Adam Schefter: Lions Not in the Cards for Oshiomogho Atogwe

that myself Sean, I guess the FO might think it’s not a good deal after all. I will stick by there decisions, they haven’t dissappointed me yet.

Sure, we’re all kick-ass GMs in fantasy football, but that doesn’t mean we can do the real job. lol

I wouldnt give up just yet. Others are saying that we are interested. Adam sent me a direct message saying he thinks the chances are small not non-existant

This is exactly what he sent to me earlier

Adam_Schefter
Heard interested, yes. But don’t expect them to get him. But guess we’ll see.

…like I said in another post I think we want him more then the FO does.

and told him there is NO WAY we will pay him that much…call us if the number gets lower..MUCH lower. I could be wrong but mayhew has done a good job of searching all avenues to help. While me may not all love are current DB situation we have to except each one of those guys is there for a reason if nobody liked Bullocks,Simpson,Wade, Spivey or Houston none of them would have been picked up. You never know what will happen in training camp maybe that kid from the U will end up being better than OJ? just sayin

7 mil/year is a lot of money for any position, much less a safety. I just hope Minnesota doesn’t get him.

Lions | Kevin Smith likely to start camp on PUP list
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Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:57:51 -0400

Detroit Lions RB Kevin Smith (knee) likely will start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list and then the Lions would evaluate along the way, according to MLive.com’s Tom Kowalski.

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/hotw/NFL?page=0#ixzz0pjg8ZBrY

Vikings | Will not pursue Oshiomogho Atogwe
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Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:24:40 -0400

The Minnesota Vikings will not be pursuing free-agent FS Oshiomogho Atogwe (Rams), sources told Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/hotw/NFL?page=0#ixzz0pjnDHM1g

Maybe after OJ see’s that he won’t get that 7 mil a year contract from anyone he will come home and play for the love of the game not the greed of it.

Lions | Jahi Word-Daniels released
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Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:29:08 -0400

The Detroit Lions have released CB Jahi Word-Daniels, reports John Niyo, of The Detroit News.

Read more: http://www.kffl.com/team/16/nfl#ixzz0pjwqc2dL

You’d think teams would jump all over a player like OJ. Must be something we are missing.

Big mistake I think. We have a shitty secondary aside from Delmas. We will get torched back there unless we add a decent safety and sorry guys but aside from Delmas the rest suck or are always hurt. We will be lucky to win 6 if every team posts passing records on us like they did last year. Granted I know our Dline is greatly improved but still they aren’t going to get pressure every passing play and thats when our boys will get torched.

You know today is the official first day of his release and surprisingly this is one of the main stories today for the NFL, what will happen w/ Atogwe ? …. Not a surprise in the aspect that he’d be a story but how much of a story he has become just for today alone and probably until he signs, in his favor this is good.

Right now i would also say take everything you hear w/ a grain of salt, as various media outlets have all reported something very different. First it was Minn, Dallas, Miami, and 49ers … never a mention of Detroit really [this can be a very good thing btw]. Then the reports start trickling down .. NO from Dallas, Minn, Miami [though this is conflicting heavily as its even been said they are still making strong push] . Seems 49ers havent said NO yet though at same time they are playing the best route and not actually commenting at all … something thats same for Lions as they havent actually said yes they are or are not going for him publicly.

I still think they are two players away from a legitimate season, not playoff just a 8-8 … one would be LB , the other a CB / safety and of course a lil more depth on line wouldnt hurt, get 2 of those 3 that can contribute immediate no question on if make team or not, and id say then this was a GREAT offseason.

First of all we cannot say our secondary will suck anymore than we can say they will be great. We have to see how everyone plays together. Chemistry and smarts can cover up a lot of other areas that might be lacking. Never under estimate a players heart or a teams chemistry. Namely I am speaking of the huge impact our revamped defensive line will have on on the rest of the defense. If you want an example of how much impact a dominant defensive line can make look at the Giants who upset the “not so perfect” Patriots recently. Look at how chemistry and a dominant line effected that Giants team, and then look at the steady decline the took after Strahan retired. There are more reasons than one that Suh reminds me of Strahan and I sure hope he does for the Lions defense what Michael did for the Giants.

That being said I think we have to look at the financial aspect things to see why there is a lack of interest in Atogwe. Lets take a look at Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu.

Ed Reed
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_contract.aspx?sport=NFL&id=2222

6/27/2006: Signed a six-year, $44.4 million contract extension through 2012. The deal contains $15 million guaranteed, including a $7.5 million signing bonus and option bonuses of $6 million and $1.5 million in the second and third years. 2009: $3.6 million, 2010: $6 million, 2011: $6.5 million, 2012: $7.2 million, 2013: Free Agent

Ed is scheduled to make 6 million in base salary this year. And has a large front loaded roster option of 6 million also due this year. However next year he makes 6.5 million with a 1.5 million roster bonus for a total of 8 million.

Troy Polamalu
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_contract.aspx?sport=nfl&id=681

7/23/2007: Signed a five-year, $33 million contract. The deal contains $15.375 million guaranteed, including a $10.975 million signing bonus. 2009: $2.9 million, 2010: $6.1 million, 2011: $6.4 million, 2012: Free Agent

This year Troy Will make 6.1 Million.

Now lets face the facts, Atogwe is somewhere in their league talent wise but has yet to prove it year in and year out like they have. This is the base reason why I stated that he would not be signed here, or anywhere else for 7 million. True a team might be desperate enough to do this but the general lack of positional value at safety will probably hinder O. J.‘s ability to land an inflationary contract in one of the worst economies in U. S. History. Any team that signs him for more than 6 million would be pulling a move similar to what Pete Karmanos did when he took Sergei Federov away from the Red Wings and Mike Illitch. Keep in mind that Federov was a personal vendetta and payback in the little “greek town hockey war” that the Illitch’s and Karmanos’s wage against each other. After that deal was over and done Pete admitted he made a mistake and let his personal feelings influence him into making a bad business decision. That Federov deal set the stage for an escalation in NHL player salaries that ended some teams, such as the Winnipeg Jets, whom are still feeling the effects today as the Phoenix Coyotes.

Given that scenario consider how much more solidarity that the NFL owners show in how they handle their business. Now consider the fact that the Detroit Lions have been losing money for years. There is very little chance that we will see Atogwe in Detroit for 7 million a year. Maybe 5 million yes but not seven. Considering the Windsor connection I could even see them signing him for near 6 million but that is only opening Pandora’s box. If we sign Atogwe for that now what will we have to pay Delmas when he consistently out performs him over the next 3 years? Perhaps if we had still been selling out Lions games the team would financially be able to do this, but even then I think the Lions and any other financially sensible team would balk at the 7 million asking price.

Take your 5 million a year deal and come pay for the Lions O. J. Do it for the home town team and your love of not only the game but the Detroit / Windsor area whom needs to have something to smile about and help us forget the pain of our daily lives. Do it for the same reason that Brees and Shockey and others went to New Orleans, do it becaue you believe in something, not because your looking for a payday.

I don’t really care much about whether or not the Lions sign Atogwe. He is a good player, but I feel he is being overhyped. The guy want 7mil a year, which is a crazy amount for a safety. He would be a nice addition to the team, but I don’t see him doing a whole lot to improve our pass defense.

Besides, Atogwe is one of the Rams best players. If they, along with a bunch of other big market teams that can pay the 7 mil, aren’t signing him, then there has to be a bit more to the story then just the money issue here.

as good as this guy is, hes never made the pro bowl…..dude can ball thats for sure, hes a ball hawk, knows when to take chances….knows when his teammates are around and to go for the strip of the ball…..7mil a year nah, but 5-5.5 mil i can give that to him.

He is slower than Delmas, he posted far lower numbers his rookie year than Delmas, he is better at causing fumbles than defending the pass. Now he is not bad at defending the pass but what Atogwe’s skill set really reflects is the modern day version of the Strong Safety. He is a lot more athletic and gifted in the passing game than the old school strong safeties were, but his trademark is causing fumbles. I think he would be a darn good compliment to Louis Delmas, however he is not as talented as Louis. Louis has the potential to be the next Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu. Atogwe on the other hand is a bit of a different player, he is more like Brian Dawkins as someone earlier mentioned. Atogwe is a great player, and definitely has pro bowl potential, but the Lions have to be careful how much they pay him because whatever they give him, they will need to give Louis Delmas more in a couple of years.

Wild Card to sign him.