Lions News

[Russ Bolinger]

Just to follow up on Nick's point.....

I don't think there is anything wrong with Larry's comments either. He's just being honest, and that is much better then the constant politically correct stuff players are trained to spew in front of the media. No athlete likes losing, and when you have spent years with an exceptional winning organization and know nothing but winning, I can only imagine how difficult a 2-14 year would be.

The only thing that I get a laugh at is how it is ALWAYS about the money....and that is how it should be....you must consider your family and your financial well being first. But a few weeks ago Larry was giving no inidication he wanted out of Detroit. In fact, it was the exact opposite.....he was complaining because he felt disrespected because Detroit wasn't talking to him and asking him to come back or even offering him a contract........now that he has a contract with Pittsburgh his tune changes to "boy am I glad to be out of there....so glad I didn't sign a long term deal"......yea right Larry......and the fact that Pittsburgh offered you a contract or at least more money then Detroit probably did to come back had nuttin to do with it.

[Desert Lion]

It wasn't what he said that was so bad, but what the hell did he think he was coming to? He was coming to an 0-16 team. What, did he think he was going to do, put them over the brink to a winning season? All that BS talk about being home and family was all BS. Then he publicly stated a few times he WANTED to be a Cardinal. Appearantly the Cards had different thoughts. Fine, he is going to get the $$ and be a back up. He also damn well knows that Levy was going to start over him sometime this year. He has every right to go after the cash. I would, but I would also be a little more discrete about it in the press. Home town my ass!

[Kstat]

I still think it was that he felt the Lions kicked him to the curb after 1 year.

[Deacon Blues]

I think he thought Detroit sucked......

but a paycheck in Detroit is better than a paycheck at Denny's

[Desert Lion]

Originally Posted by Deacon Blues

I think he thought Detroit sucked......

but a paycheck in Detroit is better than a paycheck at Denny's

Then he is dummer than I thought! It took him a whole year to figure that out. Hell he could have just been reading your posts on here and hadn't bothered with the moving around.

[Deacon Blues]

I bet he wished he had.........

[Kstat]

Maybe we can find a cross big enough for the both of you.

[Deacon Blues]

the one in Rio may work......

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by Desert Lion

Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Former Lions linebacker Larry Foote was introduced by his new team Monday, the Steelers, which is his old team, as well. The Detroiter spent the first seven years of his NFL career in Pittsburgh.
Foote, who played at Detroit Pershing and Michigan, signed a one-year deal with the Lions ahead of the 2009 season. He led the Lions in tackles (99), even after missing the last two games because of a foot injury.
But the prospects of being on a winning team again and a hefty three-year, $9.3 million contract have Foote back in Pittsburgh.
Foote said the 2-14 season with the Lions took a toll on him and he had a few choice words about his experience in Detroit to the Pittsburgh media Monday.
"You can't really explain it until you go through it," he said. "You talk about dog days. Those were dog days, especially being a competitive person and losing. But I made some good relationships and it was good going home playing there. I'm just glad I'm back and thank God I didn't sign a longer deal there."
Foote also visited the Cardinals this offseason, but their offer reportedly wasn't in the same ballpark as the Steelers'. Foote says he'll accept a backup role with the Steelers, even though he could have been a starter with the Cardinals.
"I'm just here for depth," he said. "I accept that role. ... You gotta be winning. It's all about winning in this league, and having fun.
"I'm a Steeler. When they told me last year when I left I'll always be one, I didn't think I'd be back."


Fuck off and good ridance, Larry!

Yup.He did lead the lions in tackles but how did that work in wins?

....oh, I get it, I am here to make a change but the change I need is a long term contract because, I have to feed my family.

Originally Posted by GONZ

Oh, the homeboy's not getting all unconditional love anymore because he tells the truth?

He's a trained winner.

Can't blame him for feeling better about getting out of dodge, er, Detroit.

Uhhh no, because even though he led the team in tackles, why were they they worst again in Defense? Answer: He was not here to help the team progress, he was here to get stats for another contract because he knew he could start.

Originally Posted by Topweasel

I said it last year and I will say it again. I think players are assholes for accepting millions of dollars and then as soon as their contract is up trashing the previous team.

Foote lost a lot of homers with his trashing.

Originally Posted by chemiclord

Why the hell not?

If a former player wants to burn that bridge, what the hell should it matter to you?

He played out his contract, he has no obligations to them whatsoever at this point.

Yup, he played out his contract but to tell the Media he is happy that his is not still in Detroit, that is putting his team under the bus.

Originally Posted by mason reese

What did he say that was so bad?

He bashed his previous team. He got a FA contract that he expected to be extended. The coaching staff decided he was not worth what his Agent wanted to extend his contract. I am guessing that the contract he signed was much less than the contract he demanded from Detroit.

Originally Posted by Nick Pappageorgio

I gotta laugh when players come to detroit and learn that they're no longer starter material (because if you can't start for detroit.....who can you start for?) and then trash the lions when they leave.

Poor Foote's ego has got more bruises than the wal-mart produce section.

They gave him the money that nobody else would last year.......and he took the lump of cash knowing full well he was going to be part of a football team that wasn't very good. Ripping on the lions for not being good after excepting more money to be part of a bad football team is just stupidity.

That being said.....steelers fans are sofa-king arrogant. They're eating every word that foote says. "it's all about winning".......if that was true larry you never would have left pit last year.

.

[ghandi]

So had the Lions offered Foote 3 years, 10 million would he have been a Lion or Steeler today??

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by ghandi

So had the Lions offered Foote 3 years, 10 million would he have been a Lion or Steeler today??

You tell me.

[chemiclord]

Originally Posted by Malto Marko

Yup, he played out his contract but to tell the Media he is happy that his is not still in Detroit, that is putting his team under the bus.

Not his team anymore. He played out his contract, Detroit said they didn't want him anymore. From that point on, it's not "his" team to throw under the bus. If Foote wants to burn that bridge, so be it. That's his call.

Again, what does it matter to you? His "attitude" isn't going to poison the locker room. He's not going to be loafing it or going half-assed in Lions' practices or games... because it's not his team! He's not going to be there!

What's the big deal? Why does it bother you?

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by chemiclord

Not his team anymore. He played out his contract, Detroit said they didn't want him anymore. From that point on, it's not "his" team to throw under the bus. If Foote wants to burn that bridge, so be it. That's his call.

Again, what does it matter to you? His "attitude" isn't going to poison the locker room. He's not going to be loafing it or going half-assed in Lions' practices or games... because it's not his team! He's not going to be there!

What's the big deal? Why does it bother you?

Hmmmmm. Because Detroit was not willing to give him a three year contract (at who knows how much his agent was demanding) means they did not want him any more?

No, I think that means he is not worth what they are demanding and they have to settle for what the team is willing to pay for the services he has provided.

Again, I am guessing he signed for a lot less than he demanded from Detroit. I am guessing he expected to be paid at least twice what he signed for with Pitt.

To answer your question on why does it bother me. He made a statement last year that he was coming here to make a difference and be a part of change. He bailed because he wanted a long term contract and he did not get it. To say he is thankful he did not sign a long term deal in Detroit is only to say that "I did not get what I wanted so fuck them and let's see how good they do because I have my contract and will be around for the next 3 years".

[mason reese]

Did the Lions offer him a contract for him to turn down? I don't remember reading anything about that, but I don't play that close attention anymore.

He basically said all the losing was hard on him last year and you don't know what it's like until you go through it. I didn't take any of the quotes as 'everyone sucked but me'.

If I recall the events correctly, he said was willing to come back to Detroit but they didn't want him, so he started to look at other teams and now he gets to go back to the team that he probably didn't want to leave in the first place. Who wouldn't be happy with that turn of events?

[Kstat]

when a 2-14 team says it doesnt need you anymore, at any price....yeah, I imagine i'd feel the need to put them down to make myself feel better, too.

[Drew]

I wouldn't let his words bother me. He's taking care of himself which is what you'd expect him to do. Football players say what they think is the right thing to say at the time, and when you think about it, how many of them really know what the right thing to say is? His statement was for the fans in Pittsburgh to make them feel good about his renewed presence.

The Lions didn't want him, and they showed it, evidently in their offer, or lack thereof. It probably stung him a bit, so he bit back.

No big deal.

[Malto Marko]

Originally Posted by mason reese

Did the Lions offer him a contract for him to turn down? I don't remember reading anything about that, but I don't play that close attention anymore.

He basically said all the losing was hard on him last year and you don't know what it's like until you go through it. I didn't take any of the quotes as 'everyone sucked but me'.

If I recall the events correctly, he said was willing to come back to Detroit but they didn't want him, so he started to look at other teams and now he gets to go back to the team that he probably didn't want to leave in the first place. Who wouldn't be happy with that turn of events?

Ya, the Lions said they did not want him at 6MM per year, or 5MM per year or 4MM per year. Is he worth any of those numbers? The real question is, is he worth 3MM per year for the next three years with 1.8 Guarenteed?

I am guessing Gunta says No! Give me younger players......

Originally Posted by Kstat

when a 2-14 team says it doesnt need you anymore, at any price....yeah, I imagine i'd feel the need to put them down to make myself feel better, too.

The problem here is not that they don't need him but, he was trying to get more than what he was worth. This team needs players for the future, not players for tomorrow.

[Kstat]

I'm sure they are perfectly capable of losing 14 games without him.

[chemiclord]

The greater point remains that he can't throw "his team" under the bus because it's not "his team" anymore.

You're upset because a former player trashed the team. It insults you personally for some reason.

[Panoptes]

Now that all of you have that out of your system, my .02.

Bottom line, the winner > loser end game is about him being fine with any role on a team roster whether it was with DET or some other team but for him to be accepted back in PIT just proved to him that even a WINNING ORG. wanted him on their roster in some capacity versus a LOSING ORG. that couldn't recognize what he had to offer.

$ were just cake.

In his case, pride trumped $.