Lions first-round pick DT Nick Fairley will not be active for Sunday’s home opener against the Chiefs, as he continues to rehab a foot injury.

When it comes to the downside of the draft process — when his work ethic, consistency and character are questioned at seemingly every turn — Auburn DT Nick Fairley does his best to ignore it.

Auburn DT Nick Fairley poses for a portrait at the NFL Network Studio on April 21st.

Across the board, Auburn DT Nick Fairley is considered to be an elite-level talent with rare athletic ability as an interior pass rusher. That doesn’t seem to be question among scouts and NFL talent evaluators.

It proves every year to be true that the defensive linemen drills are among the most intense at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Auburn DT Nick Fairley knows there is a fine line between being physical and being dirty. And he was twice asked about that line during his Sunday afternoon news conference at the NFL Scouting Combine.

With the start of the NFL Scouting Combine only two weeks away, scouts and coaches are in the midst of intense discussions regarding the 2011 NFL Draft class.

A number of NFL players have shown that having instant access to their thoughts is not always a good thing. Right Nick Barnett?