Foote Close to Agreeing to One-Year Deal with Lions

by Sean Yuille on May 5, 2009 10:39 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Roster

UPDATE: The AP just updated their story at 10:33 p.m. to say that Foote is close to agreeing to the deal. Here is the quote from the article: "Foote said most of the terms of the deal were reached Tuesday night and he expected it to be completed Wednesday morning." This is still basically a done deal, but technically the contract still has to be signed.
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Well, that didn't take long.

Just an hour or so after it was reported that the Lions had offered Larry Foote a deal, it is now being reported that Foote has agreed to a one-year contract with Detroit. He plans to sign it tomorrow morning and had this to say about the decision to play for his hometown team:

"I'm excited because it's a fresh start for me," Foote said Tuesday night in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "It's a one-year deal to show my talents, and hopefully end up signing a long-term deal after showing the Lions and their new coaching staff what I can do."

This is beyond great news. Not only are the Lions getting a middle linebacker that was a starter for the defending Super Bowl champions, but they are also getting someone that genuinely wants to play for them. Being from Detroit, Foote is someone that will play with an added pride, as he will want to represent his team and his city in the best way possible.

On the field, you can pencil Foote in as the starter at middle linebacker. There is no question that MLB was a need, even after the draft since the Lions only added DeAndre Levy. While Levy has potential, Foote has proven what he can do. He is exactly the type of player the Lions need: one that brings talent and leadership to a defense that badly needs both.

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yes!

Awesome pick up! Can’t wait for the season already..

by Vphan3 on May 5, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

Very good news....

The Lions actually have a… dare I say it… “great” linebacking corps?! Wow. I guess Levy can now learn behind Foote for a year before he’s tapped as starter.

Excellent!

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder what number...

he’ll wear since Sims already has #50?

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Good question.....

54 went to Levy too I think…..55 went to Follett…..57?? Stephen Boyd’s old number?

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Anything but #53...

I’ll get flashbacks of Paris Lenon and start chucking my remote at the TV again.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm a numbers guy

tatted 00 and 47 for hoops and hammer. basketball and football for those who hung out in the drama room.
I’m gonna guess he goes into the 90’s for number since all the good ones are took up.

by MattyZ on May 5, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

57 is a good number....

Anyone currently wear that one? Is there a list of what numbers are taken currently? He could also buy a number from someone if he so desires.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Crap

Dizon has 57…..and here is the list:
http://www.detroitlions.com/roster.cfm?order_by=jersey&section_id=15&top=21&level=2

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

All of the 90’s numbers are taken too…..93 is not going to be worn this year for obvious reasons. #56 is available.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

#56 would look good on Foote

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

That's unfortunate

I thought 57 would be the best number for him because that would combine both #50 and #17 from his U of M days. Maybe he buys out Dizon? He wouldn’t be able to get Sims number from him. So it’s just #56 then right?

by Wadeledge on May 6, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Works for me

He’ll look like LaMarr Woodley with that number.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on May 6, 2009 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Looks as if he'll be stealing #55 from Zack Follett

Sourced from Detroit Lions roster page.

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

by Hyperion Ecta on May 6, 2009 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I am Excited now.

Foote will end up signing a long term deal

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." - Henry Ford

by diehard.lionsfan@yahoo.com on May 5, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

WOO!!!!!!!HOO!!!!!!!

That’s all i got to say.

by chainsaw on May 5, 2009 10:44 PM EDT reply actions

Awesome Sauce, hold the sarcasm

Great pick up. I’m loving Larry’s attitude as far as wanting to prove himself to the Lions….the LIONS! A 2X superbowl winner wants to prove himself to the team coming off historic, epic fail.

by MattyZ on May 5, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions

hell ya!!!!

im starting to believe we can make a dolphins type run next year

NFL-Lions,Vikings,Texans,Bills
MLB-Rays,Twins,Marlins,Reds
NBA-T-Wolves,Cavliiers,Warriors,Bobcats
NHL-Wild,Penguins
NCAA-Gophers,Gators,Longhorns,Fighting Irish
all in the order in which i root for 1st

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 10:47 PM EDT reply actions

As long as the deal doesn't fall through between now and tomorrow morning....

Along with a few more tweaks here and there, and I could start to believe that the Lions are serious about making a huge turnaround…..I won’t go so far as to say a Dolphinesque turnaround, but a big time improvement at the very least.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions

Wow!

I’m literally screaming like those guys in the Heineken commercial with the walk-in fridge filled with beer!

by JazzyBBP on May 5, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

where else does everyone think we can still improve?

i say OL and DL, and maybe try and get a CB and move henry to safety

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Those areas are without a doubt...

our biggest areas of need now. In my opinion we still need a guy who can cover Larry Fitzgerald. If we had a CB that could handle him, we would be in really great shape on D, even with the D-line as it is (in my opinion). It is very difficult to say what is happening on the offensive line…..I saw Damian Cook in our depth chart at starting LG on the official Lions website, with Backus at LT (Loper as the backup), Raiola at Center, Peterman at RG, and Cherilus at RT. I think everyone would agree that we could stand to upgrade at Center, RG, LG, and LT. I think we have our RT of the future. I just hope we can move the ball with what we have, if nothing changes between now and the regular season.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Hmmm... I couldn't find that...

depth chart on the Lion’s website. From everything I’ve heard, sounds like Loper is going to be the starter at LG. Not sure that’s an upgrade, but from everything I’ve seen this offseason… I trust Schwartz. If he thinks he’s capable, then he probably is.

That said… I’d like to see them pick up a capable veteran guard before the season starts.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

They took it down, but here is the one I was talking about

http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=481889

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

That's last year's DC...

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah....I see that now....

But Mulitalo played LG last year didn’t he?

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

And it was updated after they released him.....

Which made me think that it was the most current depth chart…..since “nobody has won a starting job yet”.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

He was hurt...

for the last game. You can see that Rudi, Standeford and others are still on there.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

Ok then….where is everyone getting the info that Loper is going to play LG? I know I saw a depth chart somewhere that had him at backup LT…..

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Just from comments that Schwartz has made...

nothing official. That and they really have no one else right now.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, DL, OL and C in that order.

Great job getting Foote here!

by Stones1981 on May 5, 2009 10:55 PM EDT reply actions

who from those position that might be available via trade or free agency do you guys think we should get?

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Another difficult question

Not too many great offensive linemen are free agents for very long…..and not too many great offensive linemen are guys that a team will trade willingly. Unfortunately, in my opinion it would be very difficult to get ONE great offensive lineman in a trade (and even if we did it would cost us an arm and a leg) let alone 4. Maybe there are servicable guys available in FA that we could pick up for depth, but I have my doubts that we can pick up another great starter at this point (at any position) in free agency. If someone knows better, please correct me.

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Very true

But you never know. I mean look at the Foote deal, nobody was even mentioning Foote’s name before the draft, it just sort of happened. Hopefully that’ll happen with an O-Lineman and the Lions can make a serious push for him.

by detpistons3 on May 5, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Foote said he wanted to come here

Pretty much right after the SB… Once offseason began, he knew it was a matter of time. It just went under the radar until after we passed on a Mike in the draft

by Nate D. on May 6, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

The success rate of an offensive line is extremely dependent on the chemistry between them all (how many games they start together). You don’t need expensive guys in the offensive trench.

by BIGWalt2990 on May 5, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe runyan at tackle?

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

I think the odds of him playing this season...

are small. He had a microfracture surgery that should keep him out at least through the beginning of the regular season. That’s why the Eagles moved on Peters.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

oh thanks for the info i was wondering y no one signed him

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes.

They did it! I thought about him earlier on in FA, but to my knowledge they haven’t even brought him in for a visit or anything. I was still wondering what the status of Epraim Salaam was, I know they brought him in b4 the draft & he said he wasn’t sure because he thought they may take J Smith & that odviously never happened. They sure have added alot of mid level guys…

by LTownDown on May 5, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Falling Together...

Pending signatures…the defense should be much improved over last year, still think we need some depth at DT and CB though..

by Goose21 on May 5, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

DT more so than CB

And OL WAYYY more than DT or CB, it’s still the weakest part of this team.

by detpistons3 on May 5, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

As for now

Getting a quality LT better than Backus is out of the question. They’re too valued and we’ll have to tear up the roster or trade one of our precious draft picks for one. The option now to beef up the OL is to go with a guard, preferably young, to help out Backus so he doesn’t have to block 2 guys at once. I sincerely hope Linehan can work with our O-Line coach to get these guys into form. Maybe they see the talent and will use some sort of scheme that’ll help our guys look better than they are.

by detpistons3 on May 5, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

couldn't be happier

I think that this signing puts an exclamation point on the fact the next years lions will be better!

One thing I thought I would mention about our OL and DL is that in my opinion we have a huge upgrade to OC and DC and HC with better playbooks and a better understanding of how to call a friggin game. a good part of the failure the 08 lions experienced was the coaches fault and the god aweful play calling. so I know we need some upgrades but I feel that having a DC who knows his Arse from an ant hill we will be probably get more production from our current roster, same goes with our Offense.

Chaos reins within!
Reflect
Repent
Reboot
Order shall return!

by alpha lion on May 5, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions

I want to see a Larry Foote Scouting report from Sean:)

by BIGWalt2990 on May 5, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

I second that!!

Chaos reins within!
Reflect
Repent
Reboot
Order shall return!

by alpha lion on May 5, 2009 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Guys, this may not be 100% current

But it lists all of the free agents for this year, and you can sort by position…..

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/fa?&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2ffa

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions

thanks im going to check that out

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe an even better list would be located here

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=Signed+by+Team&y=2009

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

darwin walker or dwan edwards could help at DT

Salaam could bring some competition at OT or OG

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 11:36 PM EDT reply actions

I'd still like to see them go after Roderick Hood

I wonder what his deal is…..

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions

i would like to see him added as well

prehaps a 3yr deal worth about 9 million

by RaysOfHope on May 5, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Tonight is officially awesome.

This is honestly shocking to me. I’ve had a terrible gut feeling since this whole thing started that he was going to be in a Chiefs uniform next season. Nice to see that the brass pulled one off that the fans actually wanted. :)

by AZ Yooper on May 5, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

You get that feeling...

from being a Lions fan. Typically, when a good thing falls in their lap, they still manage to let it slip and hit the floor. I gotta hand it to them, Mayhew and Schwartz have gotten it right so far this year. We’ve got something to start getting excited about.

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions

superbowl

here we come

by lionsfan22 on May 5, 2009 11:44 PM EDT reply actions

best news

now maybe we trade for Dockett in Arizona to upgrade our Dline? what do you guys think?

by DtownBallin on May 5, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions

What would we trade?

by KDawg on May 5, 2009 11:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Laying in bed, blogging while watching the NFL Network and...

they are showing a replay of the 2005 AFC Championship game – Pittsburgh at Denver. Anyway, I look up and there’s the man-of-the-hour himself, Larry Foote making a spectacular interception off Jake Plummer. Gave me chills. That’s our MLB, baby!

by DrewsLions on May 5, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

The Pettigrew and Delmas picks look a lot smarter now. Don't they.

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." - Henry Ford

by diehard.lionsfan@yahoo.com on May 5, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

maybe

Mayhew has ESP or something

by lionsfan22 on May 6, 2009 1:28 AM EDT reply actions

I'm currently leaning to Mayhew being some sort of sorcerer

by MP hawkfan on May 6, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Very, Very Happy

I’ll be much happier when the deal is actually signed. Having Foote, Peterson & Sims as a LB corp will steady our defence. I don’t think it will make it instantly great, but certain big running plays and some vital 3rd down plays could be stopped. Happy days.

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

by Hyperion Ecta on May 6, 2009 1:41 AM EDT reply actions