Monday Notes: John Thornton Almost Signs with Lions

by Sean Yuille on Jul 13, 2009 1:07 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Notes

The start of training camp is now less than three weeks away!
The Lions came very close to signing defensive tackle John Thornton, who was a Bengal the last six years and played for Jim Schwartz in Tennessee for the first four years of his career. Thornton visited with the Lions recently and even agreed to a deal before changing his mind. The problem for Thornton was that Schwartz wanted him to put on 20 pounds. Schwartz wants the entire team to bulk up, but he especially wants his defensive tackles to be big. Thornton didn't want to gain all that weight, and after thinking about it for a few days, he opted to remain a free agent.
Ernie Sims says that his chemistry with Julian Peterson and Larry Foote is great both off and especially on the field.
Detroit4Lyfe put together a great post about what would have been the top ten Tweets from the Lions' sideline last season.
Dave Bing is going to host the ceremony for the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame's first induction class, which includes Lions executive James Harris.

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I see a trend here.....

Kevin Carter wants to spend time with his family, John Thornton wants to make sure he can still fit into his bathing suit over the summer, what next?

I understand that these guys will probably still get offers to play at other places so they have little incentive to jump at these chances right now. The Lions will probably look to pick up another DT at the end of training camp. Unless Fluellen and Hill look fantastic. Maybe they still get one for depth.

by NorthLeft12 on Jul 13, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

Detroit4Lyfe ---SUcks...you cant do some better ones than that????

example:
calvinjohnson:i wonder if i threw a pass would everyone think we are running the losing-cat offense?instead of the wild-cat offense ?? only time will tell…..

by phil_165 on Jul 13, 2009 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

d-tackle

we need another d-tackle period. i just hope there is a quality tackle available before the end of training camp, and one that plays three downs would be nice. i know kevin carter’s name has been thrown around, but has anyone seen him play d-tackle?? doesn’t exactly dominate the point of attack, and is better suited at defensive end.

by big smoove on Jul 13, 2009 7:00 PM EDT reply actions

3 weeks is too long

I want training camp now…

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

by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 13, 2009 7:49 PM EDT reply actions

+100

by DrewsLions on Jul 13, 2009 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I like that Jim Schwartz...

…has a solid gameplan. He wasn’t willing to bend for John Thornton.

I think Thornton will someday wish he rode this train. The Lions are on the path to recovery. I can feel it. It will take a few years to really have it down…but with continual and gradual progression (such as the offseason we’ve currently had), it’s a story for the ages if we can turn this thing around.

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Jul 13, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

I like the

Cherilus tweet. Mostly because I was thinking the exact same thing last year.

by madpoopz on Jul 13, 2009 11:28 PM EDT reply actions

I am actually

gald to see that our coach is sticking to his guns with these players. If they don’t fit the profile or want to change to better the team then screw em imo. At least this shows that our coach only wants players that fit his system and is not going to just grab players becuase they may or maynot be good.

by shanndiggit on Jul 14, 2009 4:14 AM EDT reply actions