- There has been some confusion over the specifics of Daunte Culpepper's restructured contract, but it is pretty clear that the main thing that changed was his roster bonus. Here are the details:
However, the $2.5 million roster bonus has been broken into three significant parts - a smaller roster bonus that will be paid later in the off-season, incentives based on production and a workout bonus. There was no signing bonus for restructuring the deal and the new roster bonus won't be paid until some time after the middle of March.
It appears that the Lions did this to continually motivate Culpepper and to give themselves an insurance policy in a sense. Should Culpepper start and play well, he will earn much of what was once a roster bonus. Should he turn out to be a waste and not play well, chances are he won't be earning an extra $2.5 million like his roster bonus originally called for.
Culpepper's incentives are believed to be based on quarterback rating, passing yards and touchdowns but the numbers are not known. The total amount of the incentive package is believed to be significantly higher than $500,000. The off-season workout bonus, which includes a weight clause, is worth $300,000. - Jeff Backus reportedly was asked about potentially switching from left tackle to guard. That move would allow the Lions to draft a left tackle and strengthen the offensive line.
- The Lions re-signed restricted free agent cornerback Ramzee Robinson, who was the last pick of the 2007 draft.
- Albert Haynesworth is going to test free agency, and the Lions have more than enough cap room to sign him if they are interested.
- Jim Schwartz said that the offseason workouts are going to change to make the team bigger and stronger.
- Tom Kowalski raised an interesting point about who the Lions will select with the #1 pick. Basically, it is Kowalski's belief that the Lions will only use the #1 pick on someone they sign before the draft. That way there is no holdout and the Lions won't have to worry about getting a deal done. This is important to take note of because the chances of not signing a QB are much higher than a lineman or linebacker, for example. Similar to what the Dolphins did last year, the Lions very well may offer a deal to multiple players and draft the one that wants to sign first.
- Hogs Haven put together a mock Wonderlic Test that is smaller version of what prospects will be taking this week at the NFL Combine. (For the record, I scored a 9 out of 10, but that is only because I ran out of time.)
- Josh Freeman's father made a joke about how Dave Birkett should tell a Lions assistant he was talking with to "take that quarterback Freeman No. 1."
- Another mock draft, another prediction that the Lions will draft Matthew Stafford with the #1 overall pick.
- Stafford was asked about the curse of Bobby Layne, a former Lions quarterback that actually attended the same high school as Stafford. Talk about an interesting coincidence.
- Scout.com's mock draft ventured outside the norm by having the Lions draft Mark Sanchez with the #1 overall pick.
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