Free Agency Starts Fast In The NFC North: Burleson To The Lions
by Brandon on Mar 5, 2010 2:18 AM CST
in Green Bay Packers Free Agency
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PrintThe first hour of free agency went by fast in the NFC North. From Kevin Seifert at ESPN.com:
So, we have Chicago hosting three significant free agents Friday. Detroit is hoping to complete a trade for a defensive tackle and bring back a pass rusher from Tennessee. Minnesota could be looking for a backup running back, and Green Bay has allowed both starting offensive tackles to enter the market.
It looks like a poor start for the Green Bay Packers by comparison to their NFC North rivals. Everyone else is adding players, while the Packers may be losing them. The trade mentioned above would return former Packer DT Corey Williams to the NFC. The Browns will probably unload him for a 5th or 6th round pick because he's due a $2 million bonus next week.
But the quickest move was made by the Lions who signed WR Nate Burleson. He certainly had a good 2009 season for the Seahawks, and the fans over at Field Gulls are sorry to lose him. He'll receive a 5 year, $25 million contract with $11 million guaranteed. For comparison, WR Greg Jennings received a 3 year, $27 million contract with $16 million guaranteed back in June. Football Outsiders ranked Jennings as the No. 16 WR in 2009, while Burleson came in at No. 40. It seems like a foolish contract, but the Lions have to pay a premium and be aggressive after all the losing they've done in the last decade.
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surprise
Is anyone really surprised that TT hasnt made any moves in free agency?Every year Packer fans get excited and then disapointed!!!!!
Here in Detroit, folks don't seem to like the Burleson acquisition.
I’ve heard a lot of people say that the contract is too expensive for a #2 WR, though there’s some hope that this upgrade will open Calvin Johnson up for more big plays. The big thing is that people see it as confirmation that, despite the GM change, Detroit still has mostly the same personnel staff making the same mistakes: spending too much on offensive skill players and ignoring the team’s many other needs.
why would they like it?
they WAY overpaid for him, on a team with many more important holes to fill than WR, I dont consider that one of their ultra-needs.
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
wow...
Good for the Lions…that is a good move for them. Burleson is a perfect #2 guy and should do well. They may have just closed the gap from 4 to 3 in the division
and whom exactly are they overtaking in the division?
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
did I stutter? haha I think the team I was implying there is fairly obvious! I think the Lions are going up and the other team is heading down. Just my opinion though!
so are you implying the Lions will overtake the Bears?
that just cooky talk.
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
They now signed Burleson and VandenBosh and traded for Corey Williams. They have a young QB with lots of potential, a great #1 WR, a defense that is young but improving a LOT. They are adding a few key pieces. You never know. I do think this division gets MUCH more competitive in 2010.
Yeah, the Lions are going to be much better. Sure, Williams had a down year with the Browns but that was in the 3-4. He was a good 4-3 DT for us, and I don’t see why he won’t be for the Lions. Especially when you consider he’ll have Suh or McCoy right next to him, with Vanden Bosch at the RDE spot.
Their OL is still weak though.
by packallday555 on Mar 5, 2010 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
Their OL is still weak though.
Not that WE can speak about weak Olines! hahaha The Lions could have a FIERCE front four starting next season:
LE – Jason Hunter (5 sacks last year)
DT – Suh/McCoy
DT- Williams
RE – Vanden Bosch
Pretty tough front four there if they can all get it going! Their playmakers on O look nicer too with Calvin, Burleson, Bryant Johnson, Pettigrew and Stafford throwing them the ball. Then toss in Smith or someone they draft at RB. Not the Lions we’ve gotten to know over the past decade of terribleness.
Bears after Rolle now too,
Gotta hand it to em, at least they’re creating a buzz. Link
2010 WhiteSox Baseball: "even if it works it's still stupid"
jennings contract
does anybody else think that jennings is overpaid? 3 years 27 million, that’s more than guys like wayne, colston or even that big kid from houston gets. what i’m saying is that do you think if either jordy or james were starting that they wouldn’t put up the same numbers as jennings did last year. 68 catches for 1,100 yds and 4 td’s.
imo, you could put anyone on our roster at wr and could get those numbers. i think it’s the product of our west coast system and a couple good qb’s we have been blessed with, not neccessarily the wr’s.
what i’m saying is that do you think if either jordy or james were starting that they wouldn’t put up the same numbers as jennings did last year. 68 catches for 1,100 yds and 4 td’s.
Um, no. Not even close. Jennings is one of the better deep threats in the league. The reason his numbers were down this year was because early on we couldn’t protect Rodgers for any longer then 3-4 seconds, and MM continually kept calling intermediate passing plays. Obviously 3-4 seconds isn’t enough time for Jennings to run his intermediate-deep routes, especially because he runs a lot of double routes. Not surprisingly, as our protection got better from week 9 on, so did Jennings.
by packallday555 on Mar 5, 2010 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
if bill schroeder can get a 1,000 yards in the west coast offense. then players like nelson and jones should have no problem.
Well he also had the west coast WITH FAVRE. Favre is the master of turning mediocre talent into great performers.
But come on, it’s clear when watching that Jennings > Schroeder. Jennings is a big time WR. He probably is in the 2nd tier.
by packallday555 on Mar 5, 2010 2:04 PM CST up reply actions
Burleson is a good player but I don’t think he is worth that much money. It’s a good move for the Lions though, as he, Johnson, and Pettigrew form a pretty darn good WR corps.
Perhaps the bigger news is them signing Vanden Bosch. Him, plus either Suh or McCoy could be a good d-line. Expect the Lions too much better this next season.
Wow, Burleson is a lucky bastard
First he gets a seven year 49 million deal with the Seahawks (Although only about five of it was guaranteed) And now he gets a five year 25 million dollar (With 11 million guaranteed). This guy has never been anything special and he’s relatively injury prone but teams keep overpaying for him.
Amen
And he got that contract with the Seahawks only because they were mad at the Vikings for signing Steve Hutchinson with the poison pill contract offer. So SEA turned around and said “oh yeah, well we’re going to sign your restricted free agent then” and Burleson just happened to be the guy standing there. Like you said, “lucky bastard.”
by Curly Lambeau on Mar 5, 2010 12:16 PM CST up reply actions
Good post…I forgot about that HUGE deal he got. Remember they used him as revenge for the poison pill Hutchinson contract! Man…this kid is making HUGE money for average play. He’s a very good #2 WR which is all they are going to ask for him so he’s coming into a GREAT situation and making HUGE money for it. He’s a golden child.
He set some records against the Packers once upon a time...
But Burleson is not a #1. He might be a wonderful guy in the slot or #2, but he just didn’t look good after the Vikings dumped Randy Moss. And then they dumped Culpepper and everything’s worked out just fine…
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Mar 6, 2010 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
The Bears...
They might have the chance to drop from 3rd inNFC North to being a legit contender. It doesnt surprise me much that they are going after big FAs since they cant draft anyone after the Cutler deal. But Peppers, Rolle, maybe even Chester Taylor, and also I heard a few rumors that if that cant get Peppers they would go after Kampman. This could all be well for them and we could have our hands full with them. Or this could go as the new Redskins team with big FA moves and no locker room compatibility
The Bears would not be contenders
They still have a pretty bad offensive line, no real receiving threats (Both of which could lead to another Cutler implosion), they also don’t have a very good secondary and anyone who watched the Packers Cardinals playoff game knows Rolle is not very solid in coverage.
by Charlie Kelly on Mar 5, 2010 12:08 PM CST up reply actions
I think your right. Moving Williams to LT late in the year paid dividends for their OL, and their passing game. With the addition of Martz you can be sure Forte will be more involved in the passing game, and even Aromadshadu (sp?) came on last year and looked like a legit #1 WR. The Bears offense WILL be better, and with the addition of Peppers and Urlacher coming back you can be damn sure their defense will be too.
by packallday555 on Mar 5, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions
Note to Packers fans: The Sky is Not Falling.
Free agency, when old and unworthy clowns get overpaid by foolish teams.
In the mean time, childish Packers fans start having panic attacks, feeling like their team is missing out on something magic and special.
Avoid the GBPG website while the small thinkers cry about Ted Thompson not buying help and protection against the falling sky.
Rumors....
- Chester Taylor to the Bears
- Lions trade a 5th for Corey Williams…my how his value sunk and then they sign Kyle VandenBosh.
- Kampman is a wanted man…Seahawks are front runners, Eagles WERE getting a visit and now they apparently aren’t??
- Peppers to the Bears??
Those are just the notes that affect us and our division. Notice nothing about the Packers bringing anyone in…looks like its status quo here.
Maybe it's the Colts fan in me, but I don't get buzzed about FA
Perhaps just because Polian has never done much of it for Indy, and when he has it has turned out not-so-good. Except fo Vinatieri, and after only one solid season, even that seems questionable.
The Packers and Colts have been among the youngest teams in the NFL for a while now. They have two of the best QBs in the NFL, have both made the playoffs last season, and both show signs of more strong seasons to come. They have both done so primarily with the draft, and I think it is the right startegy, though less of a splash during the off season.
TED IS WAITING FOR THE SMOKE TO CLEAR!!!! : )
Don’t think Ted Thompson isn’t sitting in his office watching TOTAL ACCESS & ESPN… He knows what the Lions & Bears have done in FA… Chicago screwed themselves in the Cutler trade… They don’t have a 1st or 2nd round pick… so if they want to improve they have to overpay….
WE DON’T HAVE TO!!!! Nobody wants a LT, CB, RB, ILB, S… and Punter more than I do… but, I also don’t want TT to sell the farm for anyone player!! You have to know that he has a plan… and WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS… TT will pick-up a couple guys either to start or for depth at positions of need!!
The price was right for Cromarte… but, do we really want guys like that on the team??? I doubt it… He would’ve been a distraction in the locker room & we don’t need that!!!
Think we really need to try to re-sign Tausch… (Peppers, Vanden-Bosch… etc…) and if we lose Clif… We are probably going to need to sign a vet LT and Draft a LT…
Never FEAR… TT is HERE!!!! : ) Don’t know how he gets it done yet… but, if he wants to keep his job… I’m sure he has a plan! : )
GO PACK!!!!!
Yep
Sometimes the highest priority in FA is signing guys to your team that you have released, but for a better price. Hopefully the Packers get Tauscher re-signed. I’d like to see Clifton stick around for another year and consider drafting for the future at the position. I’m not sure what LT will be realistic that late in the first round but that sounds like a plan to me.
by coltsfanawalt on Mar 5, 2010 7:52 PM CST up reply actions
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