Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Sign Special Teams Ace LB Landon Johnson, Pursuit of DL Anthony Hargrove and, gulp, CB/RS “Pacman” Jones Still on the Table?

Can “Pacman” Jones make it rain in Windsor? If Jim Schwartz and the Lions front office are sufficiently convinced that the talented, but troubled cornerback is serious about a return, the Lions are likely very interested.

Jones Has Fewer Dollars to “Rain” With Now!

Jones, a gifted playmaker, is still only 27 and, by all accounts, is in great shape and primed for a return. The Lions, not usually prone to Faustian deals with the devil, likely are in a position, even with the additions of CB’s Chris Houston and Jonathan Wade, where they have no choice but to extend Jones an offer.

Jones would also provide the team with a credible addition to their punt returns game, which has been a team weakness for several years now.

Jim Schwartz has coached Jones before, and has had considerable success with troubled, reclamation projects, to his credit (see Haynesworth, Albert). Many Lions fans will not be happy that the Lions are considering the addition of a grade-A turd like Jones, but to quote a friend, “if Idi Amin Dada could consistently make tackles while playing on the defensive line, sign him!”

Amin Looks Like a Defensive
Lineman to Me.

The Lions have until April 15th to consider signing (and giving a 3rd round draft pick as compensation for signing Hargrove) restricted free agent DT/DE Anthony Hargrove (and also formerly troubled), from the New Orleans Saints.

If the Lions add Hargrove and Jones, calculated risks that they may be, they will possess the faint outline of moderately good defense. At this point, I am not sure how the Lions can afford to not take the plunge, and roll the dice.

Johnson (59) Gives the Lions Some Much Needed Depth

The Lions also recently added MLB Landon Johnson, who will join the “Pain Train” (a.k.a. Jordan Dizon and Zach Follett) and Vinny Ciurciu as the team’s special teams coverage stalwarts.

Johnson also provides the Lions with some much needed depth (after the loss of Larry Foote) at inside linebacker, and conceivably, could allow the team to be able to shift DeAndre Levy around, when necessary.

In the end, as a long suffering Lions fan, I believe that the team’s personnel situation needs improvement, despite any objections that I could possibly have over the addition of “Pacman” Jones in the upcoming weeks. In the end, I guess I have an analogous level of restraint and integrity as that of the those strippers that Jones “rained upon” a few years ago. My bad.