30 Comments
User's avatar
RyanH's avatar

It sounded like it was DB asking about TA. That was a bold strategy to keep asking them. Appreciated but bold.

Wouldnt it be great if we could have grabbed Surtain or Gardner for a song and dance. To bad that magic needed to make the cap work would be short lived.

Michael Rost's avatar

The off season is complete. Conclusion: Lions watered the OL garden, although some transplants haven't taken off yet, and the transition from relying on the secondary to make plays to relying on the DL to make plays is fully apparent. There was no emphasis to attempt a 1-for-1 replacement of any lost offensive playmaker and no emphasis to add significant talent to the secondary or special teams. Let's go Lions! Bring on the Saints.

roar back's avatar

just cut small. is netflix coming back? kennedy getting promoted makes sense

David Montgomery’s Carrot's avatar

After watching the presser, I think the front office didn't consider Dortch a good cultural fit. They brought him in with a connection to Petzing. So they aren't going to throw Dortch (or Petzing) under the bus by saying he was a bad fit. They are just politely saying it was a business decision and being impersonal about it. I get it. How else are they supposed to handle it? Say he was a primadonna and had a bad attitude? That makes everyone look bad, including their own guys (Petzing, etc.). Plus, it gives them the opportunity to bring him back if needed. (Never say never)

Jane's avatar

How was his blocking downfield? I don't recall anyone talking about that, one way or another.

JFL's avatar

You nailed it on Pacheco decision.

Scott I's avatar

Great insight on Pacheco going to IR after cutdowns, Justin.

Jane's avatar

St Brown suggested on Chris Long's show that Dortch had culture shock. His release is actually the culture asserting itself.

Jim's avatar

I'm thinking the whole culture thing is becoming overblown. I see the Lions paying guys like Davenport and now this DE from the Saints that they put on IR after getting hurt on day 1 (was it the first snap?) of camp. The culture asserting itself would have waived/injured the guy on day 2. They'd have to pay him either way, but I don't think they should have any ties at all.

Justin Rogers's avatar

A culture shock doesn't mean he didn't adapt.

Jane's avatar

If he wasn't cut for cultural reasons (not a good fit in the locker room) then he was cut because his performance wasn't good enough. If his performance wasn't good enough, that suggests all the beat writers were wrong about him, and don't actually know how to evaluate performance.

Jane's avatar

Meant for Don's comment.

Steve Harris's avatar

Justin, Do you see any chance that they bring Dortch back?

Justin Rogers's avatar

I'm not a never-say-never person, in most instances. If injuries hit, if they don't like what they're getting out of their return game, and he's still on the BIll's p-squad, that call wouldn't surprise me. But the fact that he went to Buffalo in the first place is telling.

Michael Lewis's avatar

Already signed with Buffalo.

Steve Harris's avatar

I believe he is only on their practice squad. We can sign him to the 53 at anytime.

Ken Almas's avatar

Today BH said that Dortch did not make the 53 at cut down and if they wanted him on the PS that he would be there. BH seems to feel like the team is better without Dortch and it doesn’t look like he’ll fit into future plans.

Scott I's avatar

If the Lions wanted him on their 53, he would be.

Steve Harris's avatar

They re-signed Conklin after they cut him.

Scott I's avatar

That was clearly part of a different discussion between the Lions and Conklin. They likely assured him they would reaign him after they moved someone (Pacheco) to IR

Jane's avatar

Conklin wasn't on someone else's practice squad. And they still didn't re-sign Dortch.

Crixcyon's avatar

It boils down to this: If the Lions make the playoffs and can make some noise, Brad looks like a genius. If not, the Red Wings still need help with a GM.

Don's avatar

I will say, the administration needs a bit more accountability for a few things that they have missed on:

1. Decker

2. Ragnow

3. Terrion, and now,

4. Dortch

They say one thing they want to be about and then the culture contradicts it.

Don's avatar
Sep 3Edited

Sorry, I realized I was being a bit too vague. I was not talking about missing on players or transparency. There are some serious holes in their process on the fringe cases that are hurting my perception of them being excellent.

1. Decker and his party was not informed of the pay cut and didn’t receive any communication in the days following his announcement to play. Didn’t have the right phone number? That’s a leadership and communication failure. Sloppy.

2. Ragnow’s attempt at coming back was absolutely amateur hour in leadership and communication.

3. Terrion had a confirmed drug bender and whore house at a rental property. Then, trusted people he met weeks before to steal his stuff. And he’s a “good guy”?! We wish him the best and he was good for us? You don’t have to say that and you’re coming off deaf tone and clueless.

4. Dortch - They say that everyone knows where they stand with positional competition and if they’ll make the team or what they need to do. From things I read, seems like this was a surprise to Dortch. Which goes against what they say they are about. It’s sloppy.

They need to clean their act up.

Tom Garno's avatar

Ragnow retired after the draft...it has been talked about over and over how he kind of blindsided the team so they did the best they could last year.

Decker didn't want to play for less now he is not signed by anyone...is the whole league being held accountable for a guy who has one good shoulder and heading into retirement?

Dortch didn't cut it...

So curious what they need to be held accountable for?

Chad H's avatar

Accountability for Dortch? Huh lol

John Lawton's avatar

They’ve been, especially by Detroit sports standards, very transparent here. The Wings and Tigers generally say nothing. At least Holmes makes the effort.

JFL's avatar

The Organization took accountability and move on instead of having liabilities

Jason's avatar

I don’t know what you mean by accountability. I mean, are they supposed to write you an apology note every Wednesday acknowledging that the results haven’t met your expectations? More importantly, how have they missed on any of those players (other than arguably TA)?

Brian's avatar

They have to answer for a guy getting beaten out of a spot in training camp, one signed to a very modest 1-year deal? Okay!