got three preseason games left to play," Barry said. "There's not been any talk of moving anybody, middle linebackers included, to another position."

• Dizon put a great spin move on Sean McHugh in a one-on-one blocking drill today. In the drill, a running back stands seven yards from an oncoming linebacker and tries to prevent him from reaching a nearby tackling dummy. Kevin Smith fared well in protection, winning battles with Lenon and Leon Joe but getting steamrolled by Ernie Sims.

• Sims, by the way, is virtually unstoppable in the drill. He practices with such violence and intensity it's fun to see.

• Coaches aren't standing for any penalties in camp after having six in the preseason opener. Michael Gaines false-started on one play and was immediately replace. Same with John Owens a few plays later.

• Fullback Jon Bradley and receiver Taye Biddle were held out of practice Monday for injury reasons. Owens, Cory Redding and Calvin Johnson were back after resting minor ailments, and safety Daniel Bullocks, tight end Dan Campbell and receiver Shaun McDonald came off the physically unable to perform list. Campbell will be a welcome addition to both the passing and running games this year.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• A few familiar faces returned to the practice field Monday morning for the Lions. Ernie Sims was back after missing a week with a bruised right knee. The plan was for him to take things easy, but he was out there dotting teammates. He collared Mike Furrey around the neck on one pass and popped Tatum Bell in the flat on another. "Got a little stress out of me," he said. Sims will not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Giants.

• Guard Edwin Mulitalo won't play Thursday, either, but he came off the PUP list and was back practicing lightly Monday. Brian Kelly (knee), Manny Ramirez (knee) and Artose Pinner (neck) also returned from injuries, while Cory Redding (groin), Buster Davis (concussion) and Langston Moore (shoulder) continue to be sidelined. The Lions also put linebacker Teddy Lehman on injured reserve-minor Monday with a strained hamstring. They'll pay Lehman an injury settlement and will not be able to re-sign him until six weeks after an agreed-upon date.

• Kelly broke up one pass to Roy Williams and intercepted another Monday. It's not going out on a limb or anything, but the Lions have improved their secondary enough that they should tally the most picks of the Matt Millen era this year. They had 17 last season and 19 in 2005. The post-1970 franchise record of 25, set in 2000, could be in jeopardy, too.

• Jordon Dizon had the hit of the day playing second-team middle linebacker. Dizon read a run perfectly and met Kevin Smith head-on as he came through a hole. Smith won the collision, but Dizon was not trying to make a tackle. He got a pat on the helmet from defensive coordinator Joe Barry for the play.

• Dizon's development in the middle — as I blogged yesterday, he's receiving some worthy praise — does not take the Lions out of the Takeo Spikes sweepstakes. The team is still waiting for Spikes to decide when and where he wants to play this year. Spikes is a veteran who would play strong-side linebacker in Detroit and could easily adjust to the Tampa 2 defense. Don't expect any movement until at least after the first weekend of exhibition games.

• Change your plans if you wanted to see the Lions practice tomorrow. Their Tuesday workout has been moved inside and is closed to the public.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practices at Allen Park with a few notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• It's only two days in, but the most impressive player in camp so far is cornerback Leigh Bodden. When Bodden intercepted a deep pass in Friday's morning session, staying with receiver Brandon Middleton on an out-and-up route, safety Dwight Smith barked, "That's our money man."

• I know I've said this before, but the additions of Bodden, Smith and Brian Kelly make the secondary much, much better (and that's without even considering a potentially healthy Daniel Bullocks, who remains on the PUP list). I stand by my prediction that if the Lions are able to generate a consistent pass rush they'll be a top-half-of-the-NFL defense this year.

• By my count, the defense made five interceptions in the morning session, including one each by linebackers Paris Lenon and Buster Davis.

• Linebacker Gilbert Gardner took some No. 1 reps at weak-side linebacker with Ernie Sims still being careful with his surgically-repaired shoulder. Unless Takeo Spikes signs, there should be roster space for both Gardner and Buster Davis, who's had a good first two days.

• Rookie Kevin Smith is catching the ball well coming out of the backfield. Tatum Bell's a solid pass protector, which might give him the edge in the running-back competition to start, but Smith is primed for a very productive season.