Same Old Song In Detroit? Lions Give 25 Million To WR Nate Burleson; $26 Million To DE Vanden Bosch

HacheMan · Mar 5, 2010

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Lowly Lions give Vanden Bosch $26M contract </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Kyle Vanden Bosch - DL - DET - Mar. 5 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Lions agreed to terms with DE Kyle Vanden Bosch on a four-year, $26 million contract, including $10 million in first-year guarantees.
Coach Jim Schwartz gets his former pupil, and KVB gives the Lions' pass rush some credibility and leadership. We suspect they won't look back fondly on this deal, though. Vanden Bosch is 31, hasn't been healthy since 2007, and had next to zero production in Tennessee without Albert Haynesworth. The Lions overpaid for Vanden Bosch and, to a lesser extent, Nate Burleson.
Source: ESPN.com
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<TABLE width="100%" align=center><TBODY><TR><TD class=vaLabel vAlign=top rowSpan=5 width=100 align=middle>

</TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=subHead vAlign=top colSpan=3>Lions reel in WR Burleson for 5 years, $25M </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=vaLabel colSpan=3>Nate Burleson - WR - DET - Mar. 5 - 2:26 a.m. ET</B> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=3>Lions agreed to terms with WR Nate Burleson on a five-year, $25 million contract, including $11 million guaranteed.
The signing isn't sexy, and seems lengthy for a wideout going on 29, but the Lions have been desperate at No. 2 receiver for years. Burleson caught 63 passes for 812 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games for Seattle's putrid offense a season ago, consistently outplaying T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He won't be more than a WR3, but should be a sizable upgrade over Bryant Johnson with vertical skills and another full year removed from ACL surgery.
Source: ESPN.com
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midman2161 · Mar 5, 2010

Sure they overpaid, but they are going in the right direction. Had a couple decent performances last season, and between the free agency and draft they are going to keep adding some pieces around Stafford to work towards being a competitive team

TheDopeman · Mar 5, 2010

they overpaid but they had to do something. guys ain't gonna come to detroit and play for the lions for pennies on the dollar. it is a step in the right direction and if they can grab either of those DL's with the #2 pick(Suh or McCoy) that would be a great compliment to vanden bosch. the lions have been horrible when it come to rushing the passer and they also needed a WR to compliment Calvin Johnson. Somethin tells me this won't be ur same old lions team. They are headed in the right direction, and getting a franchise QB in stafford in last years draft was a big first step. Good luck to the lions

seanm0520 · Mar 5, 2010

Just got a DT, too...Suh may not be a target anymore.

TheDopeman · Mar 5, 2010

seanm0520 said:
Just got a DT, too...Suh may not be a target anymore.

If they pass up on Suh or McCoy it would be a big mistake. But the lions are great at making mistakes so we'll have to see what happens.

midman2161 · Mar 5, 2010

If the Rams draft Suh rather than a QB, depending on what they got offered the Lions could consider trading down. In such a deep draft with a team that has so many needs, stockpiling a ton of picks/multiple first/second rounders rather than take McCoy would make them think. As good as McCoy is, from what I saw watching last year and their combine workout Suh is just a better overall prospect. If Suh was available to the Lions at two I think it would be a no brainer

seanm0520 · Mar 5, 2010

Lions acquired DT Corey Williams and a 2010 seventh-round pick from the Browns in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2010 draft.

Williams passed his physical, so the deal is done. Clearly desperate to move on from the $38.6 million Phil Savage bust, the Browns gave up a solid pass-rushing tackle for pennies on the dollar. Williams played of position at end in Cleveland's 3-4, but still managed four sacks a year ago and had seven in Green Bay's 4-3 three years ago. The 29-year-old returns to a 4-3 in Detroit. The move makes it more likely -- though not a lock -- that the Lions could take Oklahoma State LT Russell Okung with the No. 2 overall pick.

Mar. 5 - 1:36 pm et
Source: John Niyo on Twitter