TK Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/7984705.htm Lions begin quest for their Pudge equivalent By CURT SYLVESTER Detroit Free Press INDIANAPOLIS - The Tigers got their Pudge Rodriguez a couple of weeks ago; the Lions are looking for theirs now. Coach Steve Mariucci and president Matt Millen are looking for the NFL equivalent of the Tigers' new catcher - a high-impact player who can hasten their return to respectability after consecutive seasons of 2-14, 3-13 and 5-11. They spent the past two days matching their free-agent needs with the free agents who will be available March 3. And they will begin working their way through some 350 draft prospects when the NFL scouting combine workouts begin today. But one player very much on Mariucci's mind is four-time Washington Redskins Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey. "It would be like a Pudge Rodriguez signing, which was very exciting to the city of Detroit and fans everywhere," Mariucci said Wednesday. "The Champ Bailey thing would be like that." Bailey, 25, is considered one of the NFL's best young cornerbacks. And pairing him with Dre' Bly would give the Lions one of the best - if not the best - set of starting corners in the league. In addition, there is a family element involved. Bailey's younger brother is Lions linebacker Boss Bailey. "It would be one of those real important acquisitions in the off-season in any sport," Mariucci said. "He would be a factor, he would be very well-received here. It's an interesting scenario to play with his brother and help us build this team up." Champ Bailey was a first-round pick of Washington five years ago but - because of salary-cap limitations - the Redskins probably cannot afford to pay him and still make the free-agent moves new coach Joe Gibbs feels are necessary to make the team competitive. Millen has had preliminary discussions with Redskins owner Daniel Snyder and Bailey's agent, Jack Reale, but the process is slow. The Redskins are likely to put a franchise tag on Bailey, which severely limits his ability to shop himself as a free agent. And the Lions have a number of factors to consider before making a deal. Namely, what are they willing to give up - in terms of draft picks and players - to make a trade for Bailey, and can they afford two high-priced corners? Mariucci admits the Lions would have a lot of money invested at cornerback, but the Bailey-Bly combination is appealing nevertheless. "I know Champ and Dre' Bly hung out at the Pro Bowl and they got to know each other pretty darned well," Mariucci said. "You'd enter into every game thinking, `Our corners match up very well with whoever the receivers are, as good as anybody in the league. Two Pro Bowl corners, I don't know who's got that.' "You'd sleep well at night (but) there would be some other holes you wouldn't be able to fill. You only have so many scholarships and you have to spread `em out, I understand all that. But we do need to entertain the possibility, to see if it works for the Redskins and for Champ and for us. "If it doesn't, it doesn't, but I think everybody owes it to themselves to look into it." Millen has said he will keep open the lines of communication with the Redskins and Reale regarding Bailey. Meanwhile, he - along with the Lions' coaches, scouts and executives - traveled to Indianapolis for the start of the combine. The Lions have a number of serious needs, including a safety, a running back, a wide receiver, a pass rusher, at least one offensive guard, a tight end and depth at virtually any position. After a full season with the Lions, however, Mariucci has a much better feel for the exact nature of those needs. "I go there more focused than I was a year ago because I didn't know our team from Adam and Eve last year," he said. "We had a minicamp after the combine - before the draft - to get to know some of our players, but I went into the combine last year pretty blind in terms of what our needs were for the Detroit Lions. "Now I know this team well. I know exactly where we're good, where we need help." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 sounds like the lions are starting to cave to Snyders demands Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TK Posted February 20, 2004 Author Share Posted February 20, 2004 The Lions have a number of serious needs, including a safety, a running back, a wide receiver, a pass rusher, at least one offensive guard, a tight end and depth at virtually any position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NavyDave Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 Win Win for us. We get the picks sign one of the decent CBs on the market draft S Taylor to give us an upgrade at safety and solid secondary OR Roland will sign for a long term deal or will have career season and go thru the same situation again next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubster Posted February 20, 2004 Share Posted February 20, 2004 It sounds like the Lions need a whole new team:laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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