NFL Roster Cuts: Lions Claim Spencer Havner, Release Dennis Northcutt
by Sean Yuille on Sep 5, 2010 3:13 PM EDT
in Detroit Lions Roster
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PrintAlthough the Lions established their 53-man roster yesterday, that was merely the rough draft. The Lions will scour the waiver wire in the coming days before putting together a roster that they will head to Chicago with next week to start the 2010 NFL season.
It remains to be seen just how many additional moves will be made, but the Lions made two today, claiming Spencer Havner off waivers and releasing Dennis Northcutt.
Havner was released yesterday by the Packers. He started his career as a linebacker and converted to tight end last offseason. In 2009, he appeared in all 16 games, starting once for Green Bay. In total, he had seven catches for 112 yards and four touchdowns.
Northcutt being released means the Lions appear to be content with carrying only four receivers on the roster. With four tight ends as well, Detroit still has plenty of depth when it comes to pass-catchers, allowing them to run a lot of two-tight end sets. It also means that they are comfortable with someone on the roster returning punts. Northcutt was going to handle punt returns, but with him gone, I would expect to see somebody like the newly-acquired Alphonso Smith taking them back for the Lions.
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You can almost count Aaron Brown as a WR, too
a real life FLEX option
hell, Jahvid Best has some great hands, too.
In life, a man is either the hammer or the anvil. Ndamukong Suh is both
Pride of Detroits village idiot
K smooth has always has shown good hands too
We have a lot of options in a pinch if a WR goes down
by WestsideLionsFan on Sep 5, 2010 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Glad to hear the Lions ate Northcutts salary ; shows they are committed to fielding the best players.
I still would like an upgrade over D. Williams he has just looked awful in all the pre-season games recieving and special teams. As Jazzy stated above Brown and Best are good recievers and we have 2 on the practice squad if 1 WR goes down with an injury during the season. if a stud PR is out there I would like to see them cut their loses with Williams and snatch him up and draft another PR/WR in next years draft.
I thought being lazy was a bad thing, So I gave up thinking.
+1
This might mean more opportunity for Tim Toone to see playing time.
by Admiral Ackbar on Sep 5, 2010 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Interesting...
Normally I’d be somewhat freaking out about only having 4 WR’s on the roster, but I think Aaron Brown and even Scheffler can line up at wideout if need be, so we should be ok.
FO must have a lot of faith in Havner, considering he’s only played TE for one season. At this point, I’m pretty convinced they know what they’re doing. Keep doin’ ya thang, Mayhew.
A couple of weeks back...
When I asked just what kind of offense Linehan ran, this is exactly why I asked.
You can’t really define it. It’s fluid as all hell with everyone lining up everywhere and running lord only knows which route.
Thus the need for only 4 wideouts.
Now please get rid of D Williams. But their doing what they said they would do. Keep their draft picks.
by delusional on Sep 5, 2010 3:37 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Two way player ?
I’m really stretching it here. OK, this new guy is a T.E. Being a converted L.B., with size, in a pinch, could we shove him to defense ? You know he’ll be on the suicide squad also. Why do I get the feeling the G.M. is out thinking the entire league ?
" I must be crazy to be in a loony bin like this. " " What are you doin' here? You oughta be out in a convertible bird-doggin' chicks and bangin' beaver. " " Medication time. Medication time. " ( One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - 1975 )
Because he is
Mayhew is hustling the nfl right now
in the years to come the lions will be a
power house and he will be considered
one of the best gm’s ever Go Get’em
Hew
They must like D.W
I wanted to keep williams BUT an sure thing insurance policy (northcutt is not) would be nice to have as a spare.
I had a dream were the Lions let me sign a 1 day contract they let me practice with them running drills and catching passes from Matt…At the end of the day I was called into Mayhews office. I was told I had just been traded to seattle for a 5th round draft pick.
Havner
Just got done vising my bud in Eau Claire and, the faithful there are busted up losing Havner.
A very versatile player who can snag some TD’s when it counts.
This is a good thing!! He can play LB decently as well.
He might be trade bait but, I doubt it. Having red zone TE’s you can count on are needed on this team. Sheffler and Pettigrew need breathers through a whole REAL game.
Expectations don't produce!
On Havner
After going over to the Pack co. site, I’m glad we’ve got him. The consensus is that he’s a good, versatile player who’s great on Special Teams and a good blocker. Basically, he’s the perfect 53rd man on the roster.
Though I'll add
It wouldn’t surprise me if Mayhew had something in the works already. He might be doing exactly what he did with Polumbus, signing a guy just because he knows he can squeeze a 6th or 7th rounder out of somebody for him. We’ll see.
I agree...
I suspect that he doesn’t stay with the team long. If they wanted four tight ends, they’d have kept Gronkowski. Havner was probably wanted by a lot of teams and the Lions smartly nabbed him from waivers. Now, they’ll just find one of the teams that wanted him and trade him for a late rounder or a cornerback. I be very surprised to see him stay a Lion.
Sea, and 1 other team put in claims on Havner (maybe Tenn.)
But we got him, You guys maybe onto something here.
You won't squeeze a trade out of him
TT tried the same thing to get picks for Havner. No tackers. Teams like him, he’s a solid guy for the roster…just no one willing to give up picks to get him either.
by PackApologist on Sep 6, 2010 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Let the rejoicing begin. Northcutt has been banished!
Not exactly sure who will take the punt return duties. DWill? Alphonso? Burleson? I don’t like Burleson being used there. He is far too valuable as our #2 WR.
I continue to be impressed by the Savvy of our front office.
They pick up a promising young nickle back that cost Denver a 1st and 2nd eound pick to take for Gronkowski then turn around and pick up a guy off waivers that can do what Gronkowski did plus some. Nice moves nice moves. Also with the guys we are picking up look for us to have a top notch special team unit, especially on kick coverage. I dont think we are going to have to worry so much about Hester and Harvin this year.
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 60's football back to Motown!
Totally .. Very very Impressive
He told Denver that they are down on the order .. can’t get the TE they want .. (Before deadline to CUT) .. Got a High pick DB with potential upside . and basically got the same guy(TE) next day for free …
This basically amounts to picking up Alphonso for free off the waiver wire .. bypassing STL :)
I also would officially like to say Foostock, that you were wrong about the 1.3 mil being the reason they kept Northcutt :)
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 60's football back to Motown!
I am stunned to say the least!
what a wonderful surprise…The Lions actually released a player that costs them a chunk of money all in the interest of improving our team. I love it!
Things are looking up boys! This aint your father’s Lions any more!!
Kong of the Jungle----Best of the Beasts!!
This is the new lions baby, eventually we may actually lose our skepticism! :)
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 60's football back to Motown!
This is not your mothers Lions any more either!!!!
Lions fans deserve better than being the laughing stock of the NFL. Lets all hope they are heading in the right direction finally.
With every pickup
The imprint of Mayhew/Schwartz gets deeper in the type of player their exactly looking for, and the horror of 10 years of asshole fades.
These new players won’t give a shit about the old culture and some are coming from winning programs.
by delusional on Sep 5, 2010 4:48 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Very intersting move
This Havner has some talent and as a bonus, we are free of Northcutt, who was very underwhelming as a Lion. This move shows how reliant on the TE postion we will be. I wonder how opposing defences will handle it.
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
In the words of Stuart Scott:
“You can’t stop them…you can only hope to contain them”
Interesting
We really have no need for another TE,so I suspect this is part of a trade. Don’t know which one will go but I do think one of them will be gone within a week as part of a trade.Fully expected us to grab a couple of LB’s and another DB.Thought they might grab someone off waivers,but now am expecting both trade and waiver pick ups.
Enjoy Havner
Right now there is deep divison in Packerland how much we are going to miss him. I will say this though, he’s an old school throw back player. He’ll play any where you need him and will be very adequate.
I was sorry to see him go, but I also understand why he was cut. We just had too much talent at the position and he was the odd man out.
I was also disappointed to see that you guys picked him up and he stayed in the division. Oh well, ce la vie.
Nice! Thanks for stopping by, props for not being a hater. BTW I have Rogers and Finley in my FFL so I will be rooting ffor you guys when your not playing us ;)
Ndamukong Suh - Bringing 60's football back to Motown!
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