here we go again?

[mhughes0021]

This worked out so well with fairley....lets do it again!

Thoughts on Lions and Riley Reiff's option

March, 24, 2015
Mar 24


Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew continued his stance from February?s combine at the owners meetings Monday, telling reporters he has yet to make a decision on the fifth-year option for left tackle Riley Reiff.

On the surface, it seems somewhat bizarre that Mayhew and the Lions would not automatically want to pick up their starting left tackle for a fifth year. Unlike Nick Fairley last season, Reiff has not caused any trouble for Detroit. He has not had problems with his weight or anything else. He has been durable as well, only missing one game due to injury in three seasons ? although it was almost two full games since he was injured early against New England in Week 12 this season.

There are a couple of different reasons why the Lions could be waiting on Reiff?s option, and none of the obvious ones screams him not being part of Detroit?s franchise in the future.

The first is the team is trying to work on a longer-term deal with him, eschewing the fifth-year option and instead tying him up for the next three to four seasons for a deal that works for everybody involved. This would seem to make sense for a 26-year-old who has been one of Detroit?s better linemen the past couple of years.

He graded out as the No. 23 tackle in the league last year by Pro Football Focus ? and was in the middle of the grades for starting left tackles.

The second reason is Detroit might still want to figure out exactly what it wants to do with Reiff before it commits to him fully. At the combine, Mayhew wasn?t set on Reiff being the team?s left tackle in 2015. So the Lions might want to make sure they know where he?ll play before signing him to a long-term deal.

If Detroit chooses to move him ? either to right tackle or inside to guard ? the franchise might want to kick around how that idea would work before settling on a long-term deal.

As of Tuesday, Detroit?s starting offensive line for 2015 would be Reiff at left tackle, an open space likely to be filled by a veteran at left guard, center Travis Swanson, right guard Larry Warford and a potential competition at right tackle between LaAdrian Waddle and Cornelius Lucas. Among the left guard candidates are Rob Sims and Justin Blalock, but either player would likely be brought in on a short-term deal to groom a drafted replacement for 2016.

But there is little reason to think the Lions won?t pick up the option on Reiff because unlike Fairley, motivation and health are not concerns. The only potential worry is where Reiff might end up playing on a retooled Detroit offensive line.

 

[tomdalton22]

sounds like they think of him as a RT but since they don't have a good LT they will be stuck paying him like a LT. It sounds like they don't know what they are doing!

 

[tonyballs]

Who gives a shit about Fairley. He's replaceable. Hell, I think we'll get more production out of Walker than we did with Nick.
As for Reiff? Mixed feelings really. I like Reiff and think he`s solid, but there are some damn good LT`s in the draft and we can definitely upgrade if we want to. My feeling is, they don`t want to keep paying him LT money, but want to retain his services. Bump him over to RT maybe and grab a stud LT in the 1st?

 

[tonyballs]

sounds like they think of him as a RT but since they don't have a good LT they will be stuck paying him like a LT. It sounds like they don't know what they are doing!

Don`t know what they`re doing?? lol. How the fuck do you think that? You shit on everything lol

 

[dubbsco]

Tony, he was a first round pick. That comment basically speaks to the absolute inability of this franchise to draft.

I wonder in a couple years if Pettigrew suddenly becomes a beast and then we'll say, "Ah, who gives a shit about Ebron?"

 

[tomdalton22]

Don`t know what they`re doing?? lol. How the fuck do you think that? You shit on everything lol

they think of him as a RT but play him at LT. They want to extend him but don't want to pick up his 5th year option.

I was half kidding but after the debacle at DT this off season and after reading that article...they don't seem to have a very good plan.

 

[grandy]

Don't give a shit what they do with Reiff, just as long as they have a backup plan. I don't want to see them decline his option, lose him, then sit there in late March 2016 twiddling their thumbs with no clue what's going on at tackle. If that means drafting a tackle this year for insurance, then do it.

 

[tonyballs]

Tony, he was a first round pick. That comment basically speaks to the absolute inability of this franchise to draft.

I wonder in a couple years if Pettigrew suddenly becomes a beast and then we'll say, "Ah, who gives a shit about Ebron?"

Inability to draft? He`s been a pretty good LT for Detroit. There are LT`s in this draft that are better than him right now. They like Reiff, but maybe want to move him to RT. It happens.....maybe they`re in love with a LT and want him. Who knows??

 

[dubbsco]

Sorry, I'm talking about your first statement, the "Who gives a shit about Fairley, he's replaceable."

 

[tonyballs]

they think of him as a RT but play him at LT. They want to extend him but don't want to pick up his 5th year option.

I was half kidding but after the debacle at DT this off season and after reading that article...they don't seem to have a very good plan.

MAYBE they think of him as a RT. It`s all speculation.

And you have ZERO clue what their plan is. ZERO!

 

[tonyballs]

Sorry, I'm talking about your first statement, the "Who gives a shit about Fairley, he's replaceable."

Fairley is replaceable. He`s never healthy lol.

 

[dubbsco]

I get that, but that speaks to the drafting. A first round pick who is pretty recent in the draft history shouldn't be considered expendable. That's the problem with this organization. Those top picks need to be with you for a long time.

 

[tonyballs]

I get that, but that speaks to the drafting. A first round pick who is pretty recent in the draft history shouldn't be considered expendable. That's the problem with this organization. Those top picks need to be with you for a long time.

So you were ok with Fairley coming back? For what, so you can bitch about how he plays 10-11 games a year? No thanks!!

Suh is the only one I wanted back. Him and his whole famn damily dry fucked this organization with their lies. Good riddance!!

Reiff? I would "like" him back, but would not cry if he`s gone. He`s not the end all be all of our OL.

 

[brewer229]

We replace Suh with Ngata, very good player, but not on Suh's level. We replaced Fairly with Walker. Now Fairly was injured, but no one here really knows much about Walker, expecting him to perform is based on scouting reports and hope.

 

[dubbsco]

No, that's not my point man. It has nothing to do with the player himself. It has to do with the fact that the 2011 first round pick has become expendable. I'm looking at him signing elsewhere on a more macro level vs just the player.

If he was a 3rd, 4th round guy that was a flyer, then fine. But he was a top draft pick. Those are the cornerstones of the franchise. Losing them for whatever reason shows that you either A) mismanaged the salary game or B) don't know how to draft well.

 

[tonyballs]

No, that's not my point man. It has nothing to do with the player himself. It has to do with the fact that the 2011 first round pick has become expendable. I'm looking at him signing elsewhere on a more macro level vs just the player.

If he was a 3rd, 4th round guy that was a flyer, then fine. But he was a top draft pick. Those are the cornerstones of the franchise. Losing them for whatever reason shows that you either A) mismanaged the salary game or B) don't know how to draft well.

You could be right. My take on Fairley is that he was never coming back once Suh bolted. Fairley NEEDS great players around him. Look where he went to. It speaks volumes on his character. He`s a hanger-on, picks up the scraps. He went to arguably the best DL in the NFL. His failure rate depends on his health, but he`s a follower, not a leader. Everyone was crying that we needed to re-sign Fairley now that Suh left. Fairley a leader? No way. It aint in him...
I think Reiff will stay anyways so need to worry,,,,

 

[tonyballs]

We replace Suh with Ngata, very good player, but not on Suh's level. We replaced Fairly with Walker. Now Fairly was injured, but no one here really knows much about Walker, expecting him to perform is based on scouting reports and hope.

Nobody is on Suh`s level, man. Ngata was the next big thing to Suh. There wasn`t one FA DT that can sniff Ngata`s abilities. I don`t care how old he is...

 

[dubbsco]

I don't think much of Fairley either. He showed some good stuff here and there, but he'll be injured his whole career unless he sheds some weight. You can't keep that much body fat working against your lower body and expect to stand upright play after play.

But, this year will be huge for the entire regime. If they miss the playoffs, I do believe some sweeping changes need to be made.

 

[tonyballs]

I don't think much of Fairley either. He showed some good stuff here and there, but he'll be injured his whole career unless he sheds some weight. You can't keep that much body fat working against your lower body and expect to stand upright play after play.

But, this year will be huge for the entire regime. If they miss the playoffs, I do believe some sweeping changes need to be made.

Totally agree

 

[Mitchrapp]

Reiff has been decent enough at LT. I always thought he'd make a better RT but I don't want to lose him for nothing..unless of course we have a replacement LT and RT.