Lions News

[froot loops]

Cant guarantee it wont happen with Bresee or any of the other top DTs either...They are young men that play a violent game and make alot of money.....bad decisions can happen.

Was Bresee playing Fast and Furious at a deadly drag race? I mean that's why we are talking about Carter in that way. The police allege he was the other car that drove away from a double fatality. This wasn't an issue before then, but it's an issue now.

[whatever_gong82]

Here's some Lions related news/opinion links:


Lions DE John Cominsky expects to test free agency for ‘a few days’



It’s time for the Detroit Lions to take swings in free agency

[ghandi]

Was Bresee playing Fast and Furious at a deadly drag race? I mean that's why we are talking about Carter in that way. The police allege he was the other car that drove away from a double fatality. This wasn't an issue before then, but it's an issue now.

Half the time we dont know? maybe he has in the past and didnt get caught? Who knows?

[Forsh]

Just FYI for everyone here on reckless driving.


I had a reckless driving against me for this:

I was going into work at the prison one winter morning. I was driving my F-150 and took Gaines highway off 75, because the other way was several miles driving into the sun. They do not salt or plow Gaines. I was going slow and saw a car at the stop sign and started hitting my brakes a good 1/3 of a mile away. They couldn't grip all the way and I tapped the plastic Hyundai back bumper of that car. It was only a tap because they had maybe a one inch crack in it.

They jumped out of the car and called the police. I was given a reckless driving ticket/charge. Because that was the smallest ticket/charge they could give me. I had to pay the ticket and take an online driving class to wipe the points off my license.




Not saying Carter's are like that. But not all reckless driving is the same.

As for not loving football enough?

Does that mean he doesn't eat, breath and sleep football?does he not put in the work?


The former question doesn't mean he doesn't put in the work and then some. I don't have a problem if he has other interests. And I don't think that would be a red flag for Holmes and Campbell. The latter question is a big red flag.

That sucks. The worst is that invisible/ black ice. There's nothing you can do except stay at home

[Futureshock]

Free agency starts Monday at noon, as a practical matter

Posted by Mike Florio on March 10, 2023, 10:03 AM EST

Getty Images

You’ve surely heard a time or two by now that free agency begins on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET. Technically, that’s accurate. As a practical matter, free agency will largely be over by then.

A decade or so ago, the NFL introduced a legal tampering period, an acknowledgement to the rampant tampering that happens in advance of free agency. Starting on Monday at noon ET, teams can communicate and negotiate with agents of players who are due to become unrestricted free agents on Wednesday. For self-represented players, the teams can contact them directly.

Early in the life cycle of legal tampering, the league had strange rules that permitted negotiation but prohibited consummation. That has changed, and it means that reports will become rampant (starting as soon as 12:01 p.m. ET on Monday) that deals have been reached.

That happens because the tampering still happens before the legal tampering period opens. It’s happening now. It’s been happening. Everyone does it. The teams that used to not do it realized that their adherence to the rules had become a competitive disadvantage.

If you don’t show up until Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET, you will have missed the party. So show up early, and bring the potato salad.

[Futureshock]

That sucks. The worst is that invisible/ black ice. There's nothing you can do except stay at home

I'd rather the weather stayed in the teens and we got a 1" of snow every day then these warm-cold/ice-warm-cold/ice days.

[Forsh]

I'd rather the weather stayed in the teens and we got a 1" of snow every day then these warm-cold/ice-warm-cold/ice days.

No doubt

[froot loops]

Half the time we dont know? maybe he has in the past and didnt get caught? Who knows?

We would know if he was involved in a deadly drag race.

[wcfwtf]

Warm days
What are those?
last 2 March months have been cold

[chemiclord]

Warm being relative.

These stretches where it yo-yos around the freezing point can make for hellish driving conditions.

[wcfwtf]

I lived in Alaska when I was young
almost killed by a semi bearing down on me cause I couldn’t stop on Ice
Did what I could only do to avoid being killed
Lay off the breaks and turn right
Semi went by me seconds later

[ghandi]

Change your mocks ladies and gentlemen....The Bears have traded with Carolina.....

[whatever_gong82]

Posted online late yesterday.
Detroit Lions 2023 free agency preview: To-do list on offense could include familiar faces

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News


This is the first in a two-part series assessing the Detroit Lions' position-by-position situation heading into free agency. Today we'll look at the offense. Teams can begin negotiating with free agents on March 13. The signing period opens March 15 at 4 p.m.


Quarterback
▶ Under contract: Jared Goff

▶ Lions free agents: Nate Sudfeld

▶ Best available: Lamar Jackson (franchised), Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, Carson Wentz, Marcus Mariota, Baker Mayfield

The Lions are fully committed to Goff and there's zero chance they bring in a veteran with the intention of having that player compete for starting snaps. But general manager Brad Holmes has made it clear he's on a mission to correct his failure to provide stability at the backup spot.


There are a couple of different ways to approach the situation, including drafting and developing a high-ceiling prospect with starting traits. An ideal version of this scenario would see Detroit score someone like Lamar Jackson (selected 32nd in 2018) or Jalen Hurts (No. 53 in 2020).

The risk is more quarterbacks bust than succeed via that avenue, and if Goff were to go down with an injury, the Lions want to have someone who can step in and keep the season afloat. But reliability, in the form of a veteran, doesn't typically come cheap.

Someone like Brissett, for example, likely will be able to command in the ballpark of $4 million per season because he's shown a capable skill set in his 48 career starts. Taylor Heinicke, who has gone .500 in 25 career starts with Washington, is in that same class.

Andy Dalton, who will turn 36 during the season, might come a little cheaper. And his wealth of experience could be a valuable asset to Goff during the week of preparation for upcoming opponents.

Another appealing option could be Michigan native, and former Central Michigan standout, Cooper Rush. He's spent the past five seasons in Dallas, where he didn't rack up a ton of playing time, but led the Cowboys to wins in five of six starts the past two seasons.




Offensive line
▶ Under contract: Taylor Decker, Penei Sewell, Jonah Jackson, Halapoulivaati Vaitai, Frank Ragnow, Logan Stenberg, Obinna Eze, Darrin Paulo

▶ Lions free agents: Evan Brown, Dan Skipper, Matt Nelson (RFA), Ross Pierschbacher (RFA), Tommy Kraemer (ERFA)

▶ Best available: Orlando Brown, Mike McGlinchey, Jawaan Taylor, Kaleb McGary, Isaac Seumalo, Ben Powers


The Lions are in a good spot with the offensive line, all but assured to bring back four of five starters. The current presumption is they'll be parting ways with Vaitai, who missed the entire 2022 season with a back injury, but nothing has been made official yet.

There's been at least some expressed interest in bringing back Brown, the team's top reserve the past two seasons. He filled in admirably for Ragnow in 2021 and Vaitai much of last season. Brown is a better center than guard, but regardless of where he lines up, he's proven he's worthy of a starting job and should see offers in free agency that reflect that.

The Lions could always look to replace Vaitai (and Brown) with another veteran. But spending big money might be tough with Ragnow and Decker on lucrative second contracts, and with Jackson and Sewell in line for new deals in the not-so-distant future.

A better bet would see the Lions looking to bring in veteran depth, at either guard or tackle, who could keep the train on the tracks if any of the starters suffered an injury.




Wide receiver
▶ Under contract: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus, Tom Kennedy, Maurice Alexander, Stanley Berryhill

▶ Lions free agents: DJ Chark, Trinity Benson (ERFA)

▶ Best available: Jakobi Meyers, Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Michael Thomas, Allen Lazard, Chark

When healthy, Chark provided exactly what the Lions had been looking for the past two offseasons, a big-bodied outside receiver capable of stretching the field vertically. But his surgically repaired ankle gave him some trouble, shelving him for two months, and there has to be at least some concern the issue could persist.

Even with Williams expected to play a far larger role in his second year, the Lions still could use someone with Chark's skill set, which is why there's mutual interest in continuing the partnership, but a thin market at the position could jack up his price tag beyond what the team is comfortable paying.

In terms of alternatives there's Darius Slayton. He re-emerged as a productive part of the Giants offense the second half of last season after spending a year buried on the team's depth chart. Marquez Callaway, who struggled to build off his 2021 breakout campaign, also fits the bill. The downside is neither bring Chark's size to the table.




Running back
▶ Under contract: D'Andre Swift, Jermar Jefferson

▶ Lions free agents: Jamaal Williams, Justin Jackson, Craig Reynolds (ERFA)

▶ Best available: Miles Sanders, David Montgomery, Kareem Hunt, Rashad Penny, D'Onta Foreman

At this point, it feels like a safe bet Williams will be back in Detroit. The team hasn't hidden its interest, while the veteran back, whenever he's been interviewed during the offseason, has sounded like he plans on sticking around in 2023.

It's easy to make the case for re-upping with Williams. He's coming off a career year, the first where he topped 1,000 yards, and he led the league in rushing touchdowns. On top of the production, he's also a passionate locker room leader who sets the tone with his energy and emotion.

Assuming the Lions re-sign Williams, there's no need to pursue another veteran of consequence, given the presence of Swift on the roster. In regards to Jackson and Reynolds, each is a steady third-down options with kick-return ability, but it's unnecessary to bring back both. Reynolds is under team control for veteran minimum, which could easily be considered a deciding factor.

Whether the Lions re-sign Williams or not, adding another piece via the draft carries merit, particularly given Swift's durability concerns and the fact he's entering the final year of his rookie deal.




Tight end
▶ Under contract: James Mitchell, Derrick Deese Jr.

▶ Lions free agents: Brock Wright (ERFA), Shane Zylstra (ERFA)

▶ Best available: Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki, Austin Hooper, Hayden Hurst

The Lions will be bringing back the trio of Wright, Zylstra and Mitchell, who carried the load after the team traded T.J. Hockenson. Collectively, the group set a franchise record for the position group with 12 touchdowns, but weren't otherwise a big part of the passing attack, nor particularly great blockers.

Holmes has said he likes the group, but will be on the lookout for a veteran who could help stabilize the room. That's not to suggest the GM will swing for the fences and pursue someone like Schultz or Gesicki, but more likely a player in the mold of Josh Hill or Darren Fells, even though neither worked out after signing with Detroit.

A name we're keeping an eye on is Maxx Williams, who is a year removed from a torn ACL. He's an exceptional blocker and he spent the past few years in Arizona playing under Steve Heiden, who the Lions hired to coach the position this offseason.

A younger option with some upside is Josh Oliver, who logged more than 500 snaps with the Ravens last season and performed well as both a run blocker and pass protector.



Kicker
▶ Under contract: None

▶ Lions free agents: Michael Badgley

▶ Best available: Matt Gay, Matt Prater, Robbie Gould, Eddy Pineiro, Chase McLaughlin

The Lions had a revolving door at kicker after letting Prater walk following the 2020 season, but found some stability with the midseason addition of Badgley. The longtime Charger might not offer the biggest leg, but he brings solid accuracy inside 45 yards.

During his 12 games in Detroit, he made 20-of-24 attempts with a long of 53. That stat line is reflective of his career numbers and makes him a candidate to be retained.

Alternatively, the Lions could aggressively pursue the top name on the market, Gay, who briefly overlapped with Holmes in Los Angeles. In his three seasons with the Rams, Gay has been one of the NFL's most accurate kickers, making 92.5% of his attempts with a long of 58, while missing just two of his 97 extra points.

That kind of talent and consistency is going to command somewhere around $5 million per season. That could put him out of the range of the cap-strapped Rams, who are on the cusp of shedding multiple key veterans from their books.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers

[whatever_gong82]

Sorry about being late in posting this from a few days ago.

Rogers: Major trade at top of draft should benefit Lions' desire to upgrade defense

Justin Rogers

The Detroit News


With a young, franchise quarterback already in place, the Chicago Bears didn't hide their desire to trade the No. 1 pick. On Friday, more a month before the draft, they found a taker.

According to multiple reports, the Carolina Panthers are sending a massive package of picks, as well as three-time, 1000-yard receiver D.J. Moore, to the Bears for the top selection. In addition to Moore, Chicago will also receive the No. 9 and No. 61 choices this year, as well as the Panthers' first- and second-rounder in 2024.

Although there are still multiple scenarios for how the top-five choices could play out, Friday's trade should ultimately benefit the Detroit Lions. The Panthers are presumably trading into the top spot to select a quarterback, significantly increasing the odds at least three, and potentially four, QBs are taken before the Lions are slated to be on the clock at No. 6.

In addition to the Panthers, who have been scrambling to find a reliable quarterback in recent years — swinging trades for former top draft picks Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield — the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, who hold the No. 2 and No. 4 picks, are believed to be eyeing passers.


Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals, sitting in the No. 3 slot, could also be looking to move down as urgency for the other quarterback-needy franchises increases following the Panthers' climb up the board. That group includes Las Vegas (No.7) and Tampa Bay (No. 19).

Coming out of the scouting combine this month, Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Florida's Anthony Richardson solidified their cases to be top-five picks. Kentucky's Will Levis, who showcased elite arm talent at the event, is the fourth quarterback would could come off the board early in the first round.





Whether it's three or four QBs, that scenario would push one of the draft's elite defensive talents into Detroit's waiting arms. The consensus top-three defenders in this class are all defensive linemen — Alabama's Will Anderson, Georgia's Jalen Carter and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. That's good news for a unit that finished No. 32 in yardage allowed last season.

Admittedly, Carter's recent legal issues complicate the discussion. Arguably, no player would better fit Detroit's needs. The 6-foot-3, 314-pound defensive tackle is an elite interior defender who earned first-team All-American honors in 2022. But he had to leave the combine after two arrest warrants were issued in Georgia, charging him with racing and reckless driving in an auto accident that resulted in the deaths of a former teammate and a university staffer.

Carter returned to Georgia, posted bail and returned to the combine, issuing a statement that he looked forward to being exonerated of any wrongdoing. Still, regardless of the outcome of the case, selecting Carter carries troublesome optics for a franchise that has extolled the value of character throughout the roster.


If three quarterbacks, Anderson and Wilson are the first five selections, and the Lions aren't interested in Carter, the alternative options would be a cornerback such as Illinois Devon Witherspoon or Oregon's Christian Gonzalez, Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy, or even help for the offense in the form of offensive lineman Peter Skoronski or running back Bijan Robinson.

Trading down with a team interested in moving up for either Carter or Levis could also enter the mix.


jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers

[jaadam4]

Draft Levis if he's there or whichever CB they like and wait for #18 for BPA. With the multiple 2nds we can still move back up into the 1st.