and here....we....GO! Draft 2012 1.0

[mhughes0021]

Barrys got our backs! lol

Barry Sanders weighs in on McShay mock

December, 22, 2011
Dec 223:00PM ETEmailPrintComments547By Kevin SeifertKyle of Quad Cities pointed me in the direction of an interesting Twitter exchange between Detroit Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders and the Detroit Free Press, all of which was started by Todd McShay's initial ESPN.com mock draft for 2012 .

As we noted, McShay drafted Virginia Tech running back David Wilson for the Lions at No. 25 overall. Wilson would be the third highly drafted running back for the Lions in as many years, but significant injuries to Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure make it a plausible scenario.

After the Free Press pointed out the pick, Sanders tweeted back: "will they ever take an O - Lineman???"

Sanders added: "I am sort of biased... but would help [quarterback Matthew Stafford] and [receiver Calvin Johnson] too. to be fair, @DetroitLionsNFL recent drafts have been solid"

The Lions have largely left their offensive line untouched during a three-year rebuilding process that has gutted the rest of the roster. The only starter added since the start of the 2009 season is left guard Rob Sims, acquired in an April 2010 trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

At some point, the Lions will need to begin plotting a succession plan for left tackle Jeff Backus, whose contract expires after this season. Center Dominic Raiola turns 33 later this month but plays a position that typically hosts aging players well. But I would agree they had more pressing needs than offensive line in recent years.

 

[tonyballs]

I'm ready to revamp the O-line myself but the glaring need for a durable RB can't be overlooked. Hopefully we get Leshoure back at 100% next season.

We won't get Leshoure back at 100%. The injury he sustained is horrific. He'll play, but it's a 2 year injury and his burst will not be the same. Hope i'm wrong but history don't lie....

 

[tonyballs]

sign Bush or CJ2K in the off season....no need to draft another fucking RB.

Isn't Lynch a FA as well? Or did the Seahawks lock him up?

 

[lions2011]

sign Bush or CJ2K in the off season....no need to draft another fucking RB.

Isn't Lynch a FA as well? Or did the Seahawks lock him up?

another option , that piper is a FA in 2012 as well

 

[af1991]

What is the status of Steven Jackson?

 

[mhughes0021]

What is the status of Steven Jackson?

heres the top 50 2012 FA:

1. Drew Brees
QB 33
2. Carl Nicks
G 27
3. Ray Rice RB 25
4. Arian Foster (Restricted)
RB 25
5. Robert Mathis
DE 31
6. Matt Forte RB 26
7. Mike Wallace (Restricted)
WR 26
8. Jermichael Finley
TE 25
9. Mario Williams
DE 27
10. Ben Grubbs
G 28
11. Cortland Finnegan CB 28
12. Cliff Avril
DE 26
13. Wes Welker
WR 31
14. Dwayne Bowe
WR 27
15. Brent Grimes CB 29
16. John Abraham
DE 34
17. Stephen Tulloch

LB 27
18. Jason Jones
DE 26
19. Paul Soliai
DT 28
20. DeSean Jackson
WR 25
21. LaRon Landry S 27
22. Vincent Jackson
WR 29
23. Terrell Thomas
CB 27
24. Marques Colston
WR 29
25. Peyton Hillis
RB 26
26. Carlos Rogers CB 31
27. Steve Johnson
WR 26
28. Jason Campbell
QB
30
29. Rashean Mathis
CB 31
30. Reggie Wayne
WR 33
31. Tracy Porter
CB 26
32. Michael Griffin S 27
33. Lardarius Webb
CB 26
34. Greg Olsen TE 27
35. Brandon Carr CB 26
36. Tyvon Branch
S 25
37. Aubrayo Franklin
DT 31
38. Andre Carter
DE 32
39. Kareem McKenzie
OT 33
40. Matt Roth
DE 29
41. Fred Davis
TE 26
42. Cory Redding
DE 31
43. Anthony Spencer
LB 28
44. Marshawn Lynch
RB 26
45. Brandon Lloyd
WR 31
46. Nick Hardwick
C 30
47. E.J. Henderson
LB 32
48. Matt Flynn
QB 27
49. Tim Jennings
CB 28
50. Michael Bush
RB 28



Other Notable 2012 Free Agents:

Jarret Johnson

 

[murktastic]

arian foster we could pick up? did mcshay forget about leshoure cuz thats what it seems like... and yea i only seeing us taking a RB in rd1 if its trent richardson.

 

[michiganmania]

I really doubt HOU will let Foster walk and the same can be said about Ray Rice and Forte...Those guys will probably get franchise tags if they do not sign before tags are handed out...I would not mind picking up Michael Bush for a full time role if we are going to sign a RB. I do not think that Seattle will let Lynch get away from them either. Oakland would be smart to hang on to Bush since McFadden always misses games each year but who knows what they will do.

 

[tsmith7559]

sign Tulloch long term, sign CJ long term.......then we can talk FA

 

[mhughes0021]

id be exstatic with a Ladarious Webb, Laron Landry, Greg Olsen FA

Resign Tulloch and Avril

Sign CJ to an extension

Draft a bunch of fatties for the oline.

Championship!

 

[motown1958]

Laron Landry will stay in DC. Not sure webb is that big of an upgrade over what we have. Tulloch Avril and Cj all need to get paid....BY US. Greg Olsen isnt someone I had thought of but I like it as a possiblity and then draft BPA.....and please let that be oline in round 1.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Not to worried about getting a RB. Sign Tulloch so we don't have to draft a LB high, get some OL that can do some power running, and get a big back in FA or late round. Grab a cornerback somewhere and we'll be all set.

 

[mhughes0021]

Mitch[/color]]Not to worried about getting a RB. Sign Tulloch so we don't have to draft a LB high, get some OL that can do some power running, and get a big back in FA or late round. Grab a cornerback somewhere and we'll be all set.

Tim Jennings isnt on the top of my list...but swooping him away from CHI would be a win. Guy has had a great year....and had just been benched lol. Must not be a part of their future.

Zack Bowman replaces Tim JenningsEmailPrintComments5By Michael C. Wright
ESPNChicago.com
Archive Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings said Friday the team informed him earlier in the week about plans to go in a different direction at his position, and Zack Bowman will start in his place Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers.


More From ESPNChicago.com

Can't get enough Bears information? ESPNChicago.com has all the latest on the Monsters of the Midway. Blog


Jennings said the news was initially disappointing.

"I was discouraged earlier in the week. They kind of told me ahead of time that was a route they might take," Jennings said. "It's a different approach. They wanted to try something new, see if it worked for us.

"[I'm all] for whatever is gonna make us better -- make the team better -- I'm with it. But as a competitor it doesn't sit well with you. That comes with the nature of the game."

Jennings started the team's first 14 games, contributing 79 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

Jennings gave up a 43-yard completion from Tarvaris Jackson to Ben Obomanu in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. Later in the quarter, Jennings was called for pass interference on a Jackson pass intended for Golden Tate. The penalty occurred on third down and kept a Seahawks drive alive. Four plays later, the Seahawks connected on a 33-yard field goal to go up 24-14.

Jennings said he wasn't sure of what the team's plans are for him over the final two regular-season games.

"Whenever my number is called, I'll be there," Jennings said. "I can come in as the third corner, fourth corner, however they want me to do it. Whatever they need. I think they're gonna give him a shot, see if they like [Bowman] and go from there."

Coincidentally, it was Bowman who lost his job to Jennings last year after the team's Week 3 victory over the Packers. Bowman has played sparingly throughout the season as a reserve, but said he learned from last year's benching that "it's a business."

"I wasn't producing [well] enough at the time," Bowman said. "Tim came in and did a fabulous job."

Now it's Bowman's time again to be a starter. Bowman led the team with six interceptions in 2009, and expected to be the long-term starter opposite Charles Tillman at the start of last season.

Throughout the difficulty of losing his starting job last season, Bowman said he remained upbeat.

"[Defensive backs coach Jon] Hoke said [the extra snaps] were more a reward of working hard at practice and keeping a positive attitude," Bowman said.

Perhaps that transfers over to Sunday's game against the Packers.

Michael C. Wright covers the Bears for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000

 

[masterscorpio77]

The offensive line is the top priority no doubt about it. Like others have said you can either draft a back in the later rounds or maybe get lucky and land a FA in the off season. Re-signing Tulloch and getting Calvin his extension is also top priority. Man I have really been impressed with Tulloch.

 

[johnny2x2x]

Leshoure will be a big question mark, but don't forget he injured himself at the start of camp, he'll have longer than a full year to recover before he plays in a game. I know it's a different sport, but it took MSU guard Kalin Lucas just short of a year to start looking like the same player with the same burst. It would not surprise if Leshoure is our starting RB in game 1 next season. As for Best, he is 1 concussion away from calling it a career, but he's going to be our 3rd down back next season.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Problem with LeShoure isn't that he'll play but play effectively. Guys from that injury usually just suck.