During his first offseason as an NFL player, Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand decided to change his eating habits by dropping red meat from his diet.

While attending the Taste of the Lions event at Ford Field in Detroit on Wednesday night, Hand said the change didn't work out as planned.

“I tried to,” Hand told reporters about his dietary goal, “and then I came across some ribs and that kind of killed that whole thing. But I’m going to try to. I’m going to slowly but surely get to it. … I lasted like two weeks, and then them ribs were calling my name.”

Hand attended the food event with other Lions players to meet fans and sign autographs. The former Alabama standout, who recalled selling hamburgers out of his dorm room in college, said he hopes organizers will let him be among the vendors next year so he can serve homemade lasagna with his “secret sauce.”

Hand said he learned to cook after his grandmother told him: “Boy, if you want to eat all this, you’ve got to learn to cook for yourself.”

Hand and the Lions will hold the first of their 10 OTA practices on Monday. In 2018, Hand went from a fourth-round draft choice to a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team.

Last season, Hand said he “was just trying to gain my routine.” This season, he wants to “hone in on my craft.”

Hand played defensive end and defensive tackle for Detroit in 2018.

Only end Romeo Okwara played more snaps than Hand last season among the Lions' defensive linemen, even though the rookie suffered a sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the 13th game and missed the final three games of the regular season. Hand said he's completely recovered from the injury.

The Lions also return another former Crimson Tide standout, A’Shawn Robinson, and Damon “Snacks” Harrison at defensive tackle and Okwara at defensive end. Harrison joined the team from the New York Giants in a midseason trade last year.

Detroit lost defensive end Ziggy Ansah in free agency this offseason after injuries limited him to seven games in 2018.

The Lions added defensive end Trey Flowers in free agency in March when the former Columbia High School standout signed a five-year, $90 million contract in free agency to leave the New England Patriots after four seasons.

“It’s a great addition,” Hand said. “He’s an amazing player.”

Detroit also has former Daphne High School standout Eric Lee returning after he played in nine games at defensive end last season, and the Lions used a fourth-round draft choice on Clemson defensive end Austin Bryant in the NFL Draft in April.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.