Steve Mariucci, the highly paid big-name coach, is going after free agents like a politician goes after votes in an election year, and he's landing them just as the Detroit Lions hoped when they hired him.
Owner William Clay Ford, celebrated target of fans' disappointment, is letting the front office write big checks for the free agents, a result promised once Ford Field had pumped up the team's bank accounts.
It doesn't mean the Lions will be playing in the Super Bowl they host early in 2006, but it does mean an effort is being made in that direction.
The signing of guard/center Damien Woody away from Super Bowl champion New England Patriots made the Lions one of the best shoppers in the early days of NFL's annual flesh flea market.
Add the signing of cornerback Fernando Bryant, who played last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it can be argued the Lions are among the top three or four teams in the league in terms of landing big fish.
Washington is signing several players, but has lost and cut many, too.
Philadelphia penned Jevon Kearse, the $66 million "manster" defensive end from Tennessee, but has to worry about the bad foot that has kept him off the field a lot in the last two years.
Minnesota finally has a stopper cornerback in Antoine Winfield, who played for the Buffalo Bills last season, but is that enough for that defense?
At minimum, the Lions are doing best in the bidding among NFC North teams. The Vikings are a close second with Winfield, the free agent they called their target player.
The Chicago Bears lost guard Chris Villarrial to Buffalo, which hurt, but have gone after Kansas City Chiefs franchise player John Tait. They could land the offensive tackle unless Kansas City decides to match the offer. It's worth the attempt.
Otherwise, the Bears' signings of Thomas Jones, a backup running back in Tampa Bay last year, and Jonathan Quinn, a backup quarterback in Kansas City last year, are hard to read. We haven't seen enough of them.
As for the Green Bay Packers, they had less shopping to do in the first wave because they are limited by salary-cap issues and because they have less in the way of needs. They did re-sign tackle Chad Clifton, who protects the blind side of quarterback Brett Favre. It was an important move for that reason, but also because one of the league's top offensive lines stays intact.
Still, the Lions are leading the division in starters acquired at the prime parts of their careers.
Woody, a five-year veteran, was arguably New England's best offensive lineman, and generally regarded as the best free-agent lineman available. The only warranted criticism of him has been his tendency to show up out of shape. In shape, he's All-Pro capable.
Bryant, also a five-year veteran, isn't Dre' Bly, though he was selected higher (26th) than Bly (41st) in the 1999 NFL Draft.
He was criticized for not making enough plays last year for Jacksonville, but is still regarded as a solid cover corner with the ability to make big plays. Yes, he's a little small (5-10, 180), but Bly is small, too.
Bly, by the way, helped "recruit" the two players, and showed up at the press conference Friday. The Lions, like never before, are taking free agency seriously and not fading into the background.
They are excited about shopping, and not griping about the prices. They have the check stubs to prove it. They paid too much for Woody with a record bonus for a guard ($9.5 million), but too much for Bly last year seemed to work out well. Bryant isn't Bly, but the Bly of previous years was not as good as the Bly of last year.
While Ford has deserved the criticism for poor ownership over the years, it can't be said any longer that he has spider webs on his wallet. The Lions wrote $17 million in bonus checks Friday, and promised to pay some $50 total in contracts. The money needs to keep flowing.
Running back, safety, linebacker, wide receiver and depth still needs to be addressed. It's not certain the Lions won't lose some of their free agents, though the signings of defensive tackle Kelvin Pritchett, kick return specialist Eddie Drummond and safety Bracy Walker were decent moves over the weekend, too.
Remember, the NFL Draft remains, and the Lions can find more help with the No. 6 pick, a possible trade of that pick and the second wave of free agency over the next several weeks.
An aggressive changing of the roster was important given the Lions have won just nine games in the last three years. They need to get a starter at running back, safety, linebacker or wide receiver in the draft, and maybe two starters for those spots in the first two rounds. They should keep that No. 6 pick, and make it count with a great pick.
They need to keep shopping the free agency flea market, too. Last year they found Dan Wilkinson late.
http://www.mlive.com
Owner William Clay Ford, celebrated target of fans' disappointment, is letting the front office write big checks for the free agents, a result promised once Ford Field had pumped up the team's bank accounts.
It doesn't mean the Lions will be playing in the Super Bowl they host early in 2006, but it does mean an effort is being made in that direction.
The signing of guard/center Damien Woody away from Super Bowl champion New England Patriots made the Lions one of the best shoppers in the early days of NFL's annual flesh flea market.
Add the signing of cornerback Fernando Bryant, who played last season for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and it can be argued the Lions are among the top three or four teams in the league in terms of landing big fish.
Washington is signing several players, but has lost and cut many, too.
Philadelphia penned Jevon Kearse, the $66 million "manster" defensive end from Tennessee, but has to worry about the bad foot that has kept him off the field a lot in the last two years.
Minnesota finally has a stopper cornerback in Antoine Winfield, who played for the Buffalo Bills last season, but is that enough for that defense?
At minimum, the Lions are doing best in the bidding among NFC North teams. The Vikings are a close second with Winfield, the free agent they called their target player.
The Chicago Bears lost guard Chris Villarrial to Buffalo, which hurt, but have gone after Kansas City Chiefs franchise player John Tait. They could land the offensive tackle unless Kansas City decides to match the offer. It's worth the attempt.
Otherwise, the Bears' signings of Thomas Jones, a backup running back in Tampa Bay last year, and Jonathan Quinn, a backup quarterback in Kansas City last year, are hard to read. We haven't seen enough of them.
As for the Green Bay Packers, they had less shopping to do in the first wave because they are limited by salary-cap issues and because they have less in the way of needs. They did re-sign tackle Chad Clifton, who protects the blind side of quarterback Brett Favre. It was an important move for that reason, but also because one of the league's top offensive lines stays intact.
Still, the Lions are leading the division in starters acquired at the prime parts of their careers.
Woody, a five-year veteran, was arguably New England's best offensive lineman, and generally regarded as the best free-agent lineman available. The only warranted criticism of him has been his tendency to show up out of shape. In shape, he's All-Pro capable.
Bryant, also a five-year veteran, isn't Dre' Bly, though he was selected higher (26th) than Bly (41st) in the 1999 NFL Draft.
He was criticized for not making enough plays last year for Jacksonville, but is still regarded as a solid cover corner with the ability to make big plays. Yes, he's a little small (5-10, 180), but Bly is small, too.
Bly, by the way, helped "recruit" the two players, and showed up at the press conference Friday. The Lions, like never before, are taking free agency seriously and not fading into the background.
They are excited about shopping, and not griping about the prices. They have the check stubs to prove it. They paid too much for Woody with a record bonus for a guard ($9.5 million), but too much for Bly last year seemed to work out well. Bryant isn't Bly, but the Bly of previous years was not as good as the Bly of last year.
While Ford has deserved the criticism for poor ownership over the years, it can't be said any longer that he has spider webs on his wallet. The Lions wrote $17 million in bonus checks Friday, and promised to pay some $50 total in contracts. The money needs to keep flowing.
Running back, safety, linebacker, wide receiver and depth still needs to be addressed. It's not certain the Lions won't lose some of their free agents, though the signings of defensive tackle Kelvin Pritchett, kick return specialist Eddie Drummond and safety Bracy Walker were decent moves over the weekend, too.
Remember, the NFL Draft remains, and the Lions can find more help with the No. 6 pick, a possible trade of that pick and the second wave of free agency over the next several weeks.
An aggressive changing of the roster was important given the Lions have won just nine games in the last three years. They need to get a starter at running back, safety, linebacker or wide receiver in the draft, and maybe two starters for those spots in the first two rounds. They should keep that No. 6 pick, and make it count with a great pick.
They need to keep shopping the free agency flea market, too. Last year they found Dan Wilkinson late.
http://www.mlive.com
