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Detroit Lions: Free agency, the draft and dollars making sense

By Robert Jones

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Newly redesigned $100 notes lay in stacks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The one hundred dollar bills will be released this fall and has new security features, such as a duplicating portrait of Benjamin Franklin and microprinting added to make the bill more difficult to counterfeit. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: Newly redesigned $100 notes lay in stacks at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing on May 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The one hundred dollar bills will be released this fall and has new security features, such as a duplicating portrait of Benjamin Franklin and microprinting added to make the bill more difficult to counterfeit. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Overcoming the ‘Sherman effect’

Overspending is the easiest way for an NFL team to cap themselves out of contention and destroy all flexibility needed to build a winner. So how do the Lions keep from overspending? That is absolutely the big question.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman as a free agent in 2018 turned down an offer from the Detroit Lions because of the ‘Patriot Way’. Due to Bob Quinn having hired Matt Patricia and bringing the New England style of football to Detroit, minus the winning of course, Sherman decided the Lions weren’t a good fit for him.

The Lions made the highest bid, but due to the ‘Patriot Way’ which Sherman categorized as a stressful culture with an emphasis on ‘over conditioning’, he chose to sign with the 49ers for less money.

Oh yeah, and the Lions were a team that had just missed the playoffs while the 49ers were coming off a 6-10 season. Maybe Sherman knew something we didn’t.

The point is simple; the NFL is a fraternity and Sherman’s viewpoint could easily be a popular way of thought around the NFL. Especially given the lack of success the Lions have had under Matt Patricia.

That means the only opportunity the Lions may have to sign anyone in free agency will be to overspend. Instead of stretching their dollars and being able to acquire several needed pieces, they may end of spending their entire $50 million on only one or two players capping themselves out without getting nearly enough help to improve this roster.

That would mean the Lions have to trade down from the number three pick in the draft, get a king’s ransom in return, and then absolutely hit a home run getting a difference-maker with every one of their selections in the entire draft.

When we break it down like that, it sounds even less likely that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia will turn this team around over the course of this offseason. Which in turn means they will be less likely to bounce back next season and more likely for Martha Firestone Ford to be cleaning house.

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