This is a blog, which means I can speculate wildly with only a small connection to actual reported facts. So here goes . . .

• Fact: QB Steven Threet is leaving Michigan. Speculation: This feels like a weird time to transfer. I mean, why make this decision in February, in the middle of the second semester? And Threet hasn’t chosen his next destination, so it can’t be that he’s taking orders from his next coach. I can think of three reasons why he would transfer at this particular moment: One, Denard Robinson is the straw that broke Threet’s back. Threet was willing to battle Tate Forcier for the starter’s job, but the last-minute addition of another top QB prospect is too much to handle because it suggests that the coaching staff doesn’t have a lot of faith in him. Two, now that Forcier is on campus, maybe Threet can tell from their workouts that he won’t win the job. Three, maybe this has been on Threet’s mind for a while now and he finally made the call knowing he would want to join his next team in time for spring practice. Either way, I think the loss of experience will hurt Michigan. Forcier or Robinson may turn out to be Terrelle Pryor clones, but I doubt Nick Sheridan will be Todd Boeckman.
• Fact: The Jacksonville Jaguars cut Fred Taylor today. Speculation: This guy could be a Lion soon. Given that the Lions just added former Jags exec Shack Harris to the personnel team, this seems like a natural fit. Taylor is a veteran leader — he’s a longtime captain of the Jags — who clearly has the skills remaining to be a capable change-of-pace back behind Kevin Smith. Don’t be surprised to see Taylor sign on in Detroit if he’s willing to take a reasonable contract and come in with the expectation that he’ll be #2 behind Smith. (As opposed to either competing for the starting job a la Rudi Johnson last year or being part of a backfield committee like the one he shared with Maurice Jones-Drew in Jacksonville.
• Fact: Raymar Morgan and Robbie Hummel will both play in the MSU-Purdue showdown tomorrow night. Speculation: Neither will be deciding factors. Morgan will provide matchup difficulties for Purdue, but Purdue gets the better of the returning stars factor because Hummel was able to shake off some of the rust against Iowa over the weekend.
• Fact: the Lions’ new DL coach is Jared Allen-approved. Speculation: Considering that the D-line was Rod Marinelli’s area of expertise and also where he spent a lot of his time coaching, it will seem ironic if the Lions are better at rushing the passer and stopping the run this year. Unless, of course, the Lions sign Albert Haynesworth. Then it will be pretty straightforward.