Recapping The Recent Lions Roster News
by Sean Yuille on Mar 4, 2011 9:00 AM EST
in Detroit Lions Roster
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PrintAround this time a year ago free agency was just getting started and everybody's focus was on which players the Lions might end up signing. It was a fun and hectic time with lots of moves being made and numerous rumors floating around. Actually, it sort of felt like what went on yesterday with all of the roster news coming out.
With the CBA set to expire tonight, it appears that this year's actual free agency period will be put on hold. Keeping that in mind, I figured now would be a good time to look back on the news from yesterday and earlier this week to make sure everybody's on the same page. It was hard for me to keep track of all the news, so this should serve as a good refresher for everyone.
- Defensive end Cliff Avril received a tender from the Lions that is on a first- and third-round level. That is the highest level for restricted free agent tenders.
- Cornerback Chris Houston was tendered an offer at an unknown level. He commented on returning to Detroit next season and said he would test free agency before making a decision.
- Defensive end Turk McBride was tendered at a second-round level.
- Safety John Wendling was tendered at an original-round level (sixth-round). Offensive guard/center Dylan Gandy and fullback Jerome Felton also received original-round tenders. (Gandy was a fourth-round pick and Felton was picked in the fifth round.)
- Kicker Dave Rayner and defensive tackle Andre Fluellen received tenders, but we currently don't know what level they are.
- Cornerbacks Paul Pratt and Prince Miller, both exclusive rights free agents, were tendered offers.
- Linebacker Zack Follett was tendered an offer and already signed it.
- The Lions released linebacker Julian Peterson.
- Running back Kevin Smith was not extended a tendered contract offer. The same goes for cornerback Brandon McDonald.
- Wide receiver Brian Clark decided to retire to pursue a coaching career.
As you can see, there has already been a lot of roster-related activity this week. I would expect there to be a bit more in the coming days as we continue to find out which restricted free agents were tendered offers. The tenders have already been sent out, but we haven't yet heard from guys like Drew Stanton, Bobby Carpenter, Corey Hilliard and Tye Hill. At least a couple of those players were expected to be tendered an offer, so right now we are just waiting for the news to come out about them.
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Thanks Sean
Having this in one place is a big help. About time you did something here. :))
Ah but I was so much older then and younger than right now
Kevin Smith will be a good back somewhere
just not here evidently. I liked Smith coming out of Central Florida, and he did have a good rookie season, but the injury bug has killed his production. That’s too bad.
From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!
I wonder if Mawhew feels like an asshole in that picture driving around the old fella...
in that that silly little golf cart?
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
Maybe he "accidently" falls off.....
"My perception, sort of going back, looking at the Lions from the outside in, was the Lions would always change courses and overreact. To be at the point now where we were competitive in every game ... We need to stay on that track. We don't need to change course." - Jim Schwartz
So you've got a tall ripped dude who looks like an FBI agent
and a former SB-winning defensive back…. driving a golf cart…. with a 90 year old senile man….
Something bad is about to happen.
i have a signature now. it sets me apart from all of you schmuck blogger types. thank you for reading it.
That's not your run of the mill golf cart either
That think looks like it could lay down some rubber if needed
by WestsideLionsFan on Mar 4, 2011 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah where do I get one?
That things sweet.
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Mar 4, 2011 12:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He should've gone with this Lincoln Navigator instead:
Yikes. I don’t even want to know how much one of these things costs.
lewand
isn’t that tall dude. he’s like 5’8 or something. and he’s got a porker for a wife for some reason.
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
Wow.
Now we’re taking shots at Lewand’s “porker of a wife”? What does that have to do with anything?
Way to be classy, guy.
She made the drafting decisions during the Millen years.
So she’s fair game.
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
The carts a mini-Mustang maybe Mayhew can slap in a cobra-jet engine to speed things along
I thought being lazy was a bad thing, So I gave up thinking.
That would be a good picture for a caption contest.
My entry:
Mayhew: Shit, Why do I always have to drive this thing?!………Oh, now I remember.
"A lot of people have stayed 3 minutes in the ring with the bear, and they didn't do it by going at the bear. They did it by getting on their bike and running around. - Jim Schwartz 2011
Driving Mr. Ford
i have a signature now. it sets me apart from all of you schmuck blogger types. thank you for reading it.
free willy
or something to that effect
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
Im not sure why im answering this because i feel like your being sarcastic... That is William Clay FORD we play at FORD FIELD and
Matthew Stafford, Quarterback: a man barely alive, Gentlemen we can rebuild him, We have the technology, We have the capability to make the worlds first bionic QB, Matthew Stafford will be that man, Better than he was before
Better, Stronger, Faster
lol
dont gotta ruin the mustang name just b/c Ford owns the team. Put that old ass Ford logo that hasn’t changed in the last century
House of Spears | My Detroit Lions/General NFL Blog |
On 2nd thought
Lewand looks like Duke Nukem
i have a signature now. it sets me apart from all of you schmuck blogger types. thank you for reading it.
I understand this is a business, but...
… I still can’t help but feel a little queasy about Houston’s decision to test Free Agency instead of just signing an extension with us. I know, it’s a business, he’s trying to get his money, blah blah blah, but Rob Sims and Tony Scheffler didn’t hesitate signing an extension during the season, a sign to me that they actually want to be here.
I don’t know, I guess for someone who was considered a bust in Atlanta and wasn’t deemed good enough to even play the Nickel for them and then was instantly granted the no. 1 job here might act a little more like he actually wants to be here.
This quote also doesn’t sit well with me:
“at the end of the day, I wouldn’t mind being back.”
You wouldn’t mind being back? Really, it wouldn’t bother you too much? Maybe I’m reading too much into this, but I have yet to see any signs of a guy that genuinely wants to play here. Cliff Avril can proclaim on Twitter that he loves playing in the D despite the fact that he’s also an impending FA, yet Houston can’t tell us anything besides that he “wouldn’t mind” coming back? I don’t want guys to play for us just because we offer them the most money, I want guys that actually want to play for the Detroit Lions.
Again, I’m probably reading too much into this, but that’s how it looks from my perspective.
Please don’t respond with some asinine “HOUSTON HATER!” posts. If you disagree, that’s cool, but give me some reasoning, because at this point I feel desperate for a sign that he actually wants to be a Lion, but I just can’t find any.
Agreed
I’d rather hear that he’d love to come back to his team that is getting the parts together for something special…yet he must play the business man and test his value on the market. I think he played very well for us last year.
He did play well last year
though a red flag of sorts comes up for me, that being that I don’t know that it’s a coincidence that he played his best football during his contract year. He did a whole lot of nothing for Atlanta for three years, then came here during his contract year and played his ass off. I would like to think that has more to do with our coaching and/or defensive scheme, but I would be lying if told you I wasn’t suspicious that he pulled an Albert Haynesworth and busted his ass for one year so that he could get a big payday, and his refusal to openly say he wants to be a Lion only reinforces that in my mind.
I hope I’m wrong. Guess we’ll have to wait and find out.
You're missing something though...
From the way Houston was talking, it doesn’t sound like the team even tried getting him to sign an extension during the season. He seems bitter because they haven’t more aggressively pursued him.
That sounds right too.
"A lot of people have stayed 3 minutes in the ring with the bear, and they didn't do it by going at the bear. They did it by getting on their bike and running around. - Jim Schwartz 2011
still
a crappy attitude to have about it imo. he should just be grateful to even be playing in the league. he’s NOT that good of a db.
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
I guess.
But I can’t begrudge the guy for doing what he feels necessary for his livelihood. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same if my team was jerking me around like that.
i don't think
they were jerking him around at all. i think they were intentionally trying to do what they thought was best for the team. bottom line – i don’t know if i want him around if he’s gonna put himself above the team.
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
Talk about crappy attitudes!
Lighten up dude it’s Friday!
"A lot of people have stayed 3 minutes in the ring with the bear, and they didn't do it by going at the bear. They did it by getting on their bike and running around. - Jim Schwartz 2011
i'm in a great
mood man. dunno what you’re talkin about.
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
I don't disagree with what you are reading into Houston's comments.
But I think he is treating this situation in a totally business like manner. That is what he thinks he has to do to get the best contract. I am okay with that.
I think we as fans are so emotionally attached to our team that we expect that from our players too. Some do, but a lot do not. I think guys who have bounced from team to team probably feel less attached than guys who have stayed in the same place all their careers.
"A lot of people have stayed 3 minutes in the ring with the bear, and they didn't do it by going at the bear. They did it by getting on their bike and running around. - Jim Schwartz 2011
Houston
did seem a little bitter that at the time Scheffler and Sims were offered extensions he was not. At least that was what was reported by Killer on mlive. I guess that’s human but given his history with Atlanta I can understand why the FO wanted to see more.
Ah but I was so much older then and younger than right now
by Justan Oldfart on Mar 4, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions
i think
there will, at the very least, be another 24 hour extension, but i’m hoping for a longer one with the new deal soon to follow.
In Life - You GET What You GIVE.
Yeah this time last year
Sean was offered a contract with Da Bears and so was Oprah;Obama;Jerry Springer, and every other FA that was available.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Sounds like Lt. Campbell will be back too.
LT_Campbell53
Yes, Detroit, I would love to sign with u for another year and get chance to play for the greatest fans in the NFL again. Thnks for asking!
6 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
http://twitter.com/LT_Campbell53
"Lemme Tell you why I have confidence in the long term future of this team... It's #9, That's why I have confidence in the long term future of this Team." - Jim Schwartz
At least he knows
What a good deal he has playing here.
You think Dallas fans would care about him? Hell no.
Stefan Logan
Isn’t he an exclusive rights free agent, too? Don’t the Lions need to extend him an offer to prevent him from becoming a free agent? What’s his status?
Thanks for the info.
I saw other exclusive free agents on this list and I started to worry. It does seem a little odd that he hasn’t been tendered, though.
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