Kalimba Edwards “I’m Stealing”
December 13, 2006 on 4:23 pm | In Uncategorized |I really appreciate Lions DE Kalimba Edwards’ honesty. In a recent Detroit News article written by Terry Foster , Edwards is quite candid that he is stealing money from the Lions. Entering this season, Edwards was a free agent. He was given a 4-yr., $20 Million contract by the Lions, who may have ultimately been bidding against themsleves, depending how strongly you believe that the Cleveland Browns had a genuine interest in Edwards’s services.
Edwards has always been the type of player whose physique and athletic ability have generated excited projections about his future in the league. I have referred to Edwards as “Kalimba the Ghost”, because he often disappears as a legitimate factor in games. Edwards has earned one sack this season and promises to rectify that by producing a more significant pass rush for the Lions during their last three games.
This pronouncement is the heart of the problem. Edwards has been fully capable of providing flashes of potential that make coaches heart flutter and causes scout’s with stop watches dangling from around their necks to stand agape. This is the very essence of the “tools” vs. performance debate, more commonly found in baseball. Edwards possesses all of the raw tools, but never has been able to emerge as a consistent entity in the Lions pass rush. His actual performance does not bear out the role he has been given by the organization as it’s designated pass rusher, a role he has been heavily remunerated for.
Edwards is a well-paid, professional. He understands the nature of the business. I would not be surprised to see his contract re-structured this offseason, if he is not released all together. He has openly admitted to have committed a crime by his lack of production this season, now he will likely have to pay a costly price as a result.
3 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment
Powered by WordPress with Pool theme design by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^
I agree with your assessment of Edwards…..no doubt about it…..you rarely hear his name or number called during a game…..what a shame…..he has all the tools……but not the heart!….. I think he would be a different player on a great team, but then alot of people would be…
NOTE: when reading your assessment 0f Edwards, I found myself replacing his name and face with several other players on the team with the same enigma!
Comment by Darin Larner — December 14, 2006 #
I’m glad your still at it dude (writing the blog, that is). It’s become so tough to go to the effort and watch a Lions game, here on the East Coast. “Oh yeah, I wanna go see another game where the opposing team lays off the Lions horrible O-Line until it really counts at the end of the game, and see how Kitna turns it over this time…”
This reminds me of that T.Kowalski article where an opposing coaching staff member (recent victor) gives breaks down an anonymous scouting report.
C’mon?!?! How hard is it to listen to the coaches and try a coupla moves every once in awhile?!!?!?
Currently living in Philly, this reminds me of how Matt Geiger basically refused to play after signing a $52M contract, and retired a year later.
At least Geiger didn’t feign guilt.
Comment by harry sanders — December 14, 2006 #
Here’s another manifestation of the “tools v. performance” debate: Troy Smith v. Brady Quinn. Troy Smith delivers passes to the correct spot almost every time, even when he’s pressured. He has perfomed admirably in clutch games, including 3 wins (as much as I hate to talk about it) against Michigan. Yet, the Lions will look at Quinn and see “tools” that exceed Smith’s tools. Quinn is taller, throws a better ball (when he’s not pressured, of course), and hasn’t had “off field trouble.” Watch; they’ll end up taking Brady Quinn and regretting it for years. If they don’t, maybe they’ll have turned the corner. I’ll believe it when I see it, though…
BTW, great blog!
Comment by Father Figure — December 17, 2006 #