Detroit Lions Weblog

Joey and the Free Agents

We are currently in the middle of a brief time of quiet in NFL land. March 3 is the beginning of the Unrestricted Free Agent signing period. In the meantime, the Lions need to determine what exactly is the future of Joey Harrington in Detroit. If he is unwilling to renegotiate his contract, he will surely be released. It is hard to believe the Lions would keep a player who will cost so much if his current abilities far from guarantee that he will be a starter.

I am cautiously hopeful that Harrington is genuine about his desire to remain in Detroit. Mike Martz’s offensive system could go a long ways in rehabilitating Joey’s tarnished image as a NFL QB. Few coaches have done more with less at the QB position than Martz has.

I think that it is absolutely essential that the Lions retain the services of Jeff Backus and Kalimba Edwards. Hopefully, with Marinelli’s guidance, Edwards could assume a Simien Rice-like role with the team. Backus, who has struggled at times but has also provided some much need consistency, should be the A-1 signing priority. The team has no one on the roster who can step in if Backus leaves and this draft has probably just one Offensive Tackle polished enough to contribute right away. (D’Brichashaw Ferguson) He will be drafted before the Lions select their pick at #9.

Whom will the Lion’s pursue not currently on their roster? I know that they still a pass rusher at Defensive End, possibly also need help at Weakside LB, and CB and FS could also be priorities. I think that the Lions may still need an Offensive Guard and potentially a FB depending on what Corey Schlesinger decides to do about his NFL future.

With a great deal of certainty the Lions will surely sign either Kurt Warner or Jamie Martin to be a backup/starting QB. The deliberations with Harrington will probably not effect one of these two being brought due to their knowledge of Martz’s system.