Lions add safety and tight end
Kennedy will get $14 million over five years and Pollard $6 million over three.
By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News
Image
Brandy Baker / The Detroit News
It's all smiles for Marcus Pollard, wife Amani from Farmington and Lions president Matt Millen at Monday's news conference.
Free-agent follow-up
Where the Lions stand after the signings Monday of free agents Kenoy Kennedy and Marcus Pollard:
• Safety: Kennedy is a physical presence at strong safety and he'll add range in the deep secondary, where the Lions have been lacking. Brock Marion, the starter at free safety, is in jeopardy of being released. Terrence Holt will get an opportunity at free safety. Bracy Walker, the starter at strong safety last season, will be a reserve. Signing Kennedy ends trade talks for Jacksonville's Donovin Darius.
• Tight end: Pollard is a good receiver and blocker, and he thrived as a complementary player in the Colts' high-powered offense. He'll have no trouble fitting in. Stephen Alexander's one season as a Lion probably was his last. Casey FitzSimmons returns as the No. 2 tight end. A third could be added in the draft, or another free-agent signing.
• Quarterback: Kurt Warner canceled his visit to Detroit when Arizona gave him a starting job and a one-year contract worth $4 million. Jeff Garcia has visited the Lions and Denver (twice). He also said Monday he will visit Seattle. But the Lions appear ready to make a stronger push for Garcia.
• Offensive line: Two starting jobs are open -- left guard and right tackle. Rick DeMulling, the Colts' starting left guard, is supposed to visit today. The market is declining for right tackles.
Kenoy Kennedy
Position: Strong safety
Ht. / Wt.: 6-1 / 215
Age: 27
College: Arkansas
NFL experience: Five years
Last season: Had 87 tackles and an interception for the Broncos
Marcus Pollard
Position: Tight end
Ht. / Wt.: 6-3 / 247
Age: 33
College: Bradley
NFL experience: 10 years
Last season: Caught 29 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns for the Colts
Lions Weblog
Read daily thoughts and observations about the Lions from training camp through the season by Detroit News Lions beat writer Mike O'Hara.
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ALLEN PARK -- The Lions made their first plunge into the NFL's free-agent pool a double dip.
They were bystanders for the first five days of free agency -- a period that must have seemed agonizingly long to them while other teams signed players to fill needs.
When they finally made a move Monday, the Lions filled two primary needs, signing strong safety Kenoy Kennedy of Denver and tight end Marcus Pollard of Indianapolis.
Other positions have to be filled, including a quarterback to play behind starter Joey Harrington.
As the pool of established quarterbacks gets shallower, the number of teams looking for help gets bigger. Jeff Garcia, who played under Lions coach Steve Mariucci in San Francisco, had a second visit Monday with the Broncos.
Before leaving, Garcia told reporters he would visit the Seahawks, who traded their backup, Trent Dilfer, to Cleveland.
The uncertainty over the quarterback position did not diminish the Lions' happiness over signing Kennedy and Pollard.
Kennedy signed a five-year, $14 million contract that included a signing bonus of $4.4 million. Pollard's contract is worth $6 million over three years, with $2.3 million to sign.
"We got better today," Lions president Matt Millen said at a news conference Monday night. "We started this offseason with things we needed to get done. I think this is another step toward getting other pieces of the puzzle."
Millen and Mariucci hope to sign a backup quarterback by the end of the week, and there are indications that negotiations with Garcia have intensified. On Sunday, Kurt Warner signed with the Cardinals, leaving Garcia and Brad Johnson of Tampa Bay as the top veteran free agents on the market.
"I'm hoping something will get done this week, certainly," Mariucci said.
Upgrading the safety position was a top priority, and it was not a coincidence Kennedy was the first free agent to visit the Lions. They need a strong run defender, which is Kennedy's strength.
Kennedy, 27, is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. He has missed a total of four games in the last four seasons. The NFL suspended him for one game in 2002 because of a helmet-to-helmet hit against Miami.
In 2004, Kennedy had 87 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. For his career, he has five interceptions and four sacks.
"Receivers always know where I am," Kennedy said. "They're always looking for me when they come across the middle."
Millen compared Kennedy to Bennie Blades, a hard-hitting safety with range who played for the Lions from 1988-96.
"He has the kind of presence we haven't had since Bennie," Millen said. "He's a big, physical presence. He's an excellent hitter and a good tackler -- and there's a difference.
"He's young. He's smart, and he's emerging."
Pollard, who is 6-3 and 247 pounds, has played all 10 of his pro seasons with the Colts.
He has been in 146 games, starting 104. In 2004, he caught 29 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns. He has 263 career receptions and 35 touchdowns.
Pollard, 33, made the Colts as an undrafted free agent from Bradley. He was a power forward on the basketball team.
Pollard's wife, Amani, is from Farmington. Re-signing Pollard was not one of the Colts' priorities, and he said he understood that.
The Colts designated running back Edgerrin James as the franchise player and re-signed offensive tackle Ryan Diem to a contract that included a signing bonus of $12 million.
"They felt they had some guys at tight end," Pollard said. "This is a place I always thought I'd like to play. The last couple of weeks have been pretty exciting."
The addition of Pollard and Kennedy will have an impact on other players.
Tight end Stephen Alexander played all 16 games in 2004 in his one season with the Lions. He caught 41 passes and scored a touchdown, but he wasn't a consistent receiver. Alexander had ankle surgery after the season.
Mariucci has spoken with Alexander and left the door open for him to return, but that doesn't seem likely.
"We're still interested in having him play for us," Mariucci said. "He has other possibilities."
Brock Marion, who turns 35 in June, probably is expendable.
He started 16 games at free safety last year but had trouble defending deep balls.
With Kennedy on board, there could be more playing time for third-year safety Terrence Holt at free safety.
Kennedy will get $14 million over five years and Pollard $6 million over three.
By Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News
Image
Brandy Baker / The Detroit News
It's all smiles for Marcus Pollard, wife Amani from Farmington and Lions president Matt Millen at Monday's news conference.
Free-agent follow-up
Where the Lions stand after the signings Monday of free agents Kenoy Kennedy and Marcus Pollard:
• Safety: Kennedy is a physical presence at strong safety and he'll add range in the deep secondary, where the Lions have been lacking. Brock Marion, the starter at free safety, is in jeopardy of being released. Terrence Holt will get an opportunity at free safety. Bracy Walker, the starter at strong safety last season, will be a reserve. Signing Kennedy ends trade talks for Jacksonville's Donovin Darius.
• Tight end: Pollard is a good receiver and blocker, and he thrived as a complementary player in the Colts' high-powered offense. He'll have no trouble fitting in. Stephen Alexander's one season as a Lion probably was his last. Casey FitzSimmons returns as the No. 2 tight end. A third could be added in the draft, or another free-agent signing.
• Quarterback: Kurt Warner canceled his visit to Detroit when Arizona gave him a starting job and a one-year contract worth $4 million. Jeff Garcia has visited the Lions and Denver (twice). He also said Monday he will visit Seattle. But the Lions appear ready to make a stronger push for Garcia.
• Offensive line: Two starting jobs are open -- left guard and right tackle. Rick DeMulling, the Colts' starting left guard, is supposed to visit today. The market is declining for right tackles.
Kenoy Kennedy
Position: Strong safety
Ht. / Wt.: 6-1 / 215
Age: 27
College: Arkansas
NFL experience: Five years
Last season: Had 87 tackles and an interception for the Broncos
Marcus Pollard
Position: Tight end
Ht. / Wt.: 6-3 / 247
Age: 33
College: Bradley
NFL experience: 10 years
Last season: Caught 29 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns for the Colts
Lions Weblog
Read daily thoughts and observations about the Lions from training camp through the season by Detroit News Lions beat writer Mike O'Hara.
Go to the Lions Weblog
Comment on this story
Send this story to a friend
Get Home Delivery
ALLEN PARK -- The Lions made their first plunge into the NFL's free-agent pool a double dip.
They were bystanders for the first five days of free agency -- a period that must have seemed agonizingly long to them while other teams signed players to fill needs.
When they finally made a move Monday, the Lions filled two primary needs, signing strong safety Kenoy Kennedy of Denver and tight end Marcus Pollard of Indianapolis.
Other positions have to be filled, including a quarterback to play behind starter Joey Harrington.
As the pool of established quarterbacks gets shallower, the number of teams looking for help gets bigger. Jeff Garcia, who played under Lions coach Steve Mariucci in San Francisco, had a second visit Monday with the Broncos.
Before leaving, Garcia told reporters he would visit the Seahawks, who traded their backup, Trent Dilfer, to Cleveland.
The uncertainty over the quarterback position did not diminish the Lions' happiness over signing Kennedy and Pollard.
Kennedy signed a five-year, $14 million contract that included a signing bonus of $4.4 million. Pollard's contract is worth $6 million over three years, with $2.3 million to sign.
"We got better today," Lions president Matt Millen said at a news conference Monday night. "We started this offseason with things we needed to get done. I think this is another step toward getting other pieces of the puzzle."
Millen and Mariucci hope to sign a backup quarterback by the end of the week, and there are indications that negotiations with Garcia have intensified. On Sunday, Kurt Warner signed with the Cardinals, leaving Garcia and Brad Johnson of Tampa Bay as the top veteran free agents on the market.
"I'm hoping something will get done this week, certainly," Mariucci said.
Upgrading the safety position was a top priority, and it was not a coincidence Kennedy was the first free agent to visit the Lions. They need a strong run defender, which is Kennedy's strength.
Kennedy, 27, is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds. He has missed a total of four games in the last four seasons. The NFL suspended him for one game in 2002 because of a helmet-to-helmet hit against Miami.
In 2004, Kennedy had 87 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. For his career, he has five interceptions and four sacks.
"Receivers always know where I am," Kennedy said. "They're always looking for me when they come across the middle."
Millen compared Kennedy to Bennie Blades, a hard-hitting safety with range who played for the Lions from 1988-96.
"He has the kind of presence we haven't had since Bennie," Millen said. "He's a big, physical presence. He's an excellent hitter and a good tackler -- and there's a difference.
"He's young. He's smart, and he's emerging."
Pollard, who is 6-3 and 247 pounds, has played all 10 of his pro seasons with the Colts.
He has been in 146 games, starting 104. In 2004, he caught 29 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns. He has 263 career receptions and 35 touchdowns.
Pollard, 33, made the Colts as an undrafted free agent from Bradley. He was a power forward on the basketball team.
Pollard's wife, Amani, is from Farmington. Re-signing Pollard was not one of the Colts' priorities, and he said he understood that.
The Colts designated running back Edgerrin James as the franchise player and re-signed offensive tackle Ryan Diem to a contract that included a signing bonus of $12 million.
"They felt they had some guys at tight end," Pollard said. "This is a place I always thought I'd like to play. The last couple of weeks have been pretty exciting."
The addition of Pollard and Kennedy will have an impact on other players.
Tight end Stephen Alexander played all 16 games in 2004 in his one season with the Lions. He caught 41 passes and scored a touchdown, but he wasn't a consistent receiver. Alexander had ankle surgery after the season.
Mariucci has spoken with Alexander and left the door open for him to return, but that doesn't seem likely.
"We're still interested in having him play for us," Mariucci said. "He has other possibilities."
Brock Marion, who turns 35 in June, probably is expendable.
He started 16 games at free safety last year but had trouble defending deep balls.
With Kennedy on board, there could be more playing time for third-year safety Terrence Holt at free safety.
