HEADLINES

Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions’ Lewand: No Trade For DT In Works

May 28th, 2015 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

Over the weekend, a report suggested that the Lions may add some extra talent and/or depth at defensive tackle by making a trade, as they did earlier this offseason when they acquired Haloti Ngata from Baltimore. For now though, “nothing” is in the works regarding a trade for a DT, team president Tom Lewand tells Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

“As you know, we’re always looking at ways to upgrade,” Lewand said. “[General manager] Martin [Mayhew] is relentless when it comes to looking at ways to improve the roster. When he gets done with one transaction, his focus is on making another one. So as you know, we never rest in those ways and we look at any opportunity that we might come our way to improve the team and evaluate it.”

Having lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency, the Lions have done a decent job revamping their interior defensive line. Besides trading for Ngata, Detroit also signed Tyrunn Walker, a potentially undervalued free agent from the Saints, and drafted Auburn’s Gabe Wright. Still, Wright was a fourth-round pick and Walker has only logged 425 career defensive snaps, so the club could use one more experienced veteran.

While I’m not sure the Lions would seriously consider pursuing either player, Muhammad Wilkerson and Michael Brockers are among the notable defensive tackles who have drawn trade interest within the last few weeks. Fairley’s arrival in St. Louis made Brockers a little more expendable, while Wilkerson was generating trade interest even before the Jets drafted Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick last month.

If the Lions do attempt to go the trade route to fortify their defensive line, a deal may develop closer to the season, when teams are making roster cutdowns.

NFC North Notes: Peterson, Patterson, Bears

May 27th, 2015 at 9:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a quick look at the NFC North..

  • On Wednesday afternoon, a reader asked Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) to handicap the odds that the Vikings will trade Adrian Peterson. Schefter replied that the Vikings have been very clear in their stance and they’ve insisted that they won’t budge. Earlier today, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report spoke with a league source who felt that Peterson was likely to show up at some point during OTAs. Peterson, meanwhile, issued a statement explaining that he does not want to be traded.
  • The Lions are set to meet with defensive lineman Mike Patterson, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Detroit is looking to beef up the line and they could do it by reuniting Patterson with coach Jim Washburn.
  • The Bears have hired former Saints cap guru Joey Laine as their new director of football administration, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). Laine will handle the salary cap and player negotiations, according to a source. Cliff Stein will remain with Chicago as general counsel.

NFC North Notes: Ihedigbo, Kalil, Bears

May 27th, 2015 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we passed along updates on Adrian Peterson and Matt Forte, two star NFC North running backs who aren’t satisfied with their current contract situations. We’ve got a few more items this afternoon from out of the division, including one note related to another player who is seeking a new deal. Here’s the latest:

  • Asked if he felt like he outperformed his contract in 2014, Lions safety James Ihedigbo replied, “I was a Pro Bowl alternate, so that answers that question,” writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Ihedigbo reported to the team’s OTAs, but still wants more money, more years, or both added onto his current contract, which calls for a $1.1MM base salary in 2015.
  • Vikings offensive tackle Matt Kalil said today that he’d like to play for “another five, six years,” according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Kalil, whose fifth-year option for 2016 was exercised by Minnesota earlier this offseason, turns 26 in July, so playing just five or six more seasons would mean retiring in his early-30s.
  • After releasing Ray McDonald earlier this week following his latest domestic violence arrest, Bears chairman George McCaskey spoke to reporters today, including Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, taking responsibility for having brought the defensive lineman to the team. Even though the McDonald signing went south, the club still has “complete confidence” in new GM Ryan Pace, per McCaskey.

NFC North Notes: Ihedigbo, Peterson, Bears

May 26th, 2015 at 9:40am CST by Luke Adams

Here’s the latest out of the NFC North, as a handful of teams’ OTAs around the league get underway….

  • Safety James Ihedigbo, who is seeking a new contract, will report to the Lions‘ offseason workouts today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter links). Birkett adds that Ihedigbo will be at the team’s OTAs and minicamp, presumably as a show of good faith as he attempts to work out a new deal.
  • Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) clears up some misinformation about Adrian Peterson‘s contract with the Vikings, pointing out that the running back has to participate in the team’s entire OTA and minicamp programs to earn his $250K bonus — not just 90% of those activities, as has been reported elsewhere. Either way, it appears Peterson will forfeit that bonus money, as he did back in 2012 (Twitter link).
  • One reason the Bears were willing to roll the dice on Ray McDonald this offseason was the fact that he was a tremendous on-field fit for Vic Fangio‘s scheme, having played under the defensive coordinator in San Francisco. Now that McDonald is no longer in the mix in Chicago, the club will have to turn to Plan B. Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com and John Mullin of CSNChicago.com examine what that backup plan might look like.

Extra Points: Roethlisberger, McDonald, Lions

May 25th, 2015 at 8:27pm CST by Zachary Links

A quick look around the NFL..

  • Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has to succeed in a few areas of his game in order to justify his hefty $99MM deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler writes. For starters, he’ll have to improve his turnover numbers in the playoffs as he has a career 21-to-19 TD to INT ratio. He’ll also have to build on his continuity with Todd Haley and help to make the team’s younger players better. Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton, and Sammie Coates are all believed to possess serious upside and it’s up to Big Ben to ensure that they reach their potential.
  • The fault lies with Ray McDonald, not the people in the Bears organization who gave him one more chance, John Mullin of CSNChicago.com writes. In fact, Mullin credits owner George McCaskey for sending out a strong accountability message to his players by dropping McDonald after his most recent arrest.
  • Undrafted linebacker Kevin Snyder could be an intriguing prospect for the Lions, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com writes. Snyder showed promise while he was at Rutgers, but he didn’t shine in 2014 as he played through a painful turf toe injury. Rutgers position coach Bob Fraser convinced Lions linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to take a chance on the youngster. “I said, ‘Bill, look, I really think if the guy is going to make your squad, he’s going to be a good special teams guy because he can run, he’s big and people don’t understand he had this turf toe which slowed him down,’” Fraser said. “He couldn’t push off. So sometimes he couldn’t hit people. He couldn’t plant off it and push, and that’s hard to do out there. That’s not the easiest thing for a linebacker, you know.”

Extra Points: Texans, Jaguars, Bucs, Kraft

May 23rd, 2015 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s run down some bits and pieces from the league from Saturday.

  • The Lions acquired Haloti Ngata via trade to plug one of their defensive tackle holes vacated by the departures of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, and CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora notes (on Twitter) Detroit could make a similar play to find more help on its defensive interior. Detroit picked Gabe Wright in Round 4 and signed Tyrunn Walker, he of one career start, from the Saints, so a need obviously remains.
  • Blake Bortles‘ offseason development choice was working with the same motion analysis specialists Tom Brady has in the past, Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union writes. The columnist reports Bortles, who rushed for 345 yards as a rookie with the Jaguars, dropped from 250 pounds to 238.
  • Jags remaining unsigned draft choices T.J. Yeldon and A.J. Cann should agree to terms this week during OTAs, Ryan O’Halloran of the Times-Union notes.
  • The Texans are the favorites to be this year’s featured team on HBO’s Hard Knocks, reports ESPN.com’s Tania Ganguli (on Twitter).
  • Johnthan Banks figures to present a tough challenge for veteran Mike Jenkins to reclaim his starting cornerback job alongside Alterraun Verner with the Buccaneers, writes ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinkas. Although Pro Football Focus doesn’t rate Banks, a starter for most of his two NFL slates, as a particularly good cover man (93rd among corners last year; subscription required), the third-year player did intercept four passes and deflect 10. A Pro Bowler with the Cowboys in 2009, Jenkins is entering his age-30 season. Although only on a one-year contract after not being tendered as a restricted free agent by Dallas, Sterling Moore should be in this conversation as well after his breakout 2014.
  • Yasinkas also expects Charles Sims to give the suddenly mediocre Doug Martin a stiff challenge for the Bucs’ top ball-carrying job. Sims averaged just 2.8 yards per tote as a rookie in limited duty, while Martin averaged 3.7 per carry on 134 carries.
  • Justin Smith‘s retirement didn’t exactly catch the 49ers in an experience sinkhole like Suh and Fairley’s did for the Lions, with Darnell Dockett and Glenn Dorsey (234 starts between them) fronting the competition. But other candidates loom in what could be more of a committee-type arrangement, writes the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. First-round pick Arik Armstead and Tank Carradine are among those potentially able to supply depth after the loss of the unit’s leader. Dorsey rated ahead of the departed Ray McDonald — via PFF during his last healthy season in 2013, but both McDonald and Smith boasted top-flight marks last season.
  • The Boston Globe’s Christopher L. Gasper argued Patriots owner Robert Kraft put his own legacy ahead of his team’s immediate future in withdrawing from a potential battle with commissioner Roger Goodell over the team’s Deflategate penalties. The Pats boss backed Goodell on the Saints’ Bountygate punishment and his initial ruling in the Ray Rice domestic-abuse incident before objecting to sanctions against his own team.

NFC Notes: Rams, Garcia, Lions, Walsh

May 20th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

Former NFL signal-caller Jeff Garcia interviewed for the Rams‘ quarterbacks coach job earlier in the offseason, but the position ultimately went to Chris Weinke. Still, the club apparently liked what it saw from Garcia. According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), the Rams have added Garcia to their coaching staff as an offensive assistant for the coming season.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Lance Moore received a $40K signing bonus from the Lions and will get another $40K bonus if he’s on the team’s roster in Week 1, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As Birkett observes, the modest guaranteed money on the minimum salary deal hardly assures the veteran wideout of a regular season roster spot. Birkett also provides contract details for defensive lineman Corey Wootton ($150K guaranteed) and second-round running back Ameer Abdullah ($2.29MM guaranteed).
  • Asked about a possible contract extension to keep him in Minnesota beyond the 2015 season, kicker Blair Walsh expressed optimism, but cautioned that he and the Vikings haven’t had serious talks yet. “We have to make sure we’re on the same page and the numbers match up,” Walsh told Alex Marvez and Bill Polian on SiriusXM NFL Radio (TwitLonger link). “That’s for management and my agent to discuss. I’ll be ready to talk about it when they are.”
  • The Cowboys are happy to have cornerback Orlando Scandrick back at their offseason workouts, as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram details. Scandrick and the team continue to discuss the possibility of a new contract that would increase his salary for 2015.
  • Seahawks defensive tackle Jesse Williams was diagnosed with papillary type 2 cancer and will undergo kidney surgery, the team announced this week.

Extra Points: Rams, Washington, Lions

May 16th, 2015 at 8:54pm CST by Zachary Links

As Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com tweeted Friday morning, Washington confirmed that quarterback Connor Halliday isn’t in attendance at the club’s rookie minicamp. Halliday, who signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent last week, decided to retire before his NFL career had even begun, writes Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

For now, the unexpected retirement leaves Washington with three quarterbacks on its roster — Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins, and Colt McCoy. However, the team may still bring in one more arm to replace Halliday and to get through the offseason. More from around the NFL..

  • Dave Peacock, the co-leader of the St. Louis stadium task force, can see a scenario in which Stan Kroenke moves to Los Angeles but St. Louis retains the Rams, as Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes. “It’s possible we have different ownership of the (Rams) because I think (Kroenke) is really committed to Los Angeles,” Peacock said. “I’m not against Stan going to Los Angeles, I just don’t want our team there. This is why we’re spending most of our time with the league — we think this is an NFL issue.”
  • With Brian Orakpo gone and with Ryan Kerrigan being the most accomplished outside linebacker left in Washington, John Keim of ESPN.com wonders how much Kerrigan will be moved around. Kerrigan was effective rushing from other areas besides the left outside linebacker spot two years ago, particularly against guards, so there’s reason to believe that he can succeed in different positions. Still, he’s comfortable coming from the left side, particularly because he’s deaf in his left ear.
  • The Lions brought a fourth quarterback to training camp last year, James Franklin, and he didn’t take a snap in an exhibition game. This year, UDFA Anthony Boone is joining a team that already features Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky, and Kellen Moore, and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press wonders if he’ll suffer a similar fate.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Extra Points: Cowboys, Robison, Lions

May 14th, 2015 at 10:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Ryan Williams had chances last season to join another team’s 53-player roster, but he chose to stay on the Cowboys‘ taxi squad instead, Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram writes. Williams wanted to stay in Dallas so that he could get a shot to run behind the league’s best offensive line. This year, he’ll be competing with three other veteran tailbacks for roster spots, playing time, and carries. Williams has only 58 carries for 164 yards and no touchdowns over the course of his career, playing only five games since the Cardinals made him a second-round pick in 2011. Williams has a serious injury history, but he claims that he’s been healthy for the last three years.

  • Vikings defensive end Brian Robison suffered a pectoral injury while working out on Thursday, according to Peter Schrager and Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The extent of the injury is not yet known, but the 32-year-old believes that he’ll be OK. The extent of the injury will not be known until medical tests are completed, but the injury is not believed to be serious, sources tell Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune. Robison started every game in 2014, but he had just 4.5 sacks and 24 tackles, his lowest totals since becoming a starter in 2011.
  • The Lions announced promotions for execs Scott McEwen, Lance Newmark, and Cedric Saunders, as Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com writes. The three men have a combined 55 years of experience with the team.
  • After losing two straight years of football due to injury, Vick Ballard is worried that people have forgotten about him. Now, he’s preparing for Colts training camp, which could be his last shot in the NFL, Zak Keefer of the Indy Star writes. The Colts signed Frank Gore in March, used a sixth-round pick on a running back earlier this month, and signed two more tailbacks, so there’s lots of competition for the veteran this summer.

Lions Sign Corey Wootton

May 14th, 2015 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

11:32am: The Lions have officially signed Wootton, the team announced in a press release.

10:57am: Wootton’s deal with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit contract, with an $80K signing bonus and a portion of the base salary guaranteed, tweets Birkett.

10:18am: The Lions are adding a little more depth to their revamped defensive line, according to agent Mike McCartney, who tweets that his client Corey Wootton is heading to Detroit on a one-year contract. Wootton had worked out for the club earlier this month.

Wootton, who turns 28 next month, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Chicago before joining the Vikings for the 2014 season. While he has never been an every-down player, Wootton saw 22 starts and totaled 10 sacks during his final two seasons with the Bears. Last year in Minnesota, he came off the bench and recorded just a single sack.

In Detroit, Wootton will be part of a new-look defensive line for the Lions, who lost Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, and George Johnson in free agency. C.J. Mosley also remains unsigned. To replace the departed players, the team has brought in Haloti Ngata, Tyrunn Walker, rookie Gabe Wright, and now Wootton.

According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link), Wootton is expected to play primarily at defensive end for the Lions. The veteran lineman also tried out for the Jaguars and Titans earlier in the offseason and visited with the Saints in April before landing in Detroit.

Load More Posts