MichiganCardinal

I agree with everyone that Gibbs is a true RB1, will be paid as much, and that we can expect him to be the three-down back this fall. But I do wonder what they do behind him. I don’t think Vaki will be RB2. Probably a cheap free agent bruiser?

Great trade. Scruggs feels like exactly the kind of depth you want to have on the interior. He's a young Glasgow, in that he can play all three positions, so if anybody goes down in the interior, he's plug and play. The Lions now own two 4ths, which may be enough to move up into the late 3rd if they so choose. Of course, it does create a hole at RB2, but in all I think this is a Holmes masterclass.

Love the group setting. I’m working in the middle of nowhere for a year long assignment. Very isolating. This community is getting me through it. Dying in the daily workout is my favorite part of the day! At the world premiere of 26.1, only two of the four “fittest people in the world” got through the entire workout. Not me lol My quads feel it today!

I think it’s likely Monty is traded in the next few weeks. Fowler’s sources are probably with the team, given that they’re all in Indy and the added knowledge about a day three pick. I could see Monty telling Campbell and Holmes that he wants more snaps, or to go somewhere where they’re available. Not exactly “wanting out.” More putting it in the Lions court.

Participated in CrossFit Open 26.1 today (scaled). 12:00 cap to complete: 20 wall balls at 14# 18 box step-ups at 24” 30 wall balls 18 step-ups 40 wall balls 18 step-ups with the ball 66 wall balls 18 step-ups with the ball 40 wall balls 18 step-ups 30 wall balls 18 step-ups 20 wall balls Scored a 155 (11/66 wall balls). Good for like 55,000th in the competition and somewhere around 40/60 in my gym. I was happy with how I did though. Excited to see how much I can grow in a year if I stick with it.

I would lose my ****ing mind if this happened in a Wings game.

Right. Only free up what you need to spend. If they're planning on making a play for Linderbaum, then they make need more than Goff's $40MM. But if they're just planning to sign Biadasz or Mays, there's no need to free up more cap space than you need at the expense of creating $500MM problems in 2030.

There's probably a really good Neil Gorsuch statutory interpretation joke somewhere in these analyses, but I'm not going to try to make it here. 😆

Goff is pretty much a given to free up ~$40MM. The real question is whether they restructure anyone else. They can have a quality offseason (locking up the ‘23 class, adding a few mid-level pieces in FA, signing draft picks) by just restructuring Goff. But if they plan to make any real splashes (Linderbaum, Crosby, etc.), they’ll likely have to restructure at least one if not both of ASB ($21MM) and Sewell ($15MM). McNeill ($17MM) is probably an outside candidate too. Of course, the more money you push into 2029 and 2030, the more you risk becoming the Saints.

I thought of this too. For one, you'll have teams declining a five-yard false start penalty because it would create a 61-yard attempt versus a 56-yard attempt. For another, in the NFL the seven-yard buffer between snapper and holder is universal, because that's tried and tested to be optimal in time and distance. But with this incentive, if a team is at the opponent's 40-yard line, does anything stop them from having the holder set up at midfield, taking a ten-yard snap, and attempting a 60-yard field goal? Or will they just define the length of the field goal attempt as the yard line plus 17 (10-yard end zone and 7-yard snap)? Otherwise, to take it to the extreme, if a team has 4th and Goal from the 15, down 3 late in the game, and a really good kicker, couldn't they theoretically have a punter/holder take the long snap in punt coverage at the 25, run back 15 yards, set the ball down, and have the kicker attempt a 60-yard game winner? (Obviously coverage would be tricky, you'd have 9 lineman blocking 11 defenders at the line)

I think "whatsoever" means whatsoever. Whether it means that one of those charged won't ultimately tell prosecutors that Arnold was the ringleader in the conspiracy to try to get a lesser sentence remains to be determined. Whether it means Arnold is actually charged with a crime, let alone convicted, is a long ways away.

If Manu turns into a reliable backup that’s a fine 4th round pick. Proverbial jury is still out on Rakestraw. I wouldn’t count him out yet. Literal jury hasn’t been sat on Arnold.

There’s probably some chicken and egg debate about the defensive lineups from last year. Especially after Branch, Joseph, Reed, and Arnold were all hurt, a nickel defense meant playing a lot of backup DBs around Amik, while Barnes sat on the bench. Whereas a more traditional 4-3 meant you had one less practice squad DB out there, with Barnes, Campbell, and Anzalone at linebacker (any of whom could drop back in man coverage if called upon). Of course the latter is preferable. A 4-3 for the 2025 Lions just meant having your best players out there. That’s not to say you’re wrong about Styles. There’s a lot to like and if he’s the best player on the board they may take him.

I’m wondering if it’s normal for judges in Florida to issue lengthy “factual” orders denying pre-trial release. Everything contained in the order is an allegation. One side of the story. It all looks pretty airtight, but cases often do at this stage. I don’t really love the idea of reporting it as fact, and it coming from a Judge’s pen sure carries that appearance. If it is all true, I wouldn’t be that surprised if Arnold is eventually charged with conspiracy of some sort. Not good allegations.

I thought I had said something to this effect. But now someone with a website said it while citing “sources.” Objectively Faulk is a great fit. Whether he’s there at #17 and makes sense is a different story. If a guy like Francis Mauigoa falls into their lap it’s hard to pass on a glaring 2027 need at OT.

News from Charlie Campbell who has nailed some Lions info in the past (most notably correctly predicting Gibbs and Jack Campbell to the Lions). Linking us to Keldric Faulk out of Auburn.

Richardson definitely deserves another shot. Entering his fourth year in the NFL, he's younger than yet-to-be-drafted Garrett Nussmeier. The Colts did him dirty making him start as a rookie. I don't think it makes sense here though. I expect he may replace Malik Willis in Green Bay or backup Stafford in LA. The Vikings maybe interested as well, they don't know what to do at QB.

Interesting profile. He was fantastic in 2023 with the Broncos (top five in both run and pass defense), which earned him the big deal with the Titans. Then he tore his Achilles midway through 2024, started 2025 on PUP, and wasn't quite the same after he got back on the field. He's probably a better option than Glasgow, but that's a low bar. And he's only ever been a center, so limited utility as a backup.

Rewatching Ted Lasso. Such a phenomenal show through and through. Just as good on the second watch.

High praise. Too bad they used a first round pick on an off-ball linebacker. /s

He was league average despite putting off shoulder surgery all season. The way Campbell talked about him though (before Decker announced his return), it sounds like they want to plan on load management for him with the expectation he won't make every start. I think he'll be good next year. Not great, not like his prime, but good. Where he was this year or better.

Justin Rogers is confirming Decker will be back. That's big news. One less immediate hole to fill. Still need someone to be ready to fill it next year, but you can focus on center (or guard) this year and tackle next if you need to.

Holmes is on the podium. Campbell to talk at 2.

I agree on both accounts. Chargers will be players if he hits the open market. I wouldn’t count out the Lions though.

There are also reports from Rapoport though that Linderbaum's camp isn't returning the Ravens calls. DeCosta is saying the right things and I don't doubt that the Ravens want to retain him (otherwise they are replacing their entire IOL this offseason). At this point, for whatever reason (whether money, hard feelings at the Harbaugh departure, or otherwise), I think he's going to hit the open market. Does he take $21MM to go to Browns, Jets, or Titans over $19MM to return to the Ravens? I doubt it. But if it's the Seahawks, Eagles, or Lions who are willing to pony up, it might happen. If the Lions can somehow swing it, he is the closest thing to Frank Ragnow that's not Frank Ragnow.