Today was the first official day of Free Agency and we've already had several large signings.

CB Nate Clements signs a HUGE (biggest contract ever given to a defensive player) contract with the 49ers - 8yrs, $80 million, $22 of it guarenteed

OT Eric Steinback signs for 7yrs, $49 million with the Browns, $17 million guarenteed

G Derrick Dockery signs for 7yrs, $49 million with the Bills, $18.5 million guarenteed

Those are some HUGE contracts. The Clements one will come back and bite them in a couple of years. RBs and CBs are the quickest to wear down.

MLB London Fletcher signs a 5yr, $25 million contract with the Redskins

NFL.com - Washington Redskins Team News (http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/WAS/10033690)

LB Adalius Thomas signs with the Pats for 5 years and $37.5 million.

The Lions make a splash by signing DE Dewayne White (no relation to Rodney) to a 5 year, $29 million deal.

I've never heard of this guy before, but he has played for Rod in Tampa, so hopefully he knows what he's doing. That's a lot of money to throw at a guy with 14 career sacks. That's an average of 2.8 per season.

NFL.com - Dewayne White (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396122)

LB Adalius Thomas signs with the Pats for 5 years and $37.5 million.

The Lions make a splash by signing DE Dewayne White (no relation to Rodney) to a 5 year, $29 million deal.

I've never heard of this guy before, but he has played for Rod in Tampa, so hopefully he knows what he's doing. That's a lot of money to throw at a guy with 14 career sacks. That's an average of 2.8 per season.

NFL.com - Dewayne White (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396122)


Dewayne White?? Who?? This is what happens when you have coaches dictating who is signed a pathetic GM who doesn't have a clue. So now you have two overpaid ends that can't get to the QB in Kalimba Edwards and this Dewayne White character. Great!!!! :nerd2:

Dewayne White?? Who?? This is what happens when you have coaches dictating who is signed a pathetic GM who doesn't have a clue. So now you have two overpaid ends that can't get to the QB in Kalimba Edwards and this Dewayne White character. Great!!!! :nerd2:
Yep, and why is this guy any better than the more affordable Hall?

Yep, and why is this guy any better than the more affordable Hall?

Exactly!! Hall is injury prone but atleast he gets after it when he is in there playing. With these two non-factors in Kalimba and Dewayne White the other teams can double team Shaun Rogers all day long.


The secondary is going to get torched. Nothing new.

The White signing is actually being called one of the few smart moves of the offseason so far!

Two teams that made smart moves were the Detroit Lions, who signed Tampa Bay defensive end Dewayne White (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396122), and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed Ravens right tackle Tony Pashos (http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396054).

NFL.com - New York Jets Team News (http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/NYJ/10040951)

I couldn't believe it. I thought I might have accidentally been transported to Bizzaroweb or maybe Matt Millen's homepage or something, but it's true. Someone actually thinks the Lions made a smart move.

The Lions sign former Michigan State Spartan T.J. Duckett to a 1yr $1.5 million deal.

I like this move. Duckett is a powerful runner, someone who can "pound the rock" in goal line and short yardage situations - 2 areas where the Lions have been HORRIBLE at for a long time. Duckett scored 27 TDs between 2003 and 2005.

The contract, at only 1 year and $1.5 million is nice too. Even if he sucks, he doesn't cost much and will be off the books after the season.

Assuming no one is traded and Jones and Bryson can get healthy, that's a solid group of guys. Bell and Jones will make a great 1, 2 punch and can be split in the backfield on some plays, posing huge matchup problems for the defense.

Bryson will most likely be the team's FB this season. He has great hands and unheard of speed out of the FB position.

Adding Duckett gives us a great change of pace, short yardage and goal line back.

Calhoun will most likely find himself on the PUP list and then the IR this season, allowing the team to retain him without taking up a roster spot.

The Lions sign former Michigan State Spartan T.J. Duckett to a 1yr $1.5 million deal.

I like this move. Duckett is a powerful runner, someone who can "pound the rock" in goal line and short yardage situations - 2 areas where the Lions have been HORRIBLE at for a long time. Duckett scored 27 TDs between 2003 and 2005.

The contract, at only 1 year and $1.5 million is nice too. Even if he sucks, he doesn't cost much and will be off the books after the season.

Assuming no one is traded and Jones and Bryson can get healthy, that's a solid group of guys. Bell and Jones will make a great 1, 2 punch and can be split in the backfield on some plays, posing huge matchup problems for the defense.

Bryson will most likely be the team's FB this season. He has great hands and unheard of speed out of the FB position.

Adding Duckett gives us a great change of pace, short yardage and goal line back.

Calhoun will most likely find himself on the PUP list and then the IR this season, allowing the team to retain him without taking up a roster spot.

Hey, Jammer, I read somewhere that teams will be clamoring to get the Lions' No. 2 pick. Here's where I read it:

Mock draft No. 3 - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A0SO52ugRfNFHgAB2g9DubYF?slug=jm-mockdraft030707&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Hey, Jammer, I read somewhere that teams will be clamoring to get the Lions' No. 2 pick. Here's where I read it:

Mock draft No. 3 - NFL - Yahoo! Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A0SO52ugRfNFHgAB2g9DubYF?slug=jm-mockdraft030707&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)

Thanks for the link GG.

The Lions have quite a few options with the 2nd pick. There are quite a few highly coveted players available that early and teams in the later top 10 will be looking to move up to grab one of them.

Teams wanting a WR will be looking to trade up and grab Calvin Johnson. Teams that need help on the O-line will be looking at Joe Thomas. Russell and Quinn at QB and Adrian Peterson at RB could all go in the top 5.

If they decide to trade down a few spots, they'll be able to grab an extra pick or two and still be able to fill a need with top end talent like Jamaal Anderson or Gaines Adams.

i love the duckett signing just because i remember watching him annihilate defenders at MSU and reading about him benching 525 pounds or whatever ridiculous amount it was. plus just a year at only $1.5 million? i'm actually liking the lions' offseason moves...kind of scary.

I'm wondering if the Lions are stockpiling RBs to move Jones.
3 potential starting backs is kinda strange considering it wasn't deemed one of their primary needs.
Unless this Jones injury thing is worse than we thought.

I'm wondering if the Lions are stockpiling RBs to move Jones.
3 potential starting backs is kinda strange considering it wasn't deemed one of their primary needs.
Unless this Jones injury thing is worse than we thought.

I don't think Jones is going anywhere. Martz seems to really like Jones.

I think the Calhoun and Bryson injuries are more serious than Jones'. I have a feeling that Calhoun and maybe Bryson will end up on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning they can't practice with the team or play in a game until after the 6th week of the season). I have a feeling Calhoun will end up on IR.

Bell is a speed back, Duckett is a power back and Jones is a combination of the two. I think all 3 will stay with the Lions and they'll all compliment each other well. Bryson will fit in to the Martz style hybrid FB once he's healthy.

I don't think Jones is going anywhere. Martz seems to really like Jones.

I think the Calhoun and Bryson injuries are more serious than Jones'. I have a feeling that Calhoun and maybe Bryson will end up on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform list, meaning they can't practice with the team or play in a game until after the 6th week of the season). I have a feeling Calhoun will end up on IR.

Bell is a speed back, Duckett is a power back and Jones is a combination of the two. I think all 3 will stay with the Lions and they'll all compliment each other well. Bryson will fit in to the Martz style hybrid FB once he's healthy.
Fair enough... this will be interesting to see how it plays out... then there's always that insurance in case one of your backs gets hurt..
Could it be possible that they use Ducket as a FB?

then there's always that insurance in case one of your backs gets hurt.

Exactly. Depth is never a bad thing, especially at $1.5 million for 1 year.

Could it be possible that they use Ducket as a FB?

I had thought that as well when I first heard the signing. I can't remember where I saw it, either MLive or Detnews, but they were saying that Duckett will be a RB, not a FB.

But Martz is known for having guys play multiple positions, moving guys around and keeping teams on their toes, so I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him at both positions this season.

The Lions signed WR Shaun McDonald to a 2yr, $2.8 million deal.

NFL ROUNDUP: Lions add former St. Louis receiver (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070313/SPORTS11/703130370/1049/SPORTS01)

The Detroit Rams... er, Lions have signed former Rams CB Travis Fisher to a 1 yr contract (not sure of the $ amount yet).

Reports are that the Lions are still talking to former Ram WR Kevin Curtis.

MLive.com: Everything Michigan (http://www.mlive.com/lions/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1173829208314030.xml&coll=1)

Maybe we should just trade for all of the Rams.... :nerd2:

Just an update: Lost Curtis to the Eagles. No matter at that price! $32M with $9.5 guaranteed. The 2 (Fletcher and Curtis) we targeted got a collective $25M guaranteed. Fletcher is 32 and Curtis 29. Good passes on those as far as I'm concerned.

Just an update: Lost Curtis to the Eagles. No matter at that price! $32M with $9.5 guaranteed. The 2 (Fletcher and Curtis) we targeted got a collective $25M guaranteed. Fletcher is 32 and Curtis 29. Good passes on those as far as I'm concerned.

I completely agree.

This team isn't 1 player away. They need to build with inexpensive, young and hungry players. I've liked their moves so far this offseason.

The Lions make a splash by signing DE Dewayne White (no relation to Rodney) to a 5 year, $29 million deal.

I've never heard of this guy before, but he has played for Rod in Tampa, so hopefully he knows what he's doing. That's a lot of money to throw at a guy with 14 career sacks. That's an average of 2.8 per season.

NFL.com - Dewayne White (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/396122)

Greg Spires is a very old LE that needed to be replaced a few years ago. So Tampa drafted Dwayne White in the 2nd round. For 4 years Spires kept White on the bench. As the "future stater" White couldn't take Spires' job away. This year Rice went down so he finally got to start for 8 games. In games he started, he had 2 sacks. Now someone signs White to a 5 year deal. Good luck.

Greg Spires is a very old LE that needed to be replaced a few years ago. So Tampa drafted Dwayne White in the 2nd round. For 4 years Spires kept White on the bench. As the "future stater" White couldn't take Spires' job away. This year Rice went down so he finally got to start for 8 games. In games he started, he had 2 sacks. Now someone signs White to a 5 year deal. Good luck.

Dude, you have a horrible bedside manner. You're supposed to make me feel BETTER about being a Lions fan! :MusicBigGrin:

Common man, the glass isn't 99% empty, it's 1% full!! :gun1:

tdfast is a Bucs fan and a former roommate of mine.

tdfast is a Bucs fan and a former roommate of mine.

Oh, well that explains everything. He's a friend of yours. Nuff said. :crazy:

:P:D

Oh, well that explains everything. He's a friend of yours. Nuff said. :crazy:

:P:D

Roscoe made me a Bucs fan. He was a Lions fan and I knew I wanted no part of that so Tampa was it!! :stirthepot:

Roscoe made me a Bucs fan. He was a Lions fan and I knew I wanted no part of that so Tampa was it!! :stirthepot:

If you were going to root for a Tampa Bay team, you should have picked the Lightning instead of the Bucs. :cheerleader:

If you were going to root for a Tampa Bay team, you should have picked the Lightning instead of the Bucs. :cheerleader:

They're behind the 8 ball to Brodeur, that's not a good place to be.

And Tortorella is starting to lose his nerve. He started yelling at Lou Lamorello (sp!) last night. Then he cussed out a beat writer during the post game.