I am certain Mayhew is no answer to our woes. A committee of 5 unemployed auto workers would be a better management team.
More proof the Lions are pathetic
- Thread starter Kevinw
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Replies 47
- Views 4K
Paul, how many games will Detroit win in 2009?
After making the worst prediction in history- I had them going 11-5 and winning the NFC North- I will say they win twice- against St. Louis and against Cincinnati.
After making the worst prediction in history- I had them going 11-5 and winning the NFC North- I will say they win twice- against St. Louis and against Cincinnati.
Way to early to make that call. There will be a serious change in players this summer and we'll see how the draft works out. IF they won 8 games, Detroit would act like we won the Super Bowl, but given their history, 4 wins would be a miracle. I would love to be wrong. Just once in my lifetime as a Lie-ons fan.
Way to early to make that call. There will be a serious change in players this summer and we'll see how the draft works out. IF they won 8 games, Detroit would act like we won the Super Bowl, but given their history, 4 wins would be a miracle. I would love to be wrong. Just once in my lifetime as a Lie-ons fan.
You probably are wrong Paul, They'll end up with 3 wins.....
and I have not even looked at the schedule yet.
Think about it, at this point in time, how many teams do you think they could actually beat in the NFL ?
KC and Oakland would be toss ups ...
More realistically the win total would be 5, but I don't know where they would come from.
Jimbo
I tend to view the Lions with rose-colored glasses.
You buying that? Yeah, me neither. I couldn't even type that with a straight face.
I'm still trying to figure out how they were 6-2 at the midpoint of the 2007 season. How does a team go from that record to 1-23? Did they wake up from the dream? Usually a team doesn't get that bad overnight, yet they defied all logic and reason, and did the unthinkable. Maybe the most amazing season I've ever saw.
I got to stop now. I'm getting a headache.
I predict the Lions will again go undefeated in the preseason. They are hands down the best exhibition team in the NFL.
I tend to view the Lions with rose-colored glasses.
You buying that? Yeah, me neither. I couldn't even type that with a straight face.
I'm still trying to figure out how they were 6-2 at the midpoint of the 2007 season. How does a team go from that record to 1-23? Did they wake up from the dream? Usually a team doesn't get that bad overnight, yet they defied all logic and reason, and did the unthinkable. Maybe the most amazing season I've ever saw.
I got to stop now. I'm getting a headache.
Did it all start with them trading thier best defensive (I know that sounds funny, Detroit and defense) player Dre Bly ????
It may have startede before that, but that didn't help any.
Jimbo
No, it all started when Ford's bought the team. Plain and simple. They haven't a clue how to run a football team or a car company for that matter. The real decline started when they let Barry walk away.
Most recently it was a coach who had to play his vaunted Tampa 2, looked at the roster, saw he had no one that could play Tampa 2, and then decided to pick up old Tampa Bay buccaners whose prime past them by ten years ago. He could not adjust to anything, he was stadning pat even if it lead him to 0-16
Then when Martz left he gave the keys to an offense coordinator that was running an offense that looked pretty familar....To many parents who saw that type of offense ran on Thursday nights, JV night typically in the metro detroit area.
Sorry guys, I couldn't resist:
Michigan State Police recovered the body of an adult male
(age approx. 52) from the Detroit River at 8:45 PM, Thursday night.
The victim apparently fell in and drowned due to excessive alcohol
consumption. An empty 12 Pack of Budweiser Beer lay near-by.
He was wearing a Detroit Lions jersey, black fishnet stockings
and a red garter belt. He also had a cucumber inserted in his rectum.
The police thoughtfully removed the Lions jersey to spare the family
any unnecessary embarrassment.
Michigan State Police recovered the body of an adult male
(age approx. 52) from the Detroit River at 8:45 PM, Thursday night.
The victim apparently fell in and drowned due to excessive alcohol
consumption. An empty 12 Pack of Budweiser Beer lay near-by.
He was wearing a Detroit Lions jersey, black fishnet stockings
and a red garter belt. He also had a cucumber inserted in his rectum.
The police thoughtfully removed the Lions jersey to spare the family
any unnecessary embarrassment.
Got to clean the screen again! Too freaking funny. I wish I thought of that one.
I forgot to include that a friend of mine I was in the Air Froce with, who is from Michigan sent me that. He also sent this one.
Punishment For Speeding
If you are caught speeding in the State of Michigan, the State Police will issue you two tickets to a Detroit Lions game. If you are caught a second time, you will be forced to use them.
Lie on's attempt to get better ?
This is all we need to know:
Four-fifths of the starters appear to be in place
Bargain hunters: Free agents could help Lions
John Niyo / The Detroit News
Having spent far too many years in the NFL's low-rent district, the Lions are preaching middle-class values as they begin another new era. Starting with free agency -- the frenzied signing period kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Friday -- the motto in Allen Park is "right player, right price" with a spread-the-wealth strategy borne of necessity.
Coming off an 0-16 season with a roster that's lacking in almost every area, there's plenty of money -- the Lions are among the league leaders with nearly $35 million in salary-cap space -- but a pages-long shopping list. So as would-be Super Bowl contenders engage in bidding wars for Pro Bowlers like Ray Lewis or Albert Haynesworth -- at a premium price in a thin free-agent market -- the Lions might have other ideas.
"It's hard to say a number you wouldn't go past, because I think the market's going to dictate some of that," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said. "The important thing for us, though, is that we can't put all our eggs in one basket. We have a number of needs, offensively and on the defensive side. We're gonna try to address as many of those as we can. We're not one player away, you know?"
Advertisement
Particularly on defense, where the Lions ranked last in the NFL and gave up a whopping 517 points last season. The roster overhaul involves a change in scheme, not just talent, as the team looks to get bigger as well as better.
"We're coming off an 0-16 season and we had several guys starting for us who were just kind of one-year Band-Aids on a position defensively," said Mayhew, who cut a handful of former starters and opted not to re-sign the bulk of the team's pending free agents. "Now we have to go out and fill those needs, as well as the other needs that just come up naturally. So we've got a lot of holes on defense."
Some will be filled through the draft, as the Lions own five of the first 82 picks in April. In the meantime, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said the free-agent targets will fit a profile that helped build a winner in Tennessee, where he spent most of the last decade as defensive coordinator.
"Those mid-level free agents -- they were our 'middle class,' so to speak, the blue-collar guys that had a lot to do with turning that team around," Schwartz said. "Those were good lessons learned there."
Like most new coaching staffs, he'll likely pluck some of his former players in free agency. With veteran coordinators in Gunther Cunningham and Scott Linehan -- and new senior personnel executive Shack Harris -- there are other connections.
"We have guys on our staff from Kansas City, St. Louis, Tennessee, Tampa Bay," Schwartz said. "You are going to use every bit of information you can, and knowing those guys, it does give us a little bit of an advantage."
As for the obvious disadvantage -- downtrodden Detroit isn't a particularly attractive destination at the moment -- Schwartz isn't buying it.
"A couple years ago (in Tennessee), we weren't a very attractive place to be," he said. "Now they are. I think players know that."
Beginning Friday, the Lions will find out if he's right. Here's a position-by-position look at the marketplace:
Offensive line
? Four-fifths of the starters appear to be in place, but there's a hole at left guard and precious little depth. A big mauler like Daniel Loper (Tennessee) or Elton Brown (Arizona) could be the target, especially if the Lions plan to add a starter in the draft.
?At guard, Jason Brown (Baltimore) is the hot commodity among the interior linemen -- a center who could move to guard and figures to get paid accordingly -- but he'll have plenty of suitors. Chris Kemoeatu , Pittsburgh's 340-pound starting left guard, is another big target, as is tackle Stacy Andrews (Cincinnati), who is coming off knee surgery and might end up at guard somewhere.
?If the Lions are serious about shifting incumbent left tackle Jeff Backus to guard, perhaps they'll bid for Jacksonville's Khalif Barnes , a free agent rarity as a starting left tackle.
Quarterback
?Daunte Culpepper 's the likely starter for 2009, but who's his backup -- or the long-term answer, for that matter? The draft could answer the latter question (Matt Stafford ?), or perhaps the Lions will make a play for New England's Matt Cassel in a trade. But assuming Jon Kitna is released and Dan Orlovsky finds a new home, the Lions might seek a veteran backup in free agency.
?Kurt Warner (Arizona), Kerry Collins (Tennessee) and Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay) are the biggest names, but they're not headed to Detroit. Byron Leftwich (Pittsburgh), a Shack Harris pick in Jacksonville, and Chris Simms (Tennessee) might get better offers. But how about Buffalo's J.P. Losman , a former first-round pick who might fit Scott Linehan 's system?
Running back
?With Kevin Smith proving himself as a rookie starter last year, the Lions aren't looking to pay another back a starter's salary. But every team needs a tandem today, so the Lions, who'll let Rudi Johnson walk, need one in free agency or the draft.
?Veterans Fred Taylor , Deuce McAllister and Warrick Dunn are on the market, but Correll Buckhalter (Philadelphia) would be a terrific pickup here. If not, a runner who's a solid return man like Arizona's J.J. Arrington might make sense.'
Wide receiver
?Calvin Johnson 's a budding star, but he needs a supporting cast. John Standeford , a decent possession receiver, is one of a few options on the roster as the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver, but who will be the Lions' No. 2?
?It's a thin free-agent crop, meaning No. 1 targets T. J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Washington will be pricey. Devery Henderson (New Orleans) or Ronald Curry (Oakland) could thrive in Linehan's vertical passing attack, but it wouldn't hurt to have a vet like Amani Toomer or Joey Galloway around. Second-tier receivers like the Titans Justin McCareins and Brandon Jones are known commodities to the new staff.
Tight end/fullback
?The Lions are trying to get fullback Moran Norris re-signed before he becomes a free agent. At tight end, Michael Gaines is the incumbent starter, with special-teams ace Casey FitzSimmons as the backup.
?But an upgrade's a possibility, if not a necessity. Veteran tight end/fullback Jim Kleinsasser , a big-time blocker who knows Linehan's offense, will get lots of attention if the Vikings don't lock him up. If not, a depth addition like Tony Curtis (Dallas) could be an option.
Defensive line
?Will they or won't they? Depends on whom you ask, but the obvious connection between Schwartz and Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth , the biggest prize in this year's free-agent class, certainly begs the question: Will the Lions get in the bidding? Probably not. Haynesworth is seeking a huge contract -- Washington and Tampa Bay might be willing -- and his spotty history makes it a risky proposition. But he'd be the monster in the middle many teams, including the Lions, are lacking.
?Looking to shore up the run defense, the Lions could pursue a veteran tackle like Grady Jackson (Atlanta) or a younger player like Colin Cole (Green Bay) or Dewayne Robertson (Denver). But while a top-dollar end like Chris Canty (Dallas) isn't a likely target, San Diego's Igor Olshansky -- a versatile run-stuffer who could shift inside -- would be worth the investment.
Linebacker
?Again, it's a glaring hole for the Lions. Ernie Sims is entrenched at weak-side linebacker, but Paris Lenon has vacated the middle and Jordon Dizon is likely viewed as a backup on the strong side.
?Forget the big-ticket items like Ray Lewis -- and probably Bart Scott , too, though he is a Detroiter. Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans) also might be out of reach. Instead, maybe the answer is 10-year vet Mike Peterson , who butted heads with Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio but still can be a productive anchor at MLB. New Lions personnel exec Shack Harris spent the last six years with him in Jacksonville.
?At outside linebacker, Angelo Crowell is an intriguing option at a discounted price coming off knee surgery, and the Lions were interested in Napoleon Harris last fall before he signed with Minnesota. Arizona's Monty Beisel , who played for Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham in Kansas City, might be a good depth and special-teams addition.
Cornerback
?After the Lions cut loose last year's big additions -- Brian Kelly and Leigh Bodden -- the top two corners on the roster right now are Travis Fisher and Keith Smith . So Detroit's looking for at least one starter, and some depth, in free agency.
?The best of the bunch Pittsburgh's Bryant McFadden and Washington's DeAngelo Hall probably will stay put. But for the right (high) price, Buffalo's Jabari Greer or Atlanta's Domonique Foxworth could be had. If not, try the St. Louis Rams Ron Bartell , a Detroit native and ex-CMU standout. Or maybe Detroit could turn to familiar faces in ex-Lions Dre Bly (a cap casualty in Denver) and Andre Goodman .
?But this is an area where head coach Jim Schwartz might raid his old cupboard in Tennessee. The Titans' Chris Carr , Eric King and Vincent Fuller are versatile players who'd be welcome in Detroit, the first two at corner and Fuller at safety as well. The bonus with Carr: He was the Titans' primary return man, and that's a primary concern for the Lions.
Safety
?The Lions dumped Dwight Smith with a year left on his contract, so there's a void at strong safety. Sean Jones (Cleveland) would be a terrific -- and young -- upgrade, as would Gibril Wilson , whose Bay-area homecoming with Oakland was a flop a year after he won a Super Bowl with the Giants. Another coveted guy: undersized and underrated Jim Leonhard (Baltimore), who played a starring role in the playoffs and could play strong safety and return punts.
?Hard-nosed tacklers such as Yeremiah Bell (Miami) and Jermaine Phillips (Tampa Bay) also could be there if they're not re-signed by the deadline.
On the market
Here are the Lions scheduled for unrestricted free agency:
Offense
Aveion Cason, RB
Keary Colbert, WR
Damion Cook, G
George Foster, OT
Rudi Johnson, RB
Andy McCollum, C
Shaun McDonald, WR
Moran Norris, FB
Dan Orlovsky, QB
John Owens, TE
Defense
Shaun Cody, DT
Paris Lenon LB
Langston Moore, DT
Ryan Nece LB
Corey Smith, DE
Stanley Wilson DL
Note: The Lions cut six players on Feb. 9 -- Mike Furrey, WR; Dan Campbell, TE; Edwin Mulitalo, G; Jon Dunn, OT; Leigh Bodden, CB; Dwight Smith, S.
NFL free agency primer
Signing period: For restricted free agents (RFA), from Friday until April 17; for unrestricted free agents (UFA), from Friday until July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
UFAs: Players with four years or more of NFL experience reaching the end of a contract qualify. They're free to sign with the highest bidder.
RFAs: Players with three years of NFL experience whose teams have made one-year qualifying offers. Teams retain right of first refusal and receive compensation in the form of draft picks if player signs elsewhere.
2009 salary cap: $127 million (cap number includes base salaries, roster bonuses, prorated portion of signing bonuses, and incentive bonuses "likely to be earned").
Lions' available cap space: About $35 million
Bargain hunters: Free agents could help Lions | detnews.com | The Detroit News
This is all we need to know:
Four-fifths of the starters appear to be in place
Bargain hunters: Free agents could help Lions
John Niyo / The Detroit News
Having spent far too many years in the NFL's low-rent district, the Lions are preaching middle-class values as they begin another new era. Starting with free agency -- the frenzied signing period kicks off at 12:01 a.m. Friday -- the motto in Allen Park is "right player, right price" with a spread-the-wealth strategy borne of necessity.
Coming off an 0-16 season with a roster that's lacking in almost every area, there's plenty of money -- the Lions are among the league leaders with nearly $35 million in salary-cap space -- but a pages-long shopping list. So as would-be Super Bowl contenders engage in bidding wars for Pro Bowlers like Ray Lewis or Albert Haynesworth -- at a premium price in a thin free-agent market -- the Lions might have other ideas.
"It's hard to say a number you wouldn't go past, because I think the market's going to dictate some of that," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said. "The important thing for us, though, is that we can't put all our eggs in one basket. We have a number of needs, offensively and on the defensive side. We're gonna try to address as many of those as we can. We're not one player away, you know?"
Advertisement
Particularly on defense, where the Lions ranked last in the NFL and gave up a whopping 517 points last season. The roster overhaul involves a change in scheme, not just talent, as the team looks to get bigger as well as better.
"We're coming off an 0-16 season and we had several guys starting for us who were just kind of one-year Band-Aids on a position defensively," said Mayhew, who cut a handful of former starters and opted not to re-sign the bulk of the team's pending free agents. "Now we have to go out and fill those needs, as well as the other needs that just come up naturally. So we've got a lot of holes on defense."
Some will be filled through the draft, as the Lions own five of the first 82 picks in April. In the meantime, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said the free-agent targets will fit a profile that helped build a winner in Tennessee, where he spent most of the last decade as defensive coordinator.
"Those mid-level free agents -- they were our 'middle class,' so to speak, the blue-collar guys that had a lot to do with turning that team around," Schwartz said. "Those were good lessons learned there."
Like most new coaching staffs, he'll likely pluck some of his former players in free agency. With veteran coordinators in Gunther Cunningham and Scott Linehan -- and new senior personnel executive Shack Harris -- there are other connections.
"We have guys on our staff from Kansas City, St. Louis, Tennessee, Tampa Bay," Schwartz said. "You are going to use every bit of information you can, and knowing those guys, it does give us a little bit of an advantage."
As for the obvious disadvantage -- downtrodden Detroit isn't a particularly attractive destination at the moment -- Schwartz isn't buying it.
"A couple years ago (in Tennessee), we weren't a very attractive place to be," he said. "Now they are. I think players know that."
Beginning Friday, the Lions will find out if he's right. Here's a position-by-position look at the marketplace:
Offensive line
? Four-fifths of the starters appear to be in place, but there's a hole at left guard and precious little depth. A big mauler like Daniel Loper (Tennessee) or Elton Brown (Arizona) could be the target, especially if the Lions plan to add a starter in the draft.
?At guard, Jason Brown (Baltimore) is the hot commodity among the interior linemen -- a center who could move to guard and figures to get paid accordingly -- but he'll have plenty of suitors. Chris Kemoeatu , Pittsburgh's 340-pound starting left guard, is another big target, as is tackle Stacy Andrews (Cincinnati), who is coming off knee surgery and might end up at guard somewhere.
?If the Lions are serious about shifting incumbent left tackle Jeff Backus to guard, perhaps they'll bid for Jacksonville's Khalif Barnes , a free agent rarity as a starting left tackle.
Quarterback
?Daunte Culpepper 's the likely starter for 2009, but who's his backup -- or the long-term answer, for that matter? The draft could answer the latter question (Matt Stafford ?), or perhaps the Lions will make a play for New England's Matt Cassel in a trade. But assuming Jon Kitna is released and Dan Orlovsky finds a new home, the Lions might seek a veteran backup in free agency.
?Kurt Warner (Arizona), Kerry Collins (Tennessee) and Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay) are the biggest names, but they're not headed to Detroit. Byron Leftwich (Pittsburgh), a Shack Harris pick in Jacksonville, and Chris Simms (Tennessee) might get better offers. But how about Buffalo's J.P. Losman , a former first-round pick who might fit Scott Linehan 's system?
Running back
?With Kevin Smith proving himself as a rookie starter last year, the Lions aren't looking to pay another back a starter's salary. But every team needs a tandem today, so the Lions, who'll let Rudi Johnson walk, need one in free agency or the draft.
?Veterans Fred Taylor , Deuce McAllister and Warrick Dunn are on the market, but Correll Buckhalter (Philadelphia) would be a terrific pickup here. If not, a runner who's a solid return man like Arizona's J.J. Arrington might make sense.'
Wide receiver
?Calvin Johnson 's a budding star, but he needs a supporting cast. John Standeford , a decent possession receiver, is one of a few options on the roster as the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver, but who will be the Lions' No. 2?
?It's a thin free-agent crop, meaning No. 1 targets T. J. Houshmandzadeh and Nate Washington will be pricey. Devery Henderson (New Orleans) or Ronald Curry (Oakland) could thrive in Linehan's vertical passing attack, but it wouldn't hurt to have a vet like Amani Toomer or Joey Galloway around. Second-tier receivers like the Titans Justin McCareins and Brandon Jones are known commodities to the new staff.
Tight end/fullback
?The Lions are trying to get fullback Moran Norris re-signed before he becomes a free agent. At tight end, Michael Gaines is the incumbent starter, with special-teams ace Casey FitzSimmons as the backup.
?But an upgrade's a possibility, if not a necessity. Veteran tight end/fullback Jim Kleinsasser , a big-time blocker who knows Linehan's offense, will get lots of attention if the Vikings don't lock him up. If not, a depth addition like Tony Curtis (Dallas) could be an option.
Defensive line
?Will they or won't they? Depends on whom you ask, but the obvious connection between Schwartz and Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth , the biggest prize in this year's free-agent class, certainly begs the question: Will the Lions get in the bidding? Probably not. Haynesworth is seeking a huge contract -- Washington and Tampa Bay might be willing -- and his spotty history makes it a risky proposition. But he'd be the monster in the middle many teams, including the Lions, are lacking.
?Looking to shore up the run defense, the Lions could pursue a veteran tackle like Grady Jackson (Atlanta) or a younger player like Colin Cole (Green Bay) or Dewayne Robertson (Denver). But while a top-dollar end like Chris Canty (Dallas) isn't a likely target, San Diego's Igor Olshansky -- a versatile run-stuffer who could shift inside -- would be worth the investment.
Linebacker
?Again, it's a glaring hole for the Lions. Ernie Sims is entrenched at weak-side linebacker, but Paris Lenon has vacated the middle and Jordon Dizon is likely viewed as a backup on the strong side.
?Forget the big-ticket items like Ray Lewis -- and probably Bart Scott , too, though he is a Detroiter. Jonathan Vilma (New Orleans) also might be out of reach. Instead, maybe the answer is 10-year vet Mike Peterson , who butted heads with Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio but still can be a productive anchor at MLB. New Lions personnel exec Shack Harris spent the last six years with him in Jacksonville.
?At outside linebacker, Angelo Crowell is an intriguing option at a discounted price coming off knee surgery, and the Lions were interested in Napoleon Harris last fall before he signed with Minnesota. Arizona's Monty Beisel , who played for Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham in Kansas City, might be a good depth and special-teams addition.
Cornerback
?After the Lions cut loose last year's big additions -- Brian Kelly and Leigh Bodden -- the top two corners on the roster right now are Travis Fisher and Keith Smith . So Detroit's looking for at least one starter, and some depth, in free agency.
?The best of the bunch Pittsburgh's Bryant McFadden and Washington's DeAngelo Hall probably will stay put. But for the right (high) price, Buffalo's Jabari Greer or Atlanta's Domonique Foxworth could be had. If not, try the St. Louis Rams Ron Bartell , a Detroit native and ex-CMU standout. Or maybe Detroit could turn to familiar faces in ex-Lions Dre Bly (a cap casualty in Denver) and Andre Goodman .
?But this is an area where head coach Jim Schwartz might raid his old cupboard in Tennessee. The Titans' Chris Carr , Eric King and Vincent Fuller are versatile players who'd be welcome in Detroit, the first two at corner and Fuller at safety as well. The bonus with Carr: He was the Titans' primary return man, and that's a primary concern for the Lions.
Safety
?The Lions dumped Dwight Smith with a year left on his contract, so there's a void at strong safety. Sean Jones (Cleveland) would be a terrific -- and young -- upgrade, as would Gibril Wilson , whose Bay-area homecoming with Oakland was a flop a year after he won a Super Bowl with the Giants. Another coveted guy: undersized and underrated Jim Leonhard (Baltimore), who played a starring role in the playoffs and could play strong safety and return punts.
?Hard-nosed tacklers such as Yeremiah Bell (Miami) and Jermaine Phillips (Tampa Bay) also could be there if they're not re-signed by the deadline.
On the market
Here are the Lions scheduled for unrestricted free agency:
Offense
Aveion Cason, RB
Keary Colbert, WR
Damion Cook, G
George Foster, OT
Rudi Johnson, RB
Andy McCollum, C
Shaun McDonald, WR
Moran Norris, FB
Dan Orlovsky, QB
John Owens, TE
Defense
Shaun Cody, DT
Paris Lenon LB
Langston Moore, DT
Ryan Nece LB
Corey Smith, DE
Stanley Wilson DL
Note: The Lions cut six players on Feb. 9 -- Mike Furrey, WR; Dan Campbell, TE; Edwin Mulitalo, G; Jon Dunn, OT; Leigh Bodden, CB; Dwight Smith, S.
NFL free agency primer
Signing period: For restricted free agents (RFA), from Friday until April 17; for unrestricted free agents (UFA), from Friday until July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
UFAs: Players with four years or more of NFL experience reaching the end of a contract qualify. They're free to sign with the highest bidder.
RFAs: Players with three years of NFL experience whose teams have made one-year qualifying offers. Teams retain right of first refusal and receive compensation in the form of draft picks if player signs elsewhere.
2009 salary cap: $127 million (cap number includes base salaries, roster bonuses, prorated portion of signing bonuses, and incentive bonuses "likely to be earned").
Lions' available cap space: About $35 million
Bargain hunters: Free agents could help Lions | detnews.com | The Detroit News
