Stephen Tulloch: Detroit Lions Linebacker Is Not Irreplaceable

As the free-agency market opens today, Detroit Lions fans should take great solace in the fact that Stephen Tulloch is not a superstar and can be replaced.

It has been made clear to anybody reading between the lines that Stephen Tulloch is ready to cash in on his successful one-year stint in Detroit.

Speaking with SiriusXM radio, Tulloch made the following statement:

"

I let my agent really handle that stuff, but obviously, the Lions do want me back, and I would love to come back, but at this point in my career, things have to be right.

My family and my situation going on, I just want to continue to play football and get what I deserve, and that’s what it boils down to. And hopefully, things can work out there. If not, I know another team will step in there and do what’s right and move forward to win some ballgames.

"

Translation: Show me the money.

Tulloch’s position is warranted. He’ll head into free agency as one of the most coveted middle linebackers in this year’s class.

With 111 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, Tulloch had a solid year for Detroit, but it was not the best of his career and certainly not an elite-level campaign.

Tulloch was an obvious upgrade from what Detroit previously had manning the center of the defense, but was his 16-game honeymoon a representation of an elite linebacker, or did it have something to do with the defensive front he played behind?

The Lions have never tried to keep it a secret, but the biggest priority for their defensive philosophy is a dominant front four.

With Cliff Avril, Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tulloch was a beneficiary of a dominant front that shoulders the responsibility of minimizing the deficiencies in the back seven.

Although you can’t simply drop Bobby Boucher into the system and ask him to replicate the moves of Captain Insano, the system only requires basic Mike linebacker principles.

The wide-nine philosophy is designed to shrink the field and push the play back to the center. With a superior front, the middle linebacker is asked to read the play, scrape, fill the hole and make the tackle. There is nothing exotic about that.

Professional football is no different than everyday life; you can determine who is the most critical to any organization by following the money trail. If you don’t believe me, just look where the Lions placed their limited financial priorities.

Cliff Avril was the player who received the $10 million franchise tag from Detroit, not Tulloch. They are both in their twenties with plenty of years ahead of them. Both were instrumental to the Lions success last year, but it was Avril whom the Lions felt they could not lose at any cost.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Tulloch is the best option for the Lions if he would return at a palatable price, but it appears he is looking for an inflated contract that the Lions are in no position to offer.

So what are the alternatives?

Well, there are several.

David Hawthorne from the Seahawks and Curtis Lofton from the Falcons are the two biggest names that could step in immediately and produce. Additionally, DeMeco Ryans may be released if he and the Texans cannot reach an agreement on a salary reduction.

If you look deeper, don’t underestimate Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who had 79 tackles this year and slid into the middle for New Orleans when Jonathan Vilma missed five games this year.

There are also viable options in this year’s NFL Draft.

Luke Kuechly from Boston College, Dont’a Hightower from Alabama and Mychal Kendricks from California, whom I mocked previously, are three middle linebackers that grade out as first- or second-day selections and are suitable solutions for Detroit’s financial and performance dilemma in the linebacking corps.

If the Lions and Tulloch cannot reach a mutually beneficial agreement, there are other fish in the sea. The Detroit defense is not predicated on finding the next Ray Lewis, just a serviceable linebacker who makes tackles.

Be patient, Lions fans.