I am finding it hard to not think about loosing current OC and DC soon. Yes I am trying to enjoy the current success, but as a lifelong LLL fan, I have been trained to expect the worst while hoping for the best. I remember some of the reasons Ben gave for not leaving last year, and am holding out hope that they all play again this year. NFL (not for long), family comfort, enjoying his work, and the fact that he is young will have him return for yet another year. I truly feel like win or lose, his stock will not fall. That being said, if he is dead set on leaving and wants the Raiders job: Can we trade him for Crosby?
I appreciate the much-needed common sense on Hooker. After years of David Blough, Tim Boyle, and Jeff Driskel, we have a solid young backup QB and half the fanbase wants to get rid of him. I don't get it lol.
One thing that bugs me a little about both Hooker and Manu is you could see both getting good just in time for us to have trouble affording them. Not like some of the other young players we have where you get a chance to stuff your roster at a discount.
Yes and no. So they should not command huge dollars as back-ups and Hooker will not be a starter unless Goff gets hurt. Manu is currently overpaid as he was drafted higher than his current ability. If he is able to get to the level we hope to coach him up to, the Lions will hopefully resign him to a team friendly deal before he is able to command the big $s and his current contract is up.
It seems to most fans and reporters, myself included, the assumptive in-house replacement for AG is Sheppard. Is it not odd then that he hasn't gotten any outside requests for DC interviews? especially seeing Townsend just get one. I may have missed it, but I don't recall hearing him receive or decline any requests, which seems odd given how highly hes thought of and talked about.
I was thinking about this this morning... it also feels like the presumptive replacement for BJ would be Scottie Montgomery or, possibly, Tanner Engstrand, but haven't heard much buzz about either of them. Doesn't mean they're not qualified, just interesting... especially since Fraley even got an OC interview.
One question I have with Montgomery - does the assistant head coach title block him from OC interviews at the Lions’ discretion because it is “lateral”? I’ve not heard of any requests being made, so really an academic question, but I think that might be the case.
Stellar stuff, as usual. I’d look forward to a deep dive also on the Lions personnel moves versus the cap the next two off seasons. My theory has been that they will try to extend their key players early, to slightly less than market deals, and then backfill positions of guys that leave through the draft (and through short-term second-tier free agents). I’d love to know how that projects going forward with Hutch, Kerb, Branch, Laporta, etc. If those guys will take a bit of a team discount, can we keep them all (also assuming the cap continues to rise like it has)?
Don’t forget. If we win it all, all these names will get advertising agencies excited. St. Brown, Stafford make tones. Branch, Anzalone, La Porta and everyone else will make money. Hutch is already in a commercial.
Really appreciate you answering my question, Justin. I'm definitely looking forward to that deep dive into Campbell's introductory press conference. I find myself looking back at people's initial thoughts all the time, particularly those who find themselves heaping all kinds of Praise on Dan Campbell who were incredibly critical of him when he first came around. I'm not one of those receipts guys, I think that's a little cringy. But I do like to see who has come around after he's had some success.
I am finding it hard to not think about loosing current OC and DC soon. Yes I am trying to enjoy the current success, but as a lifelong LLL fan, I have been trained to expect the worst while hoping for the best. I remember some of the reasons Ben gave for not leaving last year, and am holding out hope that they all play again this year. NFL (not for long), family comfort, enjoying his work, and the fact that he is young will have him return for yet another year. I truly feel like win or lose, his stock will not fall. That being said, if he is dead set on leaving and wants the Raiders job: Can we trade him for Crosby?
I appreciate the much-needed common sense on Hooker. After years of David Blough, Tim Boyle, and Jeff Driskel, we have a solid young backup QB and half the fanbase wants to get rid of him. I don't get it lol.
One thing that bugs me a little about both Hooker and Manu is you could see both getting good just in time for us to have trouble affording them. Not like some of the other young players we have where you get a chance to stuff your roster at a discount.
Yes and no. So they should not command huge dollars as back-ups and Hooker will not be a starter unless Goff gets hurt. Manu is currently overpaid as he was drafted higher than his current ability. If he is able to get to the level we hope to coach him up to, the Lions will hopefully resign him to a team friendly deal before he is able to command the big $s and his current contract is up.
It seems to most fans and reporters, myself included, the assumptive in-house replacement for AG is Sheppard. Is it not odd then that he hasn't gotten any outside requests for DC interviews? especially seeing Townsend just get one. I may have missed it, but I don't recall hearing him receive or decline any requests, which seems odd given how highly hes thought of and talked about.
I was thinking about this this morning... it also feels like the presumptive replacement for BJ would be Scottie Montgomery or, possibly, Tanner Engstrand, but haven't heard much buzz about either of them. Doesn't mean they're not qualified, just interesting... especially since Fraley even got an OC interview.
One question I have with Montgomery - does the assistant head coach title block him from OC interviews at the Lions’ discretion because it is “lateral”? I’ve not heard of any requests being made, so really an academic question, but I think that might be the case.
Stellar stuff, as usual. I’d look forward to a deep dive also on the Lions personnel moves versus the cap the next two off seasons. My theory has been that they will try to extend their key players early, to slightly less than market deals, and then backfill positions of guys that leave through the draft (and through short-term second-tier free agents). I’d love to know how that projects going forward with Hutch, Kerb, Branch, Laporta, etc. If those guys will take a bit of a team discount, can we keep them all (also assuming the cap continues to rise like it has)?
Don’t forget. If we win it all, all these names will get advertising agencies excited. St. Brown, Stafford make tones. Branch, Anzalone, La Porta and everyone else will make money. Hutch is already in a commercial.
Really appreciate you answering my question, Justin. I'm definitely looking forward to that deep dive into Campbell's introductory press conference. I find myself looking back at people's initial thoughts all the time, particularly those who find themselves heaping all kinds of Praise on Dan Campbell who were incredibly critical of him when he first came around. I'm not one of those receipts guys, I think that's a little cringy. But I do like to see who has come around after he's had some success.
You ask some of the best questions in all my years of doing this. Thoughtful, unique and often challenging.
It's a heck of a compliment. I truly appreciate it.
Good stuff as always
That was really good stuff. Great questions and thoughtful responses. Well worth the small investment for this account!
Dude, you always crush these! Have a great day off, you deserve it.
How dare you wake me up with an enjoyable mailbag article! Enjoy your day off, Justin.