Jason Hanson

by Wad on Feb 13, 2009 4:25 PM EST Comment 5 comments

I'm going to take a different road than pretty much everyone here.

Let him go.

He will be 39 at the begginning of this year, but when the Lions are decent and god forbid playoff worthy again he will be at least 41, maybe 42.

If we let him walk we will save approx. 2 million dollars of salary (assuming we sign a rookie at the league min) that could be used to upgrade a couple role players. I know we have a ton of cap space so it won't really hurt us to keep him at that 2.5 million range but does it really help us to keep him. What so we lose 28-9 instead of 28-6.

Now I get the fact that a role player isn't going to take us over the top in these years, but I think with the right high energy guys they could bring a positive attitude (and every little bit helps) to a franchise in despair. Hanson isn't a ra ra guy from what I can tell, he just makes kicks on a bad team. Which brings me to my biggest concern.

Hanson hasn't been on a winner in 8 years. How do we know that in three years when we are a playoff hopeful he will handle the pressure of a kick in Lambeau or Soldier Field. The only pressure kick I remember from the last 8 years was against Dallas 2 seasons ago. Would have put us up by 2 scores with very little time to play, he Shanked it from 36 yards, we lose and fall to 6-7 I believe. This was a chance for our season to right it self and he shanked it. I know it was one kick, but what else do I have to go on. The fact he was 8 of 8 from beyond 50 this year on an 0-16 team.

Now if we keep him, Ill be alright because I do appreciate his time with this team, but I won't be raising a stink if we let him go.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pride of Detroit or its writers. FanPosts are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable fans.

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This is a different road!

The Lions have nearly $40MM in cap space this year. I think we can part with that much to bring back the best kicker in the league. Also, Hanson means a lot to me as a Lion fan. He’s a great guy in the community and has been the most consistent player for our team through the rough Millen years. He’s given us 17 great seasons and I, for one, do not want to see him leave us at all… especially when he’s still at the top of his game. Why worry about the kicking game when you don’t have to.

I also can’t believe that you are focusing on his few poor kicks over the last couple of years instead of his consistency over 17 seasons. Hanson was certainly not the reason we went 0-16 last year.

by DrewsLions on Feb 13, 2009 5:09 PM EST reply actions

I get all that

Its not the fact that I don’t think hes good, but the fact that by the time we are good I worry how good he will be. He has not made a pressure kick in a long time and thats where kickers make there money. Im not focusing on a few poor kicks, just the lack of preassure kicks.

We have the money now, but what about in a couple years and we are stuck paying our kicker 3 million a year, when you can find a suitable replacement for 500,000 grand (don’t tell me thats not possible, stephen gostkowski).

I just think that out of all the problems we need to fix, I think the least important might be who is kicking for us next year.

With all this said, I understand he will be back, and I hope he does nail the big kicks when he gets the chance.

Its a funny story actually.

by Wad on Feb 13, 2009 8:55 PM EST up reply actions