Lomas Brown to be inducted into the Pride of the Lions this season

When a team executive visits the radio or television booth during a preseason game, it's not abnormal. So when Detroit Lions president Rod Wood paid a visit to play-by-play man Dan Miller and color analyst Lomas Brown in the radio booth during Friday night's preseason opener against the New York Giants, everything was normal.

But then Wood surprised Brown, the former Lions' left tackle, with a special honor.

Brown will be inducted into the "Pride of the Lions', the franchise's Ring of Honor, at halftime of the Oct. 30 Monday night game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

In a press conference after the game, the usually gregarious Brown said he was rendered speechless by the announcement.

"I couldn’t speak,” “I was speechless. It’s an honor to go up there with some of the greats that have played this game. For me to get my name immortalized up there, it’s just unbelievable. So I really appreciate this honor and I’m going to cherish it, I really am.”"

- Lomas Brown

Lomas Brown takes his rightful place in Detroit Lions immortality

Brown was drafted sixth overall by the Lions in the 1985 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. He has told his epic draft story, complete with being picked up from the airport and brought out to the Pontiac Silverdome in a car ill-equipped for the task.

Brown went on to play 11 seasons in Detroit (1985-1995), earning a Pro Bowl selection in each of the last six. He was one of the best left tackles in the NFL during that stretch, paving the way for Barry Sanders. He added a seventh career Pro Bowl selection with the Arizona Cardinals in 1996.

As Wood hinted at when it was announced, Brown was overdue to be inducted into the Pride of the Lions. On the night before Halloween, during a nationally televised game, he will take his permanent place among the best players in franchise history.