Al-Quadin Muhammad re-signing, Jared Goff to star in Netflix docuseries and Lions propose two rule changes
The Detroit Lions continued to re-sign their own free agents a week into the new league year, reaching a one-year agreement with defensive end Al-Quadian Muhammad. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the deal.
An early-season addition to the practice squad in 2024, Muhammad was called up to the main roster in Week 8, appearing in the final nine games, including two starts.
Playing more than 250 defensive snaps, he proved to be a valuable fill-in for the injury-depleted position, delivering 11 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 26 quarterback pressures.
He fleshes out an edge-rushing group that is returning Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport and Josh Paschal. Davenport, who missed most of the 2024 campaign with a torn triceps, also re-signed with the Lions on a one-year deal this month.
Tweaking the rules
The Lions love proposing rule changes.
They suggested four changes to the league's rule book and bylaws last year, including a pair that were adopted. This year, they are proposing more changes, including a significant adjustment to the playoff format.
The Lions are asking the league to consider allowing Wild Card teams to earn a higher seed than a division winner with a worse record. As it currently stands, the four division champions in each conference automatically receive the top four seeds and get at least one home game in the postseason.
The proposal comes on the heels of last season's dramatic season finale between the Lions and Vikings. Both teams entered the matchup with 14-2 records. The Lions won the game, earning the conference's No. 1 seed and a bye. The Vikings dropped to the No. 5 seed and had to go on the road for the Wild Card round.
If the Lions' proposal were adopted, the Vikings would have opened the playoffs at home last season. Instead, they lost to the Rams in a game that was shifted to Arizona due to wildfires in California.
In addition to reconfiguring the playoff formatting, the Lions are asking the league to consider removing the automatic first down component with defensive holding and illegal contact penalties, which are both 5-yard infractions. It's likely not a coincidence the Lions have been flagged for these two penalties more than any other team over the past two seasons.
Finally, the Lions want to adjust injured reserve rules so that a player placed on IR during training camp doesn't count toward the 90-man, regular-season limit of the combined active roster, practice squad and injured reserve.
Other rule-change proposals include Green Bay seeking to prohibit offensive players from pushing a teammate who takes a snap, effectively banning the "Tush Push." Also, Philadelphia wants to adjust overtime to be a 15-minute period where both teams get the opportunity to possess the ball, regardless of the outcome of the opening possession.
Goff up next on Netflix
Netflix announced a third season of its NFL docuseries "Quarterback" on Wednesday. After veering from the original concept to follow a group of pass catchers last year, including Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown, teammate Jared Goff will be among a trio of signal-callers who will be featured this year.
The series, which will return to the streaming platform in July, will also feature Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, who was part of the original casting.
The Goff storyline will focus on Detroit's 2024 season, not the upcoming campaign.
Change the overtime rules. The outcome of a game should not be decided by a coin flip.
Coild they really do something about Defensive Holding?
I can live with the nothing the passer calls, at least they mean well. But is there anything worse than on 3rd and 15 the defense makes a great play and the defense is off the field, until we see that yellow flag way on the other side of the play.
Got to be something they can do.