Kevin Smith Hopes To Re-Sign With Detroit Lions

by Sean Yuille on Feb 10, 2012 6:21 PM EST in Detroit Lions News

Around this time a year ago, the Detroit Lions made the decision to not bring back running back Kevin Smith. He was set to become an unrestricted free agent, but the Lions declined to tender him an offer, meaning he became an unrestricted free agent.

Smith was out of football until the Lions brought him back in the middle of the 2011 season. Finally healthy, he resumed his career with a few carries against the Chicago Bears and then put together an amazing game against the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately, he dealt with injuries again later in the season, but when healthy he provided a nice boost to the Lions' running game.

With Smith set to become a free agent again this offseason, it's unclear if he will be back with the Lions in 2012. If it were up to him, though, he wouldn't be going anywhere.

"In every interview that I've done, even though I'm a free agent, I've referred to the team and me as us," Smith said. "I'm on the Lions roster in my opinion until I'm not on the Lions roster. That says it all."

If the Lions do decide to bring him back, they could have a backfield that consists of Smith, Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure next season. Injuries have been an issue with all three of them, but on paper, that is a pretty solid combination of running backs.

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I could live with that.

For me it would ultimately hinge on Best’s health and Leshoure’s performance. I’d like Kevin for depth, but not for full-time running.

It's turkey, Lions and Macy's. Any other combination is just ludicrous.

"I'm not puting that quote on my sig" -Bighaircut, circa 2012

"Ambition is a poor excuse for not having sense enough to be lazy." - Charlie McCarthy

by Leonuro on Feb 10, 2012 6:25 PM EST reply actions

Word.

I’m all about bringing K-Smooth back, but I still think we need to bring another H-Back into the fold. The top three dudes on our depth chart all have very serious health concerns, and MoMo, while still productive, is 32.

by motown313 on Feb 11, 2012 12:50 PM EST up reply actions

As big of a fan of MoMo that I am

I am ready to seriously start looking for his replacement. We need a younger durable vet that can fill that roll when called upon. Much like MoMo that player needs to be exceptionally durable.

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-Only 1 out of 10 dogs born ever get a home.
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by joshsun on Feb 11, 2012 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly.

If we can afford him, I would love to sign a guy like Mike Tolbert, a big dude who’s reliable, and a great receiver out of the backfield. He can also line up at FB for us, which could be helpful seeing as we don’t keep one on the roster anymore.

by motown313 on Feb 11, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions

i would like him

I think an healthy offseason and strength and conditioning could really help him get through the season

by yamahawarrior89 on Feb 10, 2012 6:35 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Keep him

Guy obviously wants to be a Lion, one of the more loyal players in all of the NFL.

by Lionsfan012 on Feb 10, 2012 9:13 PM EST reply actions

I like our chances

going into camp with Best Leshour Smith Williams and Bell

"In a perfect world, you look for the big, fast guys who can play" Jim Schwartz

by chucka on Feb 10, 2012 9:57 PM EST reply actions

The way I look at it

We really don’t know what Mikel has in him and to what extent he can return from his injury. Lets just say that he returns to atleast 85% of what he was before I could see this happening.

Jahvid Best – 5-10 Carries, 5-10 Catches, Gets most snaps but mostly as a reciever. He’d much rather take a hit from a CB than Ray Lewis.

Kevin Smith – 1-5 Carries, a solid depth player who gets a few carries a game to act as a breather for Mikel

Mikel LeShoure – 5-15 Carries, Our “Workhorse back” obviously, this totally depends on how he returns but if he comes back and shows what he was in college, he will be our main back but will share snaps with Best as he won’t be on as much for throw plays. Although, I read that Leshoure was a very good reciever.

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by Detroitnr1 on Feb 10, 2012 10:08 PM EST reply actions

I think Smith has earned at least one more year with us to try to put his health issues behind him

by msivits on Feb 11, 2012 5:08 AM EST reply actions

Umm.... this will be his 4th year of trying to put health issues behind him.

It gets pretty frustrating because the team can’t count on him being on the field for at least 12-14 games. At some point you just have to move on.

That said, I expect him to be around in training camp. We don’t know whether Best or Leshoure will be able to play or stay healthy, so the Lions need to look at as many options as possible.

There’s a significant chance that the Lions will be muddling through another year at RB.

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Feb 11, 2012 3:05 PM EST up reply actions

+1

K-smoove at least deserves one more full season,he gave us something when we had nothing at all! I mean the guy came in off the street and did a great job til he got hurt…..but if not for him we would have had absolutely nothing at all after jahvid got hurt,so I say a one year deal to a loyal hard working guy.

by hostage42 on Feb 11, 2012 7:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions

What we need to do is go back down to New Orleans

and get that old Voodoo witch that made Stafford indestructible to do the same for K-Smoove, Best, and Leshoure.

I know the witch is a Saint’s fan, but IMO giving up those games in the Superdome was definitely worth it to keep our franchise QB healthy for the future. Now I understand if we meet the Saints next year it will be in the playoffs, but I still think it’d be worth it for the future of this franchise. JMHO

"Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid."
- John Wayne

by UndaDawg on Feb 11, 2012 4:04 PM EST reply actions

I meant "Stafford's shoulder indestructible"

"Life's hard. It's even harder when you're stupid."
- John Wayne

by UndaDawg on Feb 11, 2012 4:06 PM EST up reply actions

Bring him back!!

After him coming back off the street and being thrust into the primary back role I was not surprised to see him wear down a bit. Guy had been doing absolutely nothing and after one week (Bears game) of being a role guy he became the go to guy without much help. I say bring him back again as long as the price is right. It sounds like he is willing to take a discount to stay in Detroit so bring him back and this way we dont have to waste an early pick on another RB and concentrate on some other areas of concern.,

Its not that I dont want to have a better running game, but if my memory serves correct we did still make the playoffs with no running game for the last half of the season and it wasnt our offence that caused our exit from the playoffs. We have some other areas we really need to focus on first. I feel that our big needs are LB, S, OL and DE (even if we sign Avril, KVB seems to have lost a step and is not as productive as he was.

They did it for Savy, they did it for Horton, they did it for each other, they did it for us. I give you the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions....The Boston Bruins!!

My Lions lost to the Saints who are clearly the better team. (This is what happens when you back your team and they lose),

by beachguy113 on Feb 11, 2012 4:35 PM EST reply actions

K-SMOOTH is a no-brainer

he’s cheaper than morris, a bigger threat to defenses, and younger. He could be our veteran 3rd down back, he’s great in passing situations and gets to the sticks.

he shores up the position; however, I think the FO should strongly consider moving a fullback onto the roster. If having a FB gets us an extra 15-20 rushing yards a game then it’s worth one roster spot.

by Admiral Ackbar on Feb 12, 2012 1:47 PM EST reply actions