Larry Foote a Lion

Michigan's own Larry Foote is officially a Lion.

It had been speculated all the way back to December of last year by BL that Larry Foote would be a Lion this season. He is another undersized MLB, but he has been on one of the best defenses as a starter for years in the NFL. A 1 year deal sealed the deal that Larry Foote will more than likely be the starting MLB in the Lions new, much faster defense.

MLB Larry Foote joins, Rookie S Louis Delmas, and Free Agent Signings DT Grady Jackson, OLB Julian Peterson, CB Philip Buchanon, CB Anthony Henry, and CB Eric King as new players on the Lions defense. That is 6 new starters, and I feel there will more than likely be 1 more added before the season begins. For those who think we have ignored the defense, I am not sure I understand.

NFC South Draft Grades

Atlanta Falcons
Best Pick: Lawrence Sidbury Jr. (DE) 125th, Poor man's Orakpo 3 rounds later... Could be a force this year.
Worst Pick: None... The Falcons added quality depth through out their draft.
Grade: B+

Carolina Panthers
Best Pick: Everette Brown (DE) 43rd, Considered by many to be a top 15 talent in this draft.
Worst Pick: Another solid draft for an NFC South team with no obvious weakness.
Grade: B-

New Orleans Saints
Best Pick: Malcolm Jenkins (DB) 14th, The consensus top DB in the draft for the team with one of the worst pass defenses in the league.
Worst Pick: The other three picks the Saints had were spent on two special teams players and a punter... enough said.
Grade: D+

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best Pick: Roy Miller (DT) 81st, Miller's size will help keep Tampa's smaller linebackers protected and able to make plays.
Worst Pick: Josh Freeman (QB) 17th, Unorthodox release will be his demise.
Grade: C-

NFC West Draft Grades

Arizona Cardinals
Best Pick: Beanie Wells 31st
Worst Pick: Gregory Toler Rd 4 (would have been available much later)
Grade: B-

Seattle Seahawks
Best Pick: Aaron Curry (lucked out, needed OLB and he fell into their laps)
Worst Pick: None, they hit on their first 3
Grade: B+

San Francisco 49ers:
Best Pick: Crabtree at 10th (Top player on a lot of draft boards)
Worst Pick: Glen Coffee Rd 3 (2nd pick for SF, not sure RB was the move)
Grade: C+

St Louis Rams

Best Pick: Lauranitis at 35
Worst Pick: Bradley Fletcher Rd 3
Grade: C+

What You May Not Have Known About the Lions Draft

Let me start with the 76th pick of the draft, DeAndre Levy of Wisconsin. This was without question the harshest graded pick in all circles considering the Lions' draft. I believe it is because he was LISTED as an OLB. Probably the 1 position on the Detroit Lions where they NEED NO HELP. But here's the thing. The Lions coaching staff drafted Levy as a Middle Linebacker. They had no intentions of playing him outside. He is smallish, only 238, but he is 6'2. I would bet that come preseason, Levy will be up to 245. He then would be a 6'2 245 MLB who can run a 4.50 or under 40 yard dash. Levy has a history of lighting up the biggest backs in college football, and at Wisconsin actually played a lot of inside LB. I am not saying that this pick is now a "A" grade, but it's definitely not a D or F.

6th Round Pick Aaron Brown was the 3rd best KR in the NCAA last season amongst full time KR. He averaged 30 yards per return. 3rd rd pick Derrick Williams was one of the top PR in the nation over that past 4 years. He returned 6 kicks for TD in his career at PSU. The Lions best PR was ranked 35th in the league, and their best KR was ranked 48th. Obviously this was a huge need for the Lions. It is a need that gets overlooked by casual fans, but if you are giving up 5 yards on each KR/PR exchange, throughout the season that is going to catch up with you.

To me these topics have been overlooked when people in the area talk about the draft. They instantly say all 3 of these selections were wasted picks. I say lets wait and see. If starting the 2010 NFL season DeAndre Levy is the team's starting MLB, Derrick Williams is in the slot and returning punts, and Aaron Brown is taking back Kick Returns like Mel Gray. Then we will have some people wondering why they questioned these picks.

NFC East Draft Grades

Dallas Cowboys
Best Pick: Jason Williams (OLB) 69th, potential speed rusher for ailing defense
Worst Pick: David Buehler (K) 172nd, Incumbent Nick Folk is one of the most accurate kickers in the league
Grade: D

New York Giants

Best Pick: Hakeem Nicks (WR) 29th, Potential Plaxico replacement
Worst Pick: none, even the late round picks are expected to compete for spots on the depth chart
Grade: A

Philadelphia Eagles
Best Pick: Jeremy Maclin (WR) 19th, The Eagles moved up to get Maclin and team him with their other dynamic WR DeSean Jackson.... look out.
Worst Pick: Fenuki Tupou (OT) 159th, Not technically sound, low end career backup at best
Grade: B+

Washington Redskins
Best Pick: Brian Orakpo (DE) 13th, Top 5 talent falls to the skins and they took about 45 seconds to get their card in to the commish.
Worst Pick: Robert Henson (LB) 186th, possible special teams contributor.
Grade: B

NFC North Draft Grades

Green Bay Packers
Best Pick: B.J. Raji 9th
Worst Pick: None, but gave up a lot to get Clay Matthews
Grade: B

Detroit Lions
Best Pick: Louis Delmas 33rd, take a look at the top defenses in the NFL, all got great Safeties.
Worst Pick: Deandre Levy 3rd round, will be shocked if he ever contributes.
Grade: B

Minnesota Vikings
Best Pick: Phil Loadhold 54th AP is getting lots of love, Peyton style.
Worst Pick: Made all solid picks, some will say Percy at 22, but they need a playmaker outside.
Grade: B-

Chicago Bears
Best Pick: DJ Moore (ton of value at 119)
Worst Pick: None, at all. Great draft, especially if you count Cutler.

Grade: A+
Cutler for 1st rd pick, and didn't have a 2nd rd pick. Still ended up with Jarron Gilbert, J Iglesias, and DJ Moore.

Steelers release MLB and Detroit native Larry Foote

Foote is on the record as saying he WANTS to come back home to DETROIT

The Pittsburgh Steelers released former UM star Larry Foote today and he has expressed his desire to some home to the D and play for the Lions. Foote is a two time Super Bowl champ with the Steelers and recorded a career high of 102 tackles in 2005 and has been a 5 year starter for one of the leagues top defenses.

While Foote has been considered by most to be too small to play in the middle of a defense he has done it for years. Adding Foote would be a good move by the Lions because of the hole he would be filling and the leadership he brings to the table.