Middle linebacker Larry Foote is expected to be released after this weekend was released by the Steelers earlier today, and his next move may be to join the Detroit Lions, his hometown team. Foote is a Detroit native, and there were rumors earlier in the year that he wanted to play for the Lions whenever his time in Pittsburgh was over. Those rumors were never really confirmed, which is understandable since Foote probably didn't want to say something like that when he was still under contract with another team. Now that he is a free agent, though, Foote isn't hiding his desire to play for the Lions.
"Detroit is always No. 1," said Foote, a Pershing grad who still spends his offseason in Detroit. "I mean, my agent is talking to them about me coming home, and we'll go from there. But no question about it, that's my first choice."
Foote went on to talk a bit about how he wanted to be traded and how one of the teams interested in him was Detroit.
"I don't know what the Steelers were doing in the whole process. They kept saying they were trying to get a trade. I know they were in talks with the Lions. But I don't know how it's gonna work. My agent (Ken Kremer) said the Lions tried to get me, but I still don't know how bad they want me."
Tom Kowalski hypothesized that the Lions very well may have not worried about drafting a middle linebacker this past weekend because of Larry Foote. This move was a foregone conclusion, and it was no secret that Foote wanted to be a Lion. Couple that with the fact that defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham has said he doesn't like starting a bunch of rookies and this may have been some smart planning on the Lions' part. Foote is someone that would start from day one and bring great leadership to the defense. He is a Detroit native, a former University of Michigan player, and someone that spends his offseasons in his home state. I can't think of anybody that would play harder for the Lions than Foote.
UPDATE: There seems to be some conflicting information about whether or not Foote has already been released. According to the transactions list on NFL.com, Foote was cut today, so I'm assuming that info is accurate.
UPDATE II: The Steelers have not released Foote just yet, as it appears they are trying to trade him before simply letting him go. The expectation is that he will be released after this weekend, so let's hope no other team trades for him before then.