Detroit Lions Release Joe Jon Finley, Make Change To Practice Squad

by Sean Yuille on Oct 25, 2011 10:44 PM EDT in Detroit Lions News

The Detroit Lions have in fact signed defensive back Don Carey. Vincent Fuller was not released or placed on injured reserve to make room for him on the roster, however. It turns out the Lions instead parted ways with tight end Joe Jon Finley to make room for Carey.

Finley was first let go by the Lions during the final round of roster cuts. He was brought back before the 49ers game because Tony Scheffler was out with a concussion. With Scheffler back, Finley is no longer needed and is once again a free agent.

In addition to the change to the 53-man roster, the Lions also announced a change to their practice squad. Fullback Matt Clapp has been released less than a week after being re-signed, and tight end Nathan Overbay has been re-signed less than a week after being let go.

Because the Lions want an extra tight end in case another injury happens, they decided to add Overbay back to the practice squad with Finley being let go. (Finley is not eligible to be on the practice squad.)

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Cancel Mayhew's prescription.

He no longer has the Clapp.

by NewSchoolLionFan on Oct 26, 2011 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

This all makes sense, Sean

I figured it was going to be Finley; being the 4th TE. Why do you think that the Lions just didn’t sign Overbay, and then just release him, and sign him back to practice squad? There must be a reason why they went this way. On the surface, it sorta made the Clapp signing pointless too; unless they had a new miracle drug to test out.

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 12:32 AM EDT reply actions

Read the last paragraph

Pride of Detroit, for Lions fans | SB Nation Detroit, for Detroit-area sports fans

by Sean Yuille on Oct 26, 2011 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I understand about Finley being ineligible...

Because the Lions want an extra tight end in case another injury happens, they decided to add Overbay back to the practice squad with Finley being let go. (Finley is not eligible to be on the practice squad.)

The Lions always had Overbay on the practice squad as a back-up TE, when they signed FA Finley to the roster, when they IR’d Eric Coleman, with Scheffler being out. They signed Clapp to the practice squad to replace James Davis, who went on to the injured list after replacing Overbay, and then resigned Overbay back to the practice squad, after releasing Clapp and Finley, and adding Don Carey to the roster.

Obviously, they weren’t comfortable with moving Overbay to the roster, so is he really considered a valued back-up? Why did they sign Clapp, just to sign a TE back, whom they dumped, when they needed an extra body there? This is what I’m talkin’ ’bout. They already knew enough about Matt Clapp, but the Overbay resigning is puzzling; perhaps insurance for Heller?

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Practice Squad members

Serve an underrated purpose in emulating the opponent’s players too. Maybe Overbay is solely a blocking TE and they needed one for the defense to practice against, or there’s some other facet to Overbay that our other TEs don’t have in practice.

"You've got to respect your opponent, no matter who it is. You respect him best by going out there and beating him up." - Calvin Johnson

by Mavyrk on Oct 26, 2011 3:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

That's sorta my take.

When they signed Finley they were unsure of the length of time Tony would miss. Finley is a receiver and not considered much of a blocker. If Pettigrew or Heller were hurt Overbay may have been the preference. If an injury happens down the road Finley might not be available so having a TE nearby is still pragmatic.

Someone is alive today simply because I can't afford a hitman.

by Justan Oldfart on Oct 26, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

That makes sense, Mav... I just wonder what dimension that is?

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

They re-signed Overbay because Finley isn't eligible for the PS

They want a TE on there in case Finley finds a job elsewhere. If another injury happens and Finley isn’t a FA, then who would they have if Overbay isn’t there?

Pride of Detroit, for Lions fans | SB Nation Detroit, for Detroit-area sports fans

by Sean Yuille on Oct 26, 2011 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks...

we’re having a disconnect here, but I think it all makes sense now… I just won’t bring up Clapp again. ;>/)

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope we get a couple games without Best

I’ve come to the conclusion he hurts our running attack. He shouldn’t be the featured back. He’s too small, that much has been proven. Some guys are just too small. He can’t take the beating. Use him as an offensive weapon but find someone else to carry the load.

by LionsD on Oct 26, 2011 12:41 AM EDT reply actions

-1

There's two kinds of people I despise, the racist government workers that imposed cannabis prohibition and G.M.'s that ruin franchises. Everyone else is cool, more or less.

by Hiyawn_Lions24twenty on Oct 26, 2011 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions

-44

President of the Tony Scheffler Fan Club

by ZWC11 on Oct 26, 2011 4:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Really?

He hasnt been that hurt. Consussions can happen to anyone, as well as turf toe. He has yet to have an injury that is realted to him being small.

by BennieBladesFan on Oct 26, 2011 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

He can't pound the ball, it's simple

Running backs need to be able to punish the defense and soften them up. Best can’t do that. He’s 190 pounds at most. Just like Jim Schwartz said, they have had MANY negative running plays or runs with no yardage. Look at how much happier he was this weekend, over 100 yards with no negative runs. It makes a huge difference. If you’re too small to hit the hole and break a tackle for positive yards, it ain’t working.

by LionsD on Oct 26, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Turf toe isn't permanent; concussions are

What good is the money, if you can no longer count it? Better testing methods need to be explored. Perhaps Best came back too early from his last one.

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree

I said the same when Leshoure went down; that Best was too small to take the pounding of being the featured back. I’ve changed my reasons, but not the main point. Best is a great secondary back, but too injury-prone to be relied upon as the Lions’ primary ball-carrier. His quickness and speed in the running game are immeasurable, as well as in the passing game. The threat that he poses for opposing defenses cannot be overlooked, but as a change-of-pace back; he lacks the durability to be any more than that. I’m sure a road-grader OL would help, but that isn’t the case this season. I fear he’ll be out of football if the Lions plan on giving him a heavy workload going forward.

It’s not really his size, as you can list a number of RBs who are smallish, and Detroit had the greatest of them in Barry, although he was a fireplug with after-burners; certainly not the imposing presence of a Jim Brown or Eric Dickerson. I’d like to see Jahvid Best be that guy that defenses worry about, but keeping him on the field has been the problem; he just might be too fragile to take the pounding that a Matt Forte, Frank Gore, or Michael Turner can absorb as an every-down RB. I’d hate to see the Lions upgrade the running potential of their OL in 2012, and not have Best around anymore, but this is where things are heading, if he continues to be used try to grind out a running attack. I really think that reducing the risk factor for further injury lies limiting his attempts more, and let’s not forget; that was the plan for this season, until we caught a bad break. There is nothing wrong with a two or three back rotation, in order to keep Best in the mix, and more importantly, reducing the chance of another head injury this season, which will surely lead to his retirement.

The coolest Lion nickname ever belongs to Dick "NIGHT TRAIN" Lane.

Detroit... putting the OFFENSIVE in OL.

Follow me: Following B00Bs

by Gee Garold Lembach on Oct 26, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Good post

I like Javhid, he’s exciting, I think it’s obvious he’s a detriment because of so many negative or no yardage runs. I think another game without him will make it even more obvious. We have 2 220+ pound backs who can get the job done for us. The line is not the main problem. Its the back who can’t break through the holes.

by LionsD on Oct 26, 2011 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions