Lions News

[Futureshock]

Uh, no

Guard Evan Brown


Spotrac’s calculated market value: Three years, $32.7 million ($10.9 million AAV)

Overview: Excellent trench play powered the Lions’ huge leap forward in 2022. Detroit was among the league’s most-efficient offenses thanks to an offensive line that opened huge holes on the ground game and kept Jared Goff upright in the pass game. Brown should be a man in demand.

I'd rather keep Big V around for that money. I am prepared to let him walk and get the comp pick for it. And/Or draft a OG/C like Michigan's Olawatami (sp?) I want a road grader there to pair next to Sewell and blow open some holes.

[whatever_gong82]

Detroit Lions fans must not only accept losing key contributors. They must embrace it

Carlos Monarrez

Detroit Free Press

Published 6:08 a.m. ET Jan. 24, 2023


In the early 1990s, I was working in one of my first journalism jobs at the Pasadena Star-News, a small newspaper just outside Los Angeles. The paper had hired a new editor and he called a staff meeting with the sports department in an ominous, dark-paneled conference room I didn’t even know existed.

No one knew what to think. Was he announcing layoffs? Radical new changes?

It turned out to be little more than a meeting to formally introduce himself to us. But one thing he said has stayed with me forever.

“I want all of you to leave,” he said as the room turned completely silent. “You should all want to leave a small paper and go on to greater things.”

He was talking about ambition. He wanted us to do such a great job that we would be hired by some of the country’s biggest and best papers: the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times and, maybe if you were truly exceptional, the Detroit Free Press.

But it wasn’t only about our ambition. It was his, too. He wanted his staff to be so great that we not only put out a great paper but that we became known as a fertile place that produced promising, young journalists.



I thought about that meeting recently when the Detroit Lions nearly lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the head coaching ranks. I thought about it again over the weekend when they lost director of college scouting Dave Sears, who got a big promotion when he was hired as the Arizona Cardinals’ assistant general manager.

Sears played a vital role overseeing much of the Lions’ draft, which has gone extremely well the past two seasons under GM Brad Holmes. Sears’ departure flew a bit under the radar because he wasn’t as well known as Johnson, but judging by how often readers chastised me for writing about Johnson’s likelihood to leave, I can imagine many probably aren’t thrilled Sears is leaving.

I completely get fans’ perspective. You never want to lose the people who make your team successful. But, as my old editor could tell you, losing your best people is the sign of a strong organization.

I know we’re not used to thinking of the Lions in this way, but that’s what they’re slowly becoming. And if your hope is for the Lions to turn into a consistent and successful franchise, you had better not only get used to their players, coaches and staff getting poached by other teams, but you should embrace it.

Based off the collective sigh of relief you could hear echo throughout Detroit when Johnson returned after his three interviews didn’t produce a new job, Lions fans aren’t there yet. They aren’t ready to part with their successful contributors just as they’re starting to get a small taste of success and hope.

But I have good news for you. Even if you fear the loss of a key coach or staff member, be assured that your coach doesn’t.

Before Johnson had any interviews lined up, I asked Dan Campbell at his season-ending news conference if losing Johnson might signal that the Lions are a desirable place to coach for candidates looking to do a great job and move on to bigger things?

“With where we’re trending,” Campbell said, “I’d like to believe that anybody outside looking in sees what’s going on here and they understand. … I think word gets around and I think yeah, this is a place you would like to be. No matter who you are.

“I think free agents would like to be here, I think moving forward. I believe that. I think we’re turning the corner on that and when you’re a team that’s trending the right way and you play football a certain way. I think that’s appealing. I’d like to believe that.”



One of the things I like about Campbell is that he isn’t afraid to accept realities, no matter how grim. He isn’t afraid to fire a coach if he isn’t performing well and he isn’t afraid to lose a coach or a player because they’re performing exceptionally. Sports is a very itinerant business and no one in the profession expects to stick around with one team very long, for good or bad reasons.

It’s hard to lose good people, but in the end it makes your organization better and more resilient. I’m glad my editor instilled that idea in me all those years ago. I hope Lions fans will come to accept it, too, and all the good that can come from it.


Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

[Mainevent]

If Vaitai is healthy, I don't mind keeping him around another year. Big dude had back surgery.

[jaadam4]

V was great next to Sewell

[froot loops]

It seems like that valuation for Brown is a bit high.

[Mainevent]

Yeah, that’s starter money. So they must think somebody else will make a run at him as a starter. I’m skeptical, at least at OG. He was ok there.

[jaadam4]

It seems like that valuation for Brown is a bit high.

I’m glad I’m not the only one. Whoever spends that kind of money on him will be vastly overpaying and good for him.

[froot loops]

His valuation was pretty high last year, it's why it was a surprise that he re-upped with the Lions. He had a better year last year, but his value is in being able to play guard and center as a backup. I'm not sure how they are going to play this. I thought it was a cinch they would cut Vaitai but apparently they really like him.

[ghandi]

Evan Brown very well may get starting OL money......He was very solid filling in the past 2 seasons, more so at center than at guard but he can do both in a pinch.

[Futureshock]

Enjoy, one more time my friends:

Every Lions Win from the 2022 Season

[Futureshock]

Sighs. Uh, just no.... Goodness, these 2 mutants have a special hate for Goff. I guess since they can't get Baker to take his job...

Tom Brady and the Detroit Lions could be an interesting combination

Posted by Mike Florio on January 25, 2023, 12:44 AM EST

Getty Images

During Tuesday’s PFT Live, Chris Simms and I were spitballing on potential destinations for quarterback Tom Brady, if (as it appears) he intends to keep playing.

His testiness, which many regard as contrived, over simply being asked on his own pre-taped podcast for a “timetable” on his decision seems to be (in my opinion) an attempt to cover up any tampering that will happen before he officially becomes a free agent in March — if any tampering isn’t happening already.

So while coming up with places where Brady may think he would have a chance to win an eighth championship, Simms mentioned one I hadn’t previously considered.

The Detroit Lions.

Wouldn’t that be something? Tom Brady, back in Michigan. Tom Brady, with a Lions team that finished 2022 strong. A Lions team with an impressive nucleus of talented players. A Lions team that quarterback Jared Goff may be able to lead on a deep run in the postseason, but may not be able to take over the top.

Brady has shown he can do it. Seven times. And while he’s 46, if the Lions want to finally make an appearance in the Super Bowl and possibly even win it, Brady could give them a better chance to do it than Goff.

I know, I know. Goff doesn’t deserve to suddenly find himself swirling in a storm of speculation. But the reality is that, when he arrived in Detroit two years ago, no one believed he’d be anything more than a short-term solution. He has played well enough to be traded to a team that needs a starter, and there could be one or two teams looking for one after the looming game of signal-caller musical chairs ends.

Beyond football, there’s a very real business element to wanting Brady. He’d sell every ticket to every game at Ford Field. The Lions also would end up with multiple prime-time games, along with multiple 4:25 p.m. ET contests. In recent years, those games draw even more viewers than games played at night.

Maybe that’s the way to finally break the Curse of Bobby Layne, who was only 31 when the Lions traded him but looked 46. Maybe it would be fitting to bring in a quarterback who will be 46 but looks closer to 31.

At this point, it’s nothing more than a dart thrown loosely in the direction of the board. But if the Lions get a phone call from someone on Brady’s behalf in the coming weeks (or if they already have), it won’t be easy to say no. And it ultimately could make plenty of sense to say, “Hell yes.”

[Futureshock]

Ryans will probably get it...

DeMeco Ryans, Shane Steichen, Ben Johnson finalists for AP assistant coach of the year

Posted by Josh Alper on January 25, 2023, 8:52 AM EST

Getty Images

The Associated Press has announced the finalists for this year’s assistant coach of the year award.

Two of the finalists will be squaring off in the NFC Championship Game this weekend. 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans will be trying to stop Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen from putting up enough points to send his team to the Super Bowl.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the third finalist. Johnson piloted the Lions to fifth place in points scored and fourth in total yards.

All three of the finalists wound up on interview lists for head coaching jobs after the regular season. Johnson is returning to the Lions, but Ryans and Steichen are still be in play for jobs as they head into championship weekend.

[Futureshock]

Sauce Gardner, Brock Purdy among finalists for AP rookie of the year awards

Posted by Josh Alper on January 25, 2023, 8:38 AM EST

Getty Images

When PFT announced our award winners earlier this month, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was our offensive rookie of the year and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner was named defensive rookie of the year.

The Associated Press versions of those awards will be given out at the NFL Honors show on the Thursday before the Super Bowl and both Purdy and Gardner are among the finalists for their rookie prizes.

Gardner’s teammate Garrett Wilson and Seahawks running back Ken Walker III join Purdy as the finalists on the offensive side of the ball. Wilson led all rookies with 83 catches for 1,103 yards this season while Walker’s 1,050 rushing yards led the way for rookies on that front.

Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen join Gardner as finalists for the defensive award.

[Mainevent]

Gardner’s teammate Garrett Wilson and Seahawks running back Ken Walker III join Purdy as the finalists on the offensive side of the ball. Wilson led all rookies with 83 catches for 1,103 yards this season while Walker’s 1,050 rushing yards led the way for rookies on that front.

Olave got the shaft. But I've got a financial interest in Wilson, so yay!

[edindetroit]

Detroit Lions fans must not only accept losing key contributors. They must embrace it

Carlos Monarrez.

I now must curse you for posting that idiot's words here.