Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Sign RB Dorsey, Possibly Working Out WR Donte Stallworth, and Mike Mayock

The Lions clearly have to investigate all available options to improve their entire roster as a 2-14 team. Given their recent struggles, signing a journeymen running back like DeDe Dorsey and giving disappointing, yet talented WR Donte Stallworth a work out, are the type of things they will need to do, as they continue to claw their way back towards respectability.

DeDe Dorsey Touchdown Maker?

Dorsey is 25 years old and started his brief NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. He has bounced between the Bengals and Colts during his three NFL seasons, but it was his performance during the inaugural UFL season with Las Vegas Locomotives that appears to have caught the Lions eye.

To Dorsey’s credit, he appears excited to have arrived in Detroit, given these comments from his Twitter account, published in the Detroit News:

“I am the newest member of … The Detroit Lions. Motown here I come! I can’t wait to get out there and do my thing! Back to the Jungle … I was a Lindenwood Lion in College and now I am a Detroit Lion in the NFL … makes sense.”

In all likelihood, Dorsey will be the Lions new Aveion Cason. He is a veteran, versatile player who can help on special teams and serve as a 3rd down back. It would seem, with the presence of Maurice Morris and with Kevin Smith returning from injury, Dorsey will have to battle Aaron Brown to carve out a role and gain touches with the Lions.

Donte Stallworth Has Been Down Some Hard Roads, Both On and Off the Field

Donte Stallworth, recently re-instated by the NFL, after serving a prison stint for his highly-publicized manslaughter case last year, is going to be a controversial addition, if the Lions choose to sign him.

Stallworth came out of Tennessee in 2002 as a 1st round draft pick, who was gifted with some serious foot speed. After a promising rookie year with the Saints, Stallworth has been somewhat of a disappointment, and has bounced between several teams during his NFL career, which reeks of a player who has been given ample opportunity due to the talent that he possesses, but with none of the intangibles or dedication necessary to make the best of that vast talent.

G Rec Yds Y/G Avg Lng YAC 1stD TD
2002-03 New Orleans 13 42 594 45.7 14.1 57 7.4 26 8
2003-04 New Orleans 11 25 485 44.1 19.4 76 8.4 19 3
2004-05 New Orleans 16 58 767 47.9 13.2 45 6.0 35 5
2005-06 New Orleans 16 70 945 59.1 13.5 43 3.8 50 7
2006-07 Philadelphia 12 38 725 60.4 19.1 84 5.7 30 5
2007-08 New England 16 46 697 43.6 15.2 69 7.1 27 3
2008-09 Cleveland 11 17 170 15.5 10.0 19 5.2 8 1
Career 95 296 4383 46.1 14.8 84 6.0 195 32

Stallworth’s career has been on a clear downward trajectory, since leaving New Orleans, and that is without considering his vast off-the-field troubles. As a 29 year old receiver, who has squandered his considerable talent, he could still posess enough talent and remain hungry enough, that the Lions could be taking on a low risk, high reward player(on the field), with a cheap price tag.

The rub is, can the Lions afford to add a troubled player and assume that Stallworth’s past problems will not flare up again? The Lions desperately need help at their wide receiver position, but doesn’t adding Stallworth seem to be akin to giving Charles Rogers a second opportunity? Stallworth is not a solid NFL citizen and he is a disappointing player, why bother?

Gerald McCoy May Be the Best Available Player In the '10 Draft

In some circles, Mike Mayock is considered the most competent and consistent of the NFL draftniks who are involved in analyzing and prognosticating about the NFL draft. Mayock has recently ranked Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy as the top player in the upcoming NFL draft, whereas many other experts view Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh as the consensus top player, and likely favorite to be the first overall selection.

Here are Mayock’s comments, along with a brief comment from FoxSports’ Pete Schrager:

“I don’t care what order they’re in,” Mayock said. “They’re the two best players (Suh and McCoy) in the country.

“I look at McCoy and I see the most disruptive force coming out of the draft as far as an interior defensive linemen in years. He’s got a little bit of Warren Sapp to him, a little bit of Tommie Harris to him, he’s explosive, he’s disruptive, he’s clean off the field.”

“Both of these guys can play three downs. They don’t get tired, they play a lot of snaps, they can push the pocket. Suh pushes the pocket with strength, where McCoy’s a little bit more quick.

“So it’s really what flavor do you want, but in my opinion, they’re 1 and 1A, and then there’s a big falloff after that.”

Pete Schrager of Foxsports.com says: “Suh’s the safe bet, but McCoy may have the greater NFL upside.”

Without considering the improbable and unforeseen rise of a quarterback to the top of the draft boards, the Lions appear to have a win-win scenario entering the ‘10 draft.