About this time last week it was all but certain that when George Johnson signed an offer sheet from Tampa Bay he was gone. It was thought that is the Lions really wanted to keep Johnson, they would have simply tendered him as a second rounder, almost ensuring that no other team would value George over a high draft pick. But the Lions front office did not, instead they gave him his original tender as an UDFA.
Six days later here we are. Hours before the deadline for which the Lions can match Tampa Bay's offer or simply let him walk, the Lions called shenanigans. Bringing attention to the league office about some of the language in the Bucs offer that does not sit right with Detroit. And for their part it seems that the league agrees by letting an independent arbiter sort this out.
So what is all this hubbub about? Did the Lions think that they could have slip Johnson's tender through without another team picking it up? Is the Lions cap situation that much of an issue that paying George at a second round tender (2.3 million rather than the 1.5 million for the original tender) that much of a cap hit that this was the only way they could have kept him? Or is this just another flub by the front office this off-season trying to be a little to clever and paying for it?
Personally I think Johnson has some upside to him. He was an edge rusher that produced in limited action, and that is not something you can just replace. A lot of fans cling to the notion that DC Teryl Austin and the rest of the defensive coaching staff knows how to get the most from their players, and I agree. So why couldn't Johnson have been even better with another year in Austin's defense?
This entire situation has a stunningly familiar feel too it. Clumsy and reactionary. I have grown so weary of this FO and their buffoonery. I just don't know what to day anymore.
ReplyDeleteI feel they tried to get a little too cute with the original tender and now they doing everything they can to come up with a solution to the DE situation.
Deleteoh, and nice article. Well done.
ReplyDeletethis is interesting and will be an interesting take to how they do value him.
ReplyDeleteSo many fans suggested he's not worth the money, but if the Lions are calling something out, it sounds like they could've been trying to, or prepared to meet the offer pending this little loophole.
Now for those then that say he wasn't worth the tender, the Lions could pay that and more…. or it looks like they'd at least be willing to pay a good bit for him since it sounds like they went through the offer to see if they could match
Kinda how I am feeling about this. If this is nothing more than the Lions calling out some poison pill that TB put in the contract, why wait until basically the 11th hour to call it out.
DeleteI think there was some evaluation of available free agents,possible draft picks and/or trades within the 6 days since Johnson signed with TB. And now the FO is circling the wagon again.
it seems a lot of trouble … and also had me thinking about if we thought the FO was ticking players off… this would likely tick George off, especially if they have no real interest in meeting the contract. Now if they are interested in meeting the contract, they must have considered him worth near $9million…. makes me wonder if they really did think they needed to save the space for Suh.
DeleteSaving money for Suh seems likely. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out.
DeleteThat is a really good point Billy. Is this type of thing a pattern with the team and how they treat players? This sort of thing can't possibly speak well to GJ and his teammates.
DeleteYeah that is a good point, You already have players working out and you have George, who is without a team. Puts him in a bad situation.
DeleteI will say this, if in the next 10 days the Lions get someone to restructure their contract, the Lions will match the offer.
ReplyDeleteJohnson must feel cheated by the Lions who tried to get on the cheap but now might be willing to pay him what another team sees as his value
If they match, yea… it'd be a strange way to be courted by your future employer and feel truly valued. but maybe the players do and can leave the business off the field
Deleteyou asked the question first if the FO was ticking people off…. i thought Avril was ticked for sure.