Lions Let Their Dead Wood Float Away

I'm not sure how the Detroit Lions new free agent signings and draft picks will turn out but I do like who they are getting rid of.

The latest was Brian Calhoun, a third round draft pick in 2006. As Al pointed at the Wayne Fontes Experience, Calhoun who always seemed to be injured, finishes his 3 year career with the Lions with a grand total of 99 yards from scrimmage. He was more successful as a kick returner, with 221 yards in returns. Talk about Another One Bites the Dust. This leaves only Ernie Sims and Daniel Bullocks from the 2006 draft, though both are starters making it one of the most successful drafts in recent Lions history.

This comes after the release of 2008 free agent signing disasters CB Travis Fisher and TE Michael Gaines, who were let go after they began participation in off season workouts. Sorry guys.

And then there was the big purge on the first day the Lions could get rid of players, done went CB Leigh Bodden, TE Dan Campbell, T Jon Dunn, WR Mike Furrey, G Edwin Mulitalo, S Dwight Smith and LB Anthony Cannon. MLB Paris Lenon, DT Shaun Cody,RB Rudi Johnson, QB Dan Orlovsky and WR Shaun McDonald were not resigned. In better news, Jon Kitna was traded to Dallas and Cory Redding to Seattle for actual football players.

The way it looks now, the Lions will have at least six new starters on defense this season, (Free Safety, 2 Cornerbacks, Middle Linebacker, Strong Side Linebacker, Defensive Tackle) with the potential for more.

Also interesting was the signing of WR Steve Sanders on January 5th. It turned out after the Lions acquired free agent wide receivers Bryant Johnson and Ronald Curry and drafted Derrick Williams, he was no longer needed. He was released on May 4th.