Lions Notes: Martin Mayhew Talks Expectations, Salary Cap, NFL Free Agency
by Sean Yuille on Aug 6, 2011 3:59 AM EDT
in Detroit Lions News
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Print- General manager Martin Mayhew said on Friday that the Lions are "at a point now where we expect to challenge for our division." He also said that the Lions have high expectations this year and that "it's time to stop talking about winning and start winning."
- Mayhew was asked about the salary cap situation and said the Lions are "fine." According to Mayhew, a couple contracts were restructured and the Lions were on track to be under the cap by the 4 p.m. deadline on Friday.
- Mayhew was hoping to sign both Stephen Tulloch and Eric Wright to multi-year deals. Since they ended up with one-year deals, Mayhew said it's possible that their contract situations will be addressed before or shortly after the season is over in order to work out something long-term.
- Two more things from Mayhew's Friday media session: 1) He said that aside from quarterback, every position on the roster can be upgraded; and 2) He said that the Lions are building for the "long haul," not just for a one-year run.
- Because he grew up in Chelsea, Michigan, Tony Scheffler knows how special a successful season would be for the city of Detroit and the state of Michigan.
- Stephen Tulloch thinks Jim Schwartz will eventually put him back in the middle, but he said no matter what, he is willing to do whatever he is told.
- Mikel Leshoure says his job is to complement Jahvid Best.
- Maurice Leggett is excited to be playing for Gunther Cunningham again and Eric Wright is excited to have a change of scenery.
- Mike Utley visited the Lions' practice on Friday.
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Good to see Utley out there.
Man I love Mayhew. I can’t imagine anyone else running this team right now. He and Schwartz are the dynamic duo this team needed for many years.
"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
"Fairies don’t win championships. Bad Ass Mofo’s Do!"- Kevinz418
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Aug 6, 2011 5:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Happy about the Cap
Good news that we’re on track to be under the cap.
"How in the hell can I make my teammates better by practicing?" Allen Iverson
by Disassembly Line on Aug 6, 2011 6:22 AM EDT reply actions
were u really sweating 7 mil if cowboys can drop like 20 mil im sure we can rework 7
This isnt directed at you but i was reading comments at PFT about the teams over the cap and people just couldnt believe that the lions and raiders who have been so bad are over the cap. Try drafting in top 5 year after year having bust after bust and try being under the cap with the old CBA rules. Just mind boggling how crippling the old contracts were im very glad everyone took a step in the right direction for the next ten years
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
and having a GM that would love to overpay for washed up old guys
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
Tulloch in the middle
Maybe Tulloch can play on the outside, but it seems to me like Schwartz is “rotating linebackers to see who fits best” to not hurt DeAndre Levy’s feelings. We know Tulloch will end up in the middle. Levy has the frame and length to play outside, where Tulloch has more of a middle linebacker body (albeit a tad shorter). I say let him take over the middle, and have Levy and Durant work the outsides to build some continuity. Signing a player that will come in and take your position is a slight shot to your confidence. I don’t care if you are the ultimate team player, it will hurt a bit.
agree
and thought the same. It will kinda be a bummer if Tulloch leaves next year (assuming he works out at MLB) because than it’d be switch-a-roo again with Levy…hopefully we can get that continuity because they’re all young and I’d love to have this front 7 for a while
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
One year at a time i guess
You have to hope Tulloch has a great season even if it means he will then be difficult to resign. If we can’t resign him next year hopefully someone like Palmer improves to the point that he can man an outside spot and Levy returns to the Mig. In a way I hope it happens cause it’ll mean great things for this year.
Ah but I was so much older then and younger than right now
by Justan Oldfart on Aug 6, 2011 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions
If this team has a good year
Guys like Tulloch are going to want to stay. I think you will see the 4 big dogs taking less money and more guaranteed money to help resign all these 1 year tender guys.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Leshoure just keeps impressing and impressing.
So glad I called up the FO and made them draft him now.
Gracias Amigo!
I think he’s a keeper!
The Dis-Assembly Line - The unofficial, official name for the next best D-line in football.
Good call Mav
"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short
by YpsilantiJeff on Aug 6, 2011 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Who has been looking good at WR
I heard some comments about Ballard but it seemed like he got fewer reps the last couple of days. I know Titus will come back from his muscle tightness, but who was been looking like our number 4 and 5 guy? I would guess we keep Logan for his return abilities and being an OK #5 option. Who will be our 4? Is D. Williams turning the corner or following in his sub-par career footsteps again?
Good to hear!
Hey was a top recruit coming out of high school and had a solid career with Penn State. I thought for sure he would have made an impact on our team. Many people look good in shorts and shoulder pads. Well see if he has made any major strides once they strap up and the opponents are looking to lay the wood in pre-season. 5 days away!
Who has 2 thumbs and likes Mike Utley?
This guy!
How many lumps you want Doc?
by davis0169 on Aug 6, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Mike Utley, class act, warrior and proof that that human spirit can not be kept down.
I like Wins, Cheese and I also Like Cookies. If you don't. Wow. :P
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"It’s modern-day slavery, you know?" Adrian Peterson (AKA, The $11 million dollar slave)
Help Stop real slavery!
Adrian Peterson facing reality and trying to help!
by joshsun on Aug 6, 2011 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Everthing is falling in place...
I love this team from top to bottom we are competitive it is going to be a fun and exciting year.
" Maybe for a writer...but i am sure most of you can tell i am not a writer". det32
by SmittyJ on Aug 6, 2011 9:45 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I love the team too
But my biggest concern has gone from the secondary to the offensive line. Gosder and his “sore knee” is not a good sign. Backus missing at Left Tackle will hurt him at the beginning of the year. I like Sims and Peterman is OK too if he can stay healthy. Raiola is terrible and shouldn’t be on the team. He is a good leader and lockeroom presence, but his blocking is horrid. Please don’t make Matthew watch the Thanksgiving game on the sideline this year guys.
Gm1 lineup...
Backus Sims Goodwin Peterman Fox
I know its going to be Dom but i would love if we somehow signed Goodwin…
" Maybe for a writer...but i am sure most of you can tell i am not a writer". det32
It is easy to forget
with all of the qb injuries we had last year, that we were 6th best in the league at not giving up sacks.
Did you guys see the size of that chicken?
Our pass blocking is solid
And I will give Raiola that, he can see blitzes and call things out quickly but our run blocking ranked 31st in the league last year behind Tennessee. I forgot what site broke it down, but they looked at holes created, or successful blocks per play on the run, something that must have taken a ridiculous amount of time, and had Detroit ranked 31. Hopefully our an upright Stafford this year can open some more holes for us. I wouldn’t mind Fox getting some playing time. If we can play well and relieve of of drafting a LT next year that would be great. We need a stud center, another guard, and a CB if nobody makes the big leap this year. I have hopes for Berry and Phonz because I think Houston is about as good as he will be and Eric Wright was an average corner in Cleveland. I talked to a few friends who were Browns fans and they said Wright SUCKED…even the years sites said he played “good” they said all they did was look at INTs and he was not a consistent every down player. He is still young and I think he can turn it around with a fresh start. I’d be a little inconsistent if I was receiving death threats from my home town too.
When Mayhew says
“it’s time to stop talking about winning and start winning,” what he is saying is that he has pulled most of the rabbits out of his hat. I’m sure he still has a few, though.
Did you guys see the size of that chicken?
Seriously though
why do people continue to trade with teams like the Patriots and Lions? (I realize that it may be a little premature to compare Mayhew to the NE brain trust, but I am anyway.)
Did you guys see the size of that chicken?
Eh, its WAY early to compare Mayhew to the best GM's in the league
I love the guy, and he’s made some great moves, but if we don’t win anything, it all is moot.
"I'm glad they made Flintstone's vitamins because I used to watch The Flintstones and go, "Man I bet you if I ate that dude, I would be healthy."
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
We'll miss you, Pain Train.
I call bullcrap...
He already has done more than Millen has done the whole time he was here. Millen built teams on what principle? I don’t think he even knows. This team is more compatible with other coaches from around the league in case Schwartz can’t win. I personally don’t think it is Mayhew’s fault. He has gotten talent on this team all around.
Football isn't a contact sport; it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.--Vince Lombardi
He's acquired a lot of possible talent
Especially in such a short period of time. We don’t know how MOST of his acquisitions are going to turn out. It’s not up to Schwartz to win games, its the players, and the players are being provided by Mayhew. I’m not knocking the guy, I love Mayhew, but comparing him the the best GM’s in the league is pretty absurd right now. In a few years, if our team starts winning and the players pan out, yeah, consider it.
"I'm glad they made Flintstone's vitamins because I used to watch The Flintstones and go, "Man I bet you if I ate that dude, I would be healthy."
"I used to do drugs. I still do, but I used to, too."
We'll miss you, Pain Train.
What a great picture of Scheff and his daughter!
All men are created equal. Its just that some men are more equal than others....
+1
I like Wins, Cheese and I also Like Cookies. If you don't. Wow. :P
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"It’s modern-day slavery, you know?" Adrian Peterson (AKA, The $11 million dollar slave)
Help Stop real slavery!
Adrian Peterson facing reality and trying to help!
Agreed Studmo
We’ve improved on paper, but have still only won 6 games in 3 years…not faulting Mayhew for any of this, but until the Lions are being talked about as Super Bowl contenders year in year out, we have a long way to go.
Aside from Quarterback every position can be improved?
That is a huge endorsement of Matthew obviously but that also puts huge expectations squarely on his shoulders…
Interesting assesment of someone that hasn’t seen that much competitive game time.
I have to believe there is more to that statement than meets the eye………
"My Mama once told me don't argue with fools, cause people from a distance can't tell who is who" - Jay Z
The more to that statement
Well imo I think what he was referring to was the coaches are comfortable with our depth from top to bottom at QB not just Stafford. Hill and Drewgie both performed very well as backups. Compared to other teams depth at the position, we have a very strong group that are all familiar with the playbook and all started last year at some point. The coaches wanted to resign Drew because they know they can count on him if his name is called and he’s our 3rd stringer. Not many teams can say that about their 3rd string QB.
"We're looking to improve this team every day, every week, every month until we get to our ultimate goal which is to win a championship."
-Martin Mayhew Detroit Lions GM, Master of the Universe
"Fairies don’t win championships. Bad Ass Mofo’s Do!"- Kevinz418
by Home in Cleveland, Heart in Detroit on Aug 6, 2011 12:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't want this to sound wrong
But spider all due respect. Even the QB position can be upgraded at this point. I think we all feel Staff will be all that, but facts are the facts and that says he has a losing record as a starter so until he proves anything he could be upgraded also.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Going down like flies....
cmccosky Chris McCosky
Correction — #Lions Jason Fox has a mid-foot injury. For those keeping score, 3 of the top 4 OTs are hurt: Backus, Cherilus, Fox.
Aug. 06, 2011 10:28 a.m. – by John Kreger – OT Cherilus’ recovery a concern
OT Gosder Cherilus (knee) was held out of Saturday’s practice. Cherilus’ recovery from microfracture knee surgery is becoming a concern. He has missed Detroit’s last six practices and isn’t showing signs of improvement. If Cherilus doesn’t return soon, Detroit will have serious O-line depth issues entering the season. Lions RapidReports
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/rapid-reports/post/15405525
I still believe that when it’s all said and done this pre-season, Cherilus could be gone.
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
three days ago I said "here it goes"
today, I am saying. And it continues.
With all the resources we put into the D line and how incredibly strong that position is right now. I wish we had payed more attention to our O line.
I guess it is way too much to ask the Football Gods to grant us a season like the bears had last year. Basically going an entire season plus without a major injury.
I am not feeling very good about our O lines chances this year. Losing one T is one thing. Losing two is another entirely. Hopefully Backus will be full strength by season start (I believe any report about injuries that comes from this team like I believe I am going to live to 100).
I like Wins, Cheese and I also Like Cookies. If you don't. Wow. :P
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It’s modern-day slavery, you know?" Adrian Peterson (AKA, The $11 million dollar slave)
Help Stop real slavery!
Adrian Peterson facing reality and trying to help!
I think Jeff will be ready to go by TB (it really does help to keep telling yourself this )
and I thoroughly disagree with everyones assessment that Hilliard is unserviceable.
"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short
by YpsilantiJeff on Aug 6, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Just saying....
IMO this unit which could be classified as the weak link on the team as a whole, should be focused upon and scrutinized heavily and broken apart wholesale if it’s a battle of equals or even if the replacement while in appearance may not be quite as good, but by replacing the starting player would strengthen the overall unit as a whole?
I’m breathing hard for Stafford’s health saying this, but if Backus is done, then Raiola should go just to have continuity between the replacements to create unit cohesion. Since Raiola is gone, so should Peterman, and of course Cherilus. These replacements while individually may be not quite as good, their hungry to prove themselves and may fight harder as a group in a unit then these sacred cows, and develop unit effective for the long haul.
Why disrupt piecemeal when the sun is setting for most of them?
.Does your momma have a Big Ass like your head?
Time to start Culbreath!! LOL
Football isn't a contact sport; it's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport.--Vince Lombardi
We should have made a move for Olen Kreutz.
His deal was a lot cheaper than Dom’s.
How many lumps you want Doc?
were gonna dance with what brung us
next year, they’ll go hog wild but for now…..grit and bear it :)
"Common Sense, isn't" Solomon Short
by YpsilantiJeff on Aug 7, 2011 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I know. . .
But I just can’t help think that Olen would have given us a better Center than Dom will. We keep talking about upgrades everywhere, and Olen is better than Dom hands down they are both up there in age so no big loser there, and Kruetz signed a good deal to play with N.O., anyone think he wouldn’t have loved sticking it to Chicago twice a year.
How many lumps you want Doc?
Is he really that much better in the running game though?
They’re basically exactly the same size. Roughly 6’2 295 lbs. Dom can pass block acceptably well, but he doesn’t get any push on runs up the middle. I guess it seems like Kreutz might have all of the same issues minus the superb command of the offense that Raiola has.
by WestsideLionsFan on Aug 7, 2011 12:51 AM EDT up reply actions
6 PB's for Olen . . .
I just don’t recall Dom ever going. . . .Big difference and would have been a huge upgrade. Interesting thing is he turned down more money from 2 other teams to sign with the Saints;I wonder who the 2 teams were.
How many lumps you want Doc?
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