Daunte Culpepper was a bad idea. Big shock. I can say this after only a few games because there was no reason for the Lions to have picked him up, and he has not yet shown one.
This is not really a first though, is it? Detroit has long been a dumping ground for what used to resemble decent talent but doesn't resemble an NFL starter at the time of signing.
Therefore, I have decided to compile a position-by-position listing of senseless free-agent signings by the Lions in the past, combined with a likely repeat of such mistakes possible out of the 2009 free-agent pool, and a helpful alternative.
Think of it like Eat This, NOT That, NFL Edition.
Quarterback
Past: Where to start? Jon Kitna, Daunte Culpepper, even Jeff Garcia fits into this class, though it is difficult to classify him as a mistake now that he has carved up the Lions defense. The Lions have long been the team of the "quarterback with no upside," which is one reason fans are so anxious to see Drew Stanton play.
Future blunder: Draft busts Kyle Boller and Rex Grossman hit free agency in 2009, and it does seem tempting for the Lions to cut corners and stop waiting for their own picks to become busts and pick one up that is already disappointing.
Instead: Re-sign Dan Orlovsky, since he knows the system and was starting to show flashes before his injury. Matt Cassel is turning into an intriguing prospect, which means getting him will cost a lot of money and time in the offseason. The best move for the Lions is to stay out of the QB market this offseason and give Stanton a season to show some life.
Running Back
Past: From "just okay" in Denver to "not good" and "you mean we re-signed him?" in Detroit, Tatum Bell never has or will show anything great enough to overshadow "luggage theft" in his career.
Worse yet, we actually gave up close to average talent in Dre’ Bly to get him and another player to be discussed shortly.
Future blunder: Kevin Smith is showing some greatness potential and may be the best draft pick for Detroit in years. Rudi Johnson seems content to play the role of third-down back, so it seems likely the Lions will stay out of the RB market.
That being said, Ricky Williams is hitting free agency this year, and if there are two things the Lions can't get enough of, it's substance abusers and guys named Williams.
Instead: Love the one you're with. Kevin Smith will only get better, and that gives the Lions an answer on a team full of questions.
Wide Receiver
Past: I'm not covering draft picks here, otherwise this would be easy, and even redundant. So I did some digging. And while digging, I found Eric Fowler. You don't know the name, because he's just a practice squad addition. However, this kid's time line is too delicious to ignore. This could only happen with a team like the Lions.
- July 25, 2008: The St. Louis Rams cut Grand Valley State graduate Eric Fowler.
- July 27, 2008: The Detroit Lions sign Fowler to one-year deal.
- July 30, 2008: The Detroit Lions release WR Eric Fowler.
- August 19, 2008: The Detroit Lions re-sign Fowler. Terms are not disclosed, and it turns out it is irrelevant, because...
- August 22, 2008: The Lions cut Fowler again.
- August 31, 2008: Eight names are named to the Lions' practice squad. Fowler is among them.
Are you kidding me? Either you want him or you don't. Don't jerk the kid around like that. This might be a little insight as to how the Lions run training camp, which could explain a lot. Something is wrong when you sign the same person three times in a month's time.
Future blunder: Ashley Lelie is the perfect candidate for a trip to Motown. He has bounced around the league since being drafted in the first round in 2002, from Denver to Atlanta to San Francisco to Oakland.
He has not yet lived up to a contract, holding out in Denver, buying out in Atlanta, getting cut by the 49ers, and the jury is still out on the Raiders. Apparently, he thinks there should be a high price on poor play.
Who better to pay it than the Lions?
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