Detroit Lions Weblog

Mike Furrey Released (With More to Come), Sean McHugh, In Defense of Anquan Boldin, Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson

Well, the ruthless, off-season chopping block has begun today. WR Mike Furrey was released by the Lions, well, he will be officially released Feb. 9th, but he was apparently notified (reportedly, along with a couple of other players) already that he will not be retained by the organization moving forward.

Furrey, a Mike Martz/Rams protege, was a tough, inspirational player who has survived in the NFL through persistence, and more than a little bit of guile.

Unfortunately, injuries and an overall lack of production (especially after Martz’s termination) made him expendable to the Lions. Interestingly enough, with Shaun McDonald being a free agent, Furrey’s release makes the Lions depth very thin at wide out (Calvin Johnson, John Standeford, Brandon Middleton (I think?), and Adam Jennings).

The Lions are reportedly going to cut several players loose immediately on Feb. 9th, so more carnage is going to ensue, soon.

The media is playing a little “divide and conquer” game with the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver corps, and I am of the opinion that it is unfair. Larry Fitzgerald is being cast as a cerebral, pensive, emerging star, while Boldin is being portrayed as a petulant, crybaby who is putting himself before the team.

Anquan Boldin is one of the toughest S.O.B.’s in the league, and given the Lions lack of depth at that position, if I were Martin Mayhew, I would jump at the opportunity to inquire about Boldin’s availability.

Boldin’s sideline blow-up with Cards offensive coordinator Todd Haley indicates the power of television. Boldin being cast as a selfish guy, because he was mad about not being on the field during crunch time is completely overblown.

I also believe that Boldin was not out of line in making a big deal about not getting a new deal entering the season. The Bidwill’s are notoriously thrifty, and Boldin has more than earned his keep in the league. Boldin’s courage and commitment should never have come into question.

Ex-Lions H-Back and TE Sean McHugh has redeemed his lucky “Golden Ticket”, hasn’t he? He isn’t Veruca Salt, either. Going from being cut by an 0-16 team to earning significant playing time with a Super Bowl team indicates a lot about the prowess of the previous front office staff’s evaluation of players.

McHugh was a valuable Lions player, who I was surprised that they decided to release, but leave it to the Steelers to alchem-ize (see, I can make up words, too!) a Lions cast-off into a contributing member of Super Bowl team.

If Lions coaches Jim Schwartz and Gunther Cunningham publicly state their defensive inclinations entering the draft, we may have a window into their draft decision-making process.

In my opinion, if Schwartz and Cunningham decide to utilize a combo of 3-4 and 4-3 defensive sets, then Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson becomes an obvious selection. Johnson and second-year player Cliff Avril could both play with their hands on the ground, or standing up, and be equally effective.

Johnson, was not overwhelmingly productive as a senior, but he has an incredibly high-ceiling and will give NFL defenses nightmares with his size/speed combination. Gunther would not feel bad dialing up blitzes, at all, if Avril and Johnson were set free to create a genuine, unrelenting disruption in opposing backfields. Just a thought, if you’re reading in Allen Park, Lions front office!!!!