Friday Notes: Artis Hicks to Visit the Lions
by Sean Yuille on Mar 5, 2010 7:20 PM EST
in Detroit Lions Notes
58 comments
(Note: I will have more on the Lions' free agent signings tomorrow. In the mean time, feel free to use this as an open thread for tonight, because I'm headed out for a few hours. If any news breaks I will post about it when I get back.)
- Offensive guard Artis Hicks, formerly of the Vikings, is going to visit the Lions, Cardinals, and Redskins.
- The Seahawks might replace Nate Burleson with Brandon Marshall, which would really shake up the draft order since Marshall was tendered with a first-round pick.
- Arizona traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the Ravens for a third- and fourth-round pick in this year's draft. The Ravens also got a fifth-round pick in this year's draft out of the deal. Upon being traded, Boldin promptly agreed to an extension.
- Quarterback A.J. Feeley is headed to St. Louis.
- Speaking of the Rams, they are already doing background checks on Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford, and in the future they will do them on Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.
- Cornerback Dunta Robinson has signed a six-year deal with the Falcons.
- It looks like the Giants are going to sign Antrel Rolle.
- The Browns agreed to a new deal with Joshua Cribbs.
- Thomas Jones is now officially a free agent, and it doesn't exactly sound like he would be too interested in re-signing with the Jets.
- Julius Peppers' deal with the Bears could be worth $40 million in the first three years alone. Wow.
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i think that is giving the ravens way too much credit
not to mention boldin. he is not going to elevate them into a super bowl winning team just like that. their defense is falling off – not as feared as it once was. there are better teams that will eat them up in the playoffs.
No
That team is getting old on defense and will look especially bad if they think they are now a passing team. Their offensive scheme protected them when they were at their peak. I don’t like Flacco much either.
DBs...
When are the lions gonna sign a DB!!! Now that Robinson is gone not all that much left on the market really.
no doubt...
As this plays out it seems like their gonna be goin after either Eric Berry or Joe Haden, but we still need way more depth in the backfield, perhaps their biggest weakness the past couple years. Seein Dunta off the board & seemingly not prioretizing the DB situation, while I do agree they need to shore up their lines, both defensively. I have to say reviewing the list yesterday, I knew they’d be goin after Vandenbosh & Burleson. You’s think our GM would be a little more concerned being a former DB himself. That’s why I gotta believe they’ll be targeting DB’s early in the draft.
Going off your observations
there’s another theory. It looks like they could also be going on the premise that a strong, pressure creating D-line will improve the secondary just by finally being able to effectively rush the QB. If that’s the case, we still take Suh and address the DB situation somewhere in rounds 2-4.
by Lionsrmycrack on Mar 6, 2010 2:07 AM EST up reply actions
thats a lock
but we need a couple of vet DBs / CBs, and protect Stafford.
GO LIONS in 2010! the transformation starts now.. they have much to do.
Protecting Stafford...
should be the priority. Either we protect our 40 mil investment or we get Eric Berry? Come on.
by damnitdamnitdamnit on Mar 6, 2010 4:49 AM EST up reply actions
Who the hell do we even have now?
Buchanon is gone…..James and Henry are free agents (yet unsigned) and Witherspoon and Hobbs are gone. That is our entire depth chart at CB from last season! Even if we were to resign James and Henry, WE NEED TO FILL FOUR SPOTS IN THE SECONDARY!
Lito Sheppard, Will Allen, Leigh Bodden, Marlin jackson, Pacman Jones……the best of what is left?? Pick 2 and tell me with any certainty that they will not get TORCHED on a routine basis! No…..we are going to have to make some trades or draft heavy on the secondary or we are in for another long season of being LAST in the NFL in pass defense. I don’t care how good your pass rush MIGHT be (and trust me, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams are not suddenly going to turn us into a sack machine), if you have BACKUP corners as your starters and a backup safety starting, even with Delmas in the deep backfield, opposing QBs are going to have a hayday all day and every single time they face us! Can you say every QB has over a 100 QB rating against us again? Sure you can…..
It doesn’t look good in my opinion…..even if we draft Eric Berry and Kyle Wilson, or make a miracle trade and get both Berry and Haden, we are still SHORT by at least 3 men, plus we have to rely on at least 1 rookie corner, a rookie safety, a second year safety, and a potentially washed up FA corner. Even if our top 3 picks were all secondary (a safety and 2 corners) we would still have to worry about there ability to learn on the fly and get the job done consistently (plus we would still need to resign James and Henry, or one of them while picking up a veteran CB). The bottom line is this…..we can either start NOW, by drafting these pieces and getting them in place so they can learn and develop, or we can over pay for someone elses leftovers and be in the same boat in a year or two down the road.
No matter what we do, the perspective I have on this subject is that we are still, at a minimum, of two years away from having a legitimate secondary. What happens if we don’t draft some new blood, and we settle for some veteran FAs? Those guys get old and we are forced to make more moves to stop the bleeding, PLUS the FAs we picked up on the D-line are going to falter. If we draft some new blood now, then the FAs we picked up on the D-line will still falter, but at least we can develop some secondary players while the D-line guys act as a stop gap. The Lions have to choose one way or the other…..either we develop the D-line while we temporarily stop the leaks in the secondary, or we develop the secondary while we temporarily stop the leaks on the D-line. We can not have our cake, and eat it too (or at least they have not done anything so far in FA that makes me think we can).
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
I could be wrong.....maybe Hobbs was a ROFR guy.....
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
Hobbs is a 1st RD tender....so he might as well be gone
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
Kevin Hobbs
Was tendered at the LOWEST possible tender offer the Lions could give him, better known as “right of first refusal”. The Lions can match ANY offer given to Hobbs and retain his services for that amount, or they can pass on the offer and he goes buh bye…..and we get nothing in return. First round tender…..LOL!! He would be going nowhere in that case!
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2010/3/4/1356466/lions-announce-full-list-of
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
There are a couple really good CB's...
There are a couple really good CB’s still on the market. Marlin Jackson and Lito Sheppard are both UFA’s.
"Really good"?
Marlin Jackson has some upside, I will give you that…….however he is injury prone. If he were able to stay healthy, he would be a decent acquisition. Lito Sheppard was benched for the AFC Championship game…..what does that say for him? The Jets released him…….why? Injuries. He has only been on a starting level for 12 of his last 32 games, and he only started when the guy ahead of him on his team could not go. He missed 5 games completely last season due to injury. He has never once played an entire season! Durability is the major concern with both Jackson and Sheppard…..and I do not see them suddenly becoming reliable full time starters for the Lions.
Oh you didn't know?? You're ass better CALLLLLLLL SOMEBODY!!!!!
Anyone
heard any more information about the waiver pickup Jack Williams? What kind of contract did we sign him to? How does he fit into the Lions plans for next year?
Looks like Atlanta had to break the bank...
a little for Robinson, but I think it was a good move. There are very few good corners out there in free agency and that makes for a premium. I’m bothered that Detroit didn’t make a strong play for Robinson. Maybe they did. He’s from Atlanta, so I’m sure that helped his decision. It’s just that we have ZERO starters at corner, so we need at least one in FA and one in the draft. That’s gonna be tough.
Since I was AWOL from the sight last night, I’ll give my take on the three moves so far…
Williams: Love the move. Came cheap and should add depth and be a great third down rusher. He can spell Suh when needed and then line up next to him on third downs.
Burleson: Cautiously optimistic. I think he’s definitely better than Bryant Johnson. He’s faster and had a better season last year. Can he really make teams take notice and relieve Calvin of some pressure? I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. I still think you have to get a guy in the first four rounds of the draft.
Vanden Bosch: Not sure I like him more than Kampman, but he’s going to be the best defensive end in a Lion’s uniform in a long, long time. I think he’ll be motivated and provide great leadership. This is a great move.
So far the Lions have shown the willingness to make some early moves and spend some cash. That’s a good thing. They need to build in the draft, but they have to fill some of these holes in free agency. Another good draft, some talented and specifically-targeted free agents and then progress from last year’s talent… and we have a change to win a few games next year. Next free agent targets need to be Thomas Jones, the best available Guard and the best available Corner.
Howdy Drew!
Welcome back, so did you get a contract from the Bears as well, I mean Oprah and Springer,the 1900 Cubs, Ditka, our very own Sean got a contract offer last night. You missed out bro on one of the best nights the POD has ever had in terms of loyalty and laughter.
LOL... yeah, I did. 5 yr deal worth about $30 mil.
I read through the thread earlier today. Missed some great stuff last night it looks like.
I don't understand...
everyone’s hard on for Kampman, he’s not even fully recovered from a fairly serious injury, he might not be the same player once he’s healthy. Too early to tell yet.
What is to understand?
Kampman is a GREAT 4-3 defensive end who was injured EARLY in the season and will be fully back by training camp. Detroit desperately needs help at the defensive end position. We had how many sacks last year? What about that are you not gettin’????
He WAS a great DE, i def agree with that, but there’s way to tell if he’ll be 100% after he heals, not everyone is the same after knee surgery. If he is the same great, the lions could def use him.
I mean does anyone know if he’s even to the point that he could test the knee before someone signs him? At this point i figured he wouldn’t be far enough along.
He'll be good to go
Kampman IS a great player. His switch to 3-4 was the only reason for a slow start. Every year he has been a quality end capable of double-digit sacks. You are severely undervaluing Kampman here. High motor guy with good speed, great work ethic and enough moves to get 10+ sacks a year… still. Haven’t you been watching what he’s done to Detroit for the past several seasons?
I’m not undervaluing him, I’m just saying taking him before u know how well his knee healed is a big risk. It’s possible to lose alot of explosiveness from knee injuries. If i knew he’d be the same player I would love to have him.
thats why there is things called physicals
Yes, there is no true ways of knowing, but this is football, and you have to assume that he can come back and play at a high level. Besides, if you’re in the market for a defensive end, who else are you gonna sign?
the three best DEs were Kampman, Peppers and KVB, and two of them are already gone.
The beginning of the end of the misery
I'm with Bender here. Kampman and KVdB have had very similar careers.
Less than a year difference in age, they have both played about 110 games, both have had knee surgery [AK last year, KVdB in 2001 and 2003], both have been in Pro Bowls [two for AK and three for KVdB], and similar stats although I would give a good edge to Kampman in sacks and tackles.
I guess there might be an advantage in getting a guy from the same division, but I am a little leery of Kampman’s recovery. Harder to do when you are older. I should know.
I like the ends we have
The ends would of gotten more sacks if our dismal DT’s could get some push. What is it with people that do not understand that. That is how this defense is designed. We have the ends for it to work we just dont have a penetrating DT which I think is now remedied with the Williams pick up and maybe us getting Suh.
i like. . .
how you worded the Burleson signing as cautiously optimistic. . .i am tired of hearing the analysis of it on NFL Network. . .they keep talking about how the Lions overspent for him as well as KVB. . .no one is talking about the huge contract Peppers got in a negative light considering how he can disappear for long stretches. . .i realize that Burleson and KVB may not be superstars but i believe the front office targeted guys they could sign and sealed the deal. . .yes they may have spent a few $ but the consensus of the analysts was that the signings in Detroit were “alarming”. . .with it being an uncapped year and front loading the contracts, I was extremely happy with the movements today. . .by far I like the Williams signing the best. . .
Antrel a giant
they must be concered anout kenny phillips recovering
The best there is, The best there was, and the best there ever will be - Bret the Hitman hart
thats a bit surprising
maybe they put him back at CB. I thought he was gonna be a Dolphin
The beginning of the end of the misery
Wow
I thought Boldin would cost more than that. The Raven’s are going to be very scary next year if they can get a good CB or two
Yup...
I would have given that for Boldin, and maybe CJ would be happy enough to stay with us next year…
by damnitdamnitdamnit on Mar 6, 2010 4:50 AM EST up reply actions
Imagine if they draft someone like Gollden Tate in the1st round
That offense would be scary. Flacco, Rice, along with a great OL, a solid TE and two capable receivers
The beginning of the end of the misery
very good point...
…thats a scary Offense. Considering how deep they are at the RB position. I still think they go with for a safety though in the 1st round.
+100
The Bringers of Hope: Stafford - Delmas - C. Johnson - Pettigrew - Levy - Hill - Schwartz
Zack Follett: he will hurt your mind.
by Hyperion Ecta on Mar 6, 2010 1:14 AM EST up reply actions
Watch out for the Bears
I think the Lions did a good job today and would grade them as a B. The Bears really did well today and would give them an A. The NFC North is really getting stronger
by NashvilleLionsfan on Mar 5, 2010 9:35 PM EST reply actions
I don't agree..
I think that the Lions and Bears free-agented (I think I just made that up) about equally. When you consider cost vs benefit analysis, I think that the Lions did a fairly good job. We paid less for what I believe will be the same impact relative to position. We each got a DE and we paid less for, in comparison, a high-motor average talented guy whereas they got a highly-talented average motor guy. Also, the WR we got has actually performed as a #1 at his position…
I don’t care if others got a good deal, these signings are a big deal for us, and I was thinking the other day, while sitting in my hot-ass car and working, that Millen and Co. would have never made the effort to get these guys.
The whole thing makes me wonder what Mayhew’s role was in that administration, and how and why exactly his input was silenced.
Regardless, I like both moves and as of yet, the only move of the new administration that I don’t approve of is Pettigrew over Oher. We are moving forward and Go Lions!
by damnitdamnitdamnit on Mar 6, 2010 5:02 AM EST up reply actions
Don't discount Peppers
He has like 80 something sacks in his career. Spin it how you’d like, but he is much better than KVB. I don’t think I would like to pay for him, but he is good.
Also, FA is it for the Bears. They traded their draft away for a QB and a guy who had a heart attack. They don’t have to pay money to draft picks this year and they know it. They HAVE to have the best Free Agency of any team or they will fall farther behind.
Does anyone know how well Daniel Bullocks is doing?
After his first season, I thought we might have something there. I know he had micro-fracture surgery earlier last year, I just haven’t heard any updates lately.
Anyway, he’s a safety and we need cornerbacks. Oh well.
by Barry the Great on Mar 6, 2010 11:33 AM EST reply actions
Hick to Redskins
darn…. he was a need
GO LIONS in 2010! the transformation starts now.. they have much to do.
I know noone agrees
with me, but, if stafford goes down. . . our season is a wash.
I have a 9" personality
by Waitingfortheroar on Mar 7, 2010 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
no actually there are alot of people here that would agree with you
if the shoe fits...get another one just like it - George Carlin
QB is just so important
we gotta protect this guy. How do we do that and fix this disgusting defense
I have a 9" personality
by Waitingfortheroar on Mar 7, 2010 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
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