Whirlwind of Lions News, Amped Up Draft Speculation
March 25, 2009 on 11:06 am | In Uncategorized |Over the last few days, Lions fans have been nearly overwhelmed by innuendo, speculation, and no consideration involving the Lions would be complete without a major gaffe, as we all sadly know.
First off, the news broke that the Lions had begun negotiating deals with their potential draft picks. Near synchronously, conflicting news broke from several outlets about the Lions focus for the first overall pick:
1) Matthew Stafford, who is the nominal leader for the pick, it would seem.
2) KFFL reported that the pick was going to be Baylor OT Jason Smith
3) Pro Football Talk had a report indicating that the Lions were actually interested in USC QB Mark Sanchez, and not Stafford.
Meanwhile, Wake Forest OLB Aaron Curry simultaneously reported that the Lions had not been in contact with him about negotiating a deal to the dismay of many Lions fans, includingThe Lions in Winter.
All of this absolutely reeks of the kind of good ol’ fashioned, red herring-laying, misinformation-fueled, duck-and-dodge that leads up to the draft in hopes of disguising a teams actual plans, and cultivating an ideal environment for attaining leverage in contract negotiations.
With that all noted, the Lions have further complicated and muddied/muddled the details with Martin Mayhew’s admission that the Lions have been shopping their draft picks, in hopes of accruing even more value in the draft.
Interestingly enough, I am worried that the Lions, by creating these diversions extrinsically, they may suffer intrinsically, as part of the process, despite the wisdom of engaging in this type of process. Given the Lions penchant for lousing things up, I am afraid that may actually betray their intentions by orchestrating a dog-and-pony show with the media.
The fact that Curry has not been contacted yet, doesn’t mean that he will not eventually emerge as the first overall pick in the end.
I believe that the Lions will eventually sign a player leading up to draft day and it will be public knowledge. The Lions don’t need to help their brethren who pick lower on the draft board, in hopes of protecting their intentions at pick 20, too.
The concern about gaffes is a realistic concern, too. The Ghosts of Millen are everywhere within the Lions organization, if yesterday news didn’t make that plain enough.
The NFL shop online site hilariously displayed a children’s toy truck with the Lions “new” logo, which has not been publicly displayed by the franchise (or approved by the league?), yet. Oops!
Is there anything more emblematic of the Lions organization than them having every noble intention of making a big splash announcement about a new look, which will bring a new attitude, yada yada yada, and in the end, by accident, the league stomps on those intentions by “accidentally” attempting to sell merchandise with the new logo. Only the Lions…
Will the league provide the Lions with an additional 7th round compensatory pick as a result of helping to add the public relations nightmares that have become so commonplace with this franchise?
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I just read on the ESPN blog that the Lions are trying to plan a private workout for Sanchez on April 1. I hope that is for show. I really think Culpepper will work for a year or two, and maybe we pick up Pat White, or someone in the third, fourth, fifth round.
Comment by Lions Fan in Louisville — March 25, 2009 #
Whirlwind indeed! I think between Killer and Nick Cotsonika’s stories, Phil Zaroo’s blog work, Pride of Detroit, and mainstream blogs like PFT, there have been like five post-worthy Lions stories every single day . . . it’s madness! The 24-hour news cycle is kicking my tail.
Speaking of the league stomping on us, can you believe the compensatory picks got awarded about an hour BEFORE Shaun Cody signs with Texas? You’d think he’d be worth another seventh . . .
Good stuff Steve.
Peace
Ty
Comment by ty@thelionsinwinter — March 25, 2009 #
I am assuming that Sanchez would be of interest if they moved down the draft board, or more unlikely, if he were available to take with pick #20.
I think that now is the time to take everything with a grain of salt, at least until they announce that a player is signed, likely a few days before the draft.
Pat White is intriguing to me, too. He will go much higher than most expect, purely based upon his superlative skill set. If Matt Jones, a bit of a draft bust, at this point, was a 1st round selection, then Pat White definitely should be one.
Funny thing, Shack Harris was involved in the decision to select Jones. Hmmmm…Maybe you are onto something.
Comment by Steve — March 25, 2009 #
Does’nt this whole tangled skein of info make you think that the Lions want to create the appearance of confusion and on some level, take advantage of all of the free exposure that they are getting?
Comment by Steve — March 25, 2009 #