Tag: Andre Fluellen

Lions keep making moves in midst of labor unrest


Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Allen Park — With all eyes focused on the labor unrest in the NFL Thursday, the Lions were busy shaping up their 2011 roster.

The team decided to part ways with veterans Kevin Smith and Julian Peterson while offering restricted free-agent tenders to a number of other players, including linebacker Zack Follett.

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The Lions did not offer a tender to former starting running back Smith, 24, making the fourth-year player a free agent. That doesn’t rule out the chance of Smith re-signing with the Lions, but it seems unlikely at this point.

With Jahvid Best expected to be the back-of-the-future and Maurice Morris coming on strong at the end of last season, the Lions felt Smith was expendable.

That’s good news for Best, a third-year pro out of Cal who thought his career might be over after he was carted off the field with a neck injury while covering a fourth-quarter kickoff during a 28-20 loss to the Giants at the Meadowlands on Oct. 17.

A third-round pick in 2008, Smith showed potential after running for 976 yards as a rookie. But injuries have derailed the last two seasons for Smith, who has rushed for 880 yards combined over that span.

Smith’s 2009 season ended because of a torn ACL. He played in only six games last season and finished it on injured reserve because of torn ligaments in his thumb. He also had a shoulder injury.

Smith rushed for 1,856 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions.

The Peterson move was expected as Lions general manager Martin Mayhew confirmed to reporters last month that the move was imminent.

“We had a meeting, a great meeting, and I thanked him for his two years of service,” Mayhew said.

Peterson, 32, who was scheduled to make $8 million next season, made 15 starts last season and had 83 tackles.

Switching to players that will be wearing Honolulu Blue when camp starts, the Lions offered linebacker Zack Follett an exclusive rights tender for next season.

“I didn’t even know if they would offer me a contract,” Follett said. “I’m just thankful to be offered the opportunity to play for another year.

“I still don’t know if my neck will keep holding up, but I don’t think this contract would have been offered if they didn’t think that it could.”

Follett was placed on injured reserve following the incident in New York, and later told reporters he didn’t know if he’d ever play again after suffering a displaced disk that tapped his spinal cord.

Follett said he’s been intensively rehabbing his neck and feels he’s ready for camp. But he also said there is one more hurdle to cross.

“I haven’t hit anybody yet, so we’ll see,” he said. “Before I actually go back into camp to make it a full go we’ll do another series of tests to make sure there’s more space between the disk and my spinal cord and make sure I won’t be doing any permanent damage.

“It’s a little scary because the one thing the doctors did tell me is that by playing more, my situation can only get worse, and that’s the risk factor that’s involved here.”

The Lions gave fifth-year guard Dylan Gandy and special teams Pro Bowl alternate John Wendling original-round tenders on Thursday and reportedly issued tenders to some of their other four- and five-year players, including cornerback Chris Houston and kicker Dave Rayner.

The original-round tender for Gandy and Wendling mean that another team can offer them a contract but the Lions have the right to match that offer or let them sign with the other team for a fourth-round pick in Gandy’s case and a sixth-round pick for Wendling, the round they were originally drafted in.

Those players could ultimately test the free-agent market as unrestricted free agents, though, depending on the language in the new collective bargaining agreement — whenever it’s agreed upon — as it pertains to free-agent eligibility.

In last year’s uncapped season, free agency changed from four to six years, but it could revert back to four years in the new deal.

The Lions also extended exclusive rights original-round tenders to fullback Jerome Felton (fifth round) and defensive tackle Andre Fluellen (third round).

They also reportedly gave a second-round tender to defensive end Turk McBride.

ttwentyman@detnews.com

ttwentyman@detnews.com

Lions’ Ndamukong Suh, Calvin Johnson named Pro Bowl starters


Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Allen Park— The Lions are back in the Pro Bowl.

Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and receiver Calvin Johnson were named as starters to the NFC roster, the NFL announced Tuesday.

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The game will be played Jan. 30 in Honolulu.

Selections are based on a voting system that includes fans, coaches and players, with each getting a third of the vote.

The Lions took a three-year hiatus from the Pro Bowl after struggling to a 9-39 record over those seasons.

But the Lions became relevant again this season and with that comes recognition from fans, coaches and peers. It’s the first time since 2005 (CB Dre Bly, KR Eddie Drummond, DT Shaun Rogers) that the Lions will send more than one player to the game.

“The Pro Bowl is a great honor for a player because the vote comes from the coaches and players as well as the fans,” coach Jim Schwartz said.

“Both Calvin and Ndamukong had outstanding seasons and today’s announcement confirms the NFC coaches and players felt the same way.

“While this is an individual honor, Calvin and N-D’s success would not be possible without the help of their teammates and coaches.”

Suh was a no-brainer as a starter after blowing away the competition in the fan voting. He more than doubled the number of votes from his nearest competitor, Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji.

Obviously, the players and coaches agreed with the fans.

Suh already has become one of the league’s premier defensive players and becomes the first Lions starter in the Pro Bowl since defensive tackle Shaun Rogers in 2006.

Suh is the first Lions rookie since Barry Sanders in 1990 to be named to the team and the first defensive rookie since Al “Bubba” Baker in 1979.

“It’s a tremendous honor, obviously, being a rookie and getting my feet wet in the NFL,” he said.

“I can’t expect anything more and it’s truly a blessing and something that I’m definitely elated about. It’s only going to make me want to work harder to get back there again.

“I definitely owe it to my coach (Kris Kocurek) and especially the guys I’ve been playing next to in Cliff (Avril), Corey (Williams), Kyle (Vanden Bosch), Turk (McBride), L.J. (Lawrence Jackson), Sammie (Hill), Flu (Andre Fluellen) and every guy on that defensive line because if it weren’t for them, who knows what would have happened this season. I definitely got to thank them and Coach Schwartz and the rest of the defense because it’s a total team effort — defensive effort — and I can’t say much more than that.”

Suh’s nine sacks are tops among all NFL defensive tackles. He leads rookies, regardless of position, in sacks. His 60 tackles are the third-highest among defensive linemen in the NFL and the most in the NFC.

“From day one, Ndamukong has come in here with a great attitude and a great work ethic,” said defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. “He’s tried to get better from week to week, and if you watched him as the season progressed, he has gotten better from start to finish.

“He played a totally different scheme in college than what we’re doing now. The transition that he has made into our scheme, I don’t know that a whole lot of defensive tackles in particular could make that transition as fast as he has.”

Johnson’s selection might be a bit overdue.

He was left off the 2008 Pro Bowl team despite finishing the season with 78 receptions, 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The team’s historic run to 0-16 that season was certainly a contributing factor in the snub.

“This is a tremendous honor and I appreciate the recognition from by peers and the fans,” Johnson said. “I especially owe thanks to Coach (Shawn) Jefferson and all the guys in our (receivers) room along with the rest of my teammates and coaches.”Johnson’s numbers this season are similar to what he put up in 2008. He leads the Lions with 77 catches for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Johnson becomes the first Lions offensive player to be elected to the original Pro Bowl squad (non-alternate) since tight end David Sloan in 2000 and first receiver since Herman Moore in 1998. Receiver Roy Williams was an alternate in 2007.

Johnson ranks first in the NFC among non-kickers in scoring (74 points) and he’s tied for first in touchdown receptions and third in receiving yards.

The selections mark the first time the Lions will be represented on both sides of the ball in the Pro Bowl since 2000 (LB Stephen Boyd, DT Luther Elliss, DE Robert Porcher and TE David Sloan).

ttwentyman@detnews.com