MichiganCardinal

Something I thought of today regarding free agency. In a world where Ragnow never retired, he would be entering the 2026 season at age 30 in the final year of his contract. He would be up for an extension this offseason. In that scenario, assuming he didn't majorly fall off a cliff in performance, I don't think anyone would bat an eye at a market setting three-year / $63MM deal, right in the ballpark of what Linderbaum is probably asking. Am I crazy? I'm not a "the cap is fake" guy. And I don't think the Lions are best served getting into a bidding war for Linderbaum if a team wants to throw $25MM+ APY at him. But with two rookie-contract guards and a LT likely retiring after this season, I also think the Lions do have some money to work with (after restructuring Goff), if they want to be players for Linderbaum or trade for Crosby.

I'd be very surprised by this. I think all signs point to OL being priority #1 this offseason. I don't think it's guaranteed that either of Mahagony or Frazier start in week one, let alone both. At minimum, if a free agent starter isn't brought in I expect a high draft pick would be, to compete and perhaps displace one of them. For instance, if Mauigoa slips, or Lomu is the pick, I expect they could start either of them at guard in 2026 and move them to tackle after Decker retires (maybe flipping Sewell to LT as well). I'm not convinced moving Ratledge to center and starting a 5th round sophomore is that much better than what they did last year. On paper it might even be worse.

Big day. Relocation window opens for my season tickets in about 20 minutes. As Mick Jones once said, should I stay or should I go now?

Begs the question: what is Ben Johnson doing to his centers behind closed doors??

I’m guessing this was a conversation had in January and he had the option to retire in lieu of being released but declined. Perhaps someone will want him after their linemen suffer injuries

Montgomery’s goodbye on Instagram. Who’s cutting onions in here?

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.