Monday Notes: Lions Release One, Add Two

by Sean Yuille on May 11, 2009 1:09 AM EDT in Notes Comment 24 comments

The Lions released middle linebacker Chris Graham on Friday and signed wide receiver Tommy Saunders, an undrafted free agent from Missouri.
Defensive end Jason Hunter is now a Lion. He was released by the Packers last week and has already joined the Lions. Hunter had the most special teams tackles on the Packers in 2007, so he could end up playing a similar role with the Lions.
According to Drew Rosenhaus' Twitter page, "Kevin Smith played much of last season with an injured shoulder for the Lions. He is feeling healthy and expects to have a monster season."
Larry Foote thinks the Lions' practices are much different than what he experienced in Pittsburgh. Surprisingly, the Steelers' practices were apparently more laid back. Part of that is because a lot of swearing goes on during the Lions' practices, which apparently is also different than what Foote experienced as a Steeler.
Gunther Cunningham really likes Louis Delmas.
Zack Follett has talents both on and off the football field.
Grady Jackson's brother, who was charged with the first-degree murder of his girlfriend, apparently was invited to the Lions' rookie camp. He failed the physical, though, preventing him from participating. The Lions were willing to wait a month and give him another physical, but that obviously won't be happening now.
Greg Landry, the Lions' last all-pro QB, thinks Detroit should have drafted defensive players with their first-round picks.
Former Lions tight end Michael Gaines may end up signing with the Bears.
Ken Lucas, the one-time Panthers cornerback who was nearly traded to the Lions, lost out on $3.3 million by not allowing his trade to Detroit to go through. He ended up signing with the Seahawks.

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Comments

Is it just me

or does it seem like every player who gets cut by the Lions ends up signing with the Bears or Patriots? It’s late and I’m tired, so I don’t have time to compile a list, but off the top of my head there is:

Bears- Gaines, Kevin Jones, Rod Marinelli (I’ll count it)
Pats – Leigh Bodden, Fernando Bryant

Can anyone think of any others? Or am I just talking crazy?

by sgdbw90 on May 11, 2009 1:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nobody said the Patriots were perfect.

The Bears? Did they hire Sargeant Rod as PR director?

by NorthLeft12 on May 11, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

maintenance

by BIGWalt2990 on May 11, 2009 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least the picks and shovels will be sharp

by JazzyBBP on May 11, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's funny, I always thought that the saying "not the sharpest tool in the shed" was about Rod.

by NorthLeft12 on May 11, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah too bad this

is football. Where sharp picks and shovels cannot be used on the field. Or was Rod referring to digging a grave for the LIons?

by JCruize on May 17, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, digging a grave for Dewayne White’s calf.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 17, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DL Coord., if you weren't being sarcastic...

by Nate D. on May 11, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting to hear that bit about the practice intensity

I wonder how much Rod’s influence in “establishing a tempo” in practice carries over? I wonder how much that puts the lie to Millen saying that the Lions practiced the way winners practice? I wonder how much of it is all irrelevant, and winners win because they’re winners, not because of how they get there . . .

Peace
Ty

http://thelionsinwinter.blogspot.com

by ty@thelionsinwinter on May 11, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He could've been overwhelmed

It might take some time before he gets settled. Probably be the same for all the rookies.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on May 12, 2009 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alot of swearing?

Is that good or bad?

by KDawg on May 11, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hell if I know.

I would say bad though, cause if you are doing things different than the Super Bowl champs, you might consider switching.

by ReichardZ on May 11, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're grown men.

If they can’t take the language maybe they have the wrong profession. Plus I’m sure they hear worse stuff on Sundays. So I say Gunther(and others) should be as crazy and foul mouthed as necessary.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 11, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Better, IMO

We don’t need a bunch of nice guys running around Ford Field on Sundays telling everyone how nice their new jerseys look…

I wish we had some maniacs on the squad – the Romanowski types – who would just run around telling people they were going to be sleeping with their sisters later that night and stuff.. maybe not so far as punching people under a pileup or spitting in people’s faces, but I really enjoy players who have about 1% respect for their opponents.

Just don’t start stomping helmetless opponents. That’s all I ask.

by Nate D. on May 11, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just reread my post

And wanted to clarify that the guys would be referring to their opponents’ sisters….

by Nate D. on May 11, 2009 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I say, as mean and nasty as possible, but you need to respect the other team, respect them enough to find their weaknesses.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 11, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Follett could be like that on the field by the way he basically runs into everything in sight

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on May 11, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yessir

‘Reckless abandon’ is the term, I believe.

by Nate D. on May 11, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on whose swearing

if it’s the coaches, and they’re riding the players’ asses it’s probably because they’re not doing so hot. As was noted somewhere else, that’s not gonna be the case in some place like Pittsburgh because they’re a veteran defense and know what they’re supposed to be doing. In addition, they have vets to keep people in line. Both of which will result in more laid back and less yelling.

by WBL on May 11, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs