OT- Lions to release Nate Burleson
Title says it all.
Great guy, good player, sad to see him go. Looks like the coaching change,and possibly the time off due to his car accident meant we weren't going to be spending the money on him at his age. If he had stayed healthy he would've caught near 1,000 yards last season, and might've had his contract renegotiated. I think he has a year or two left in him at a lower salary, I just wish it was in Detroit.
http://oplions.blogspot.com/2014/02/detroit-lions-to-release-nate-burle…
February 13th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
Releasing Delmas, to me, makes better business sense. We have good safety depth for a change, so the extra money on him isn't really worth it. I hope we re-sign Burleson, though. We still need viable receivers.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
there aren't any S beside Quin who can start for them right now.
Burleson isn't coming back, but the Lions wants Delmas back.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:45 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
A healthy Delmas would have helped the defense out tremendously over the last 3-4 years. Lions passed over so many game-changing safeties in the draft over the last 4 years in hopes that Delmas would pan out.
Now the Lions need a legit #2 WR, TE, a slot WR, S, and a legit CB with little money to spend in free agency.
At least the OL and RBs are legit for the first time in years (barring any single injury).
February 13th, 2014 at 4:00 PM ^
Rashean Mathis is a viable FS, I think he could start there next year and have Slay take over as a full time starting corner. We could use an other DB, but probably just a depth guy to go along with Bill Bentley.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:04 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
and hes a free agent and like 36 years old
February 13th, 2014 at 4:06 PM ^
I wonder which ones they address in the draft versus free agency. Seems like the only guy available at receiver who is really worth the 10 pick is Sammy Watkins and most mock drafts show him long gone by the time the Lions pick. I wonder if they hit the FA market for someone like Hicks from the Giants or even Anquan Boldin from the 49ers for that compliment and then use that first pick on the best corner or safety available.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^
They are, however, interested in bringing him back at a reduced cost.
Burleson said Mayhew told him Lions would be interested in bringing him back later in offseason, but expects to sign w/ another team by then
— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) February 13, 2014
They saved $6 million in cap space by cutting Delmas, and $5.5 million by cutting Burleson.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:47 PM ^
Delmas on the other hand it was time to go. Often injured and never looked at the ball in the air. The "if only" picks will not be missed.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
Nate will get on with another team. Seems like he has plenty of years left in him in the NFL
February 13th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
both guys got way more money and hype than their injury riddled play demanded. The first job in any NFL offf season is to trim the fat and Mayhew has succeeded in that so far.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
might not have been the best players or the most consistent players but both delmas and burleson were great leaders for the team and im sad to see them go. we should really draft a reciever now (watkins if available) or take clinton-dix at saftey in the 1st rounds i would think as i think he would be better than dennard or gilbert to help the secondary out.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:20 PM ^
was their leadership that great? I liked both of them but I think there was more hype than production from both of them.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
you can have great leaders and still not succeed... if the other team gets lucky and catches a freak deflection off Calvins hands like what happened at the end of the bucs game or hits a 63 yard field goal to win the game like the ravens did, is that poor lions leadership?
February 13th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
Burleson's definitely one of the good guys of the league. Hate to see him go but figured this would be his last season in Detroit anyway.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:56 PM ^
With the way he willingly immersed himself into the community, I was really hoping he'd get to retire in Detroit. Oh well.
February 13th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
If anyone is interested, CBS Detroit did summarize the money situation - the Lions will save $5.5 million by releasing Burleson and $6 million by releasing Delmas. That being said, I understand releasing Delmas a little more than releasing Burleson, although the blog posted by the OP does note that as recently as a couple weeks ago, there was a hint that Nate's contract would require restructuring if he was going to stay here.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
Sammy Watkins, come on down!
February 13th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
Browns fan here. We will be more than happy to take your wide reciever and safety hand-me-downs. Both Delmas & Burleson would look great in C-Town IMO.
Hello 40MM in cap room. Time to spend some of Jimmy H's money.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:09 PM ^
For $40MM, you can probably do a little better than Burleson and Delmas. I like both those guys and am sad to see them go, but they both have their baggage, mostly age and injury.
Burleson does come with pizza, though (LINK).
February 13th, 2014 at 4:44 PM ^
Apparently NFL people thought highly of Delmas, but there's huge injury concern with his knee which is why there aren't many suitors who are willing to pony up the money for Delmas.
Burleson is pretty much close to being done. He can't get open anymore.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^
Sad to see another WMU alum leave the lions, but hopefully this means that Haha Clinton-Dix is fully on the Lions radar if they can't land Sammy Watkins.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:08 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
I absolutely think he's a 1st round talent, maybe not necessarily top 10 talent but certainly a mid 1st round type of player.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:22 PM ^
The majority of scouts list him as the top safety prospect this year.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
I havent seen one mock draft that has another saftey going before him. he isnt going top 10 like a mark barron or eric berry, but from what i have seen of him he has good hands and great range at the saftey position and you know he was coached well at Bama. most people are putting him in the 14-20 range depending on where you see other people going and all that. I think he would be an awesome pick at a position of need.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 4:16 PM ^
You must not understand the restrictions of a salary cap. A player who is vastly overpaid for their actual production only hurts the team. How many "big plays" did Delmas make? He always went for the big hit and usually missed (see the first play of the 2013 season).
February 13th, 2014 at 6:21 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 4:07 PM ^
CUT MOAR LIONS
February 13th, 2014 at 4:48 PM ^
and go to a superbowl.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^
Seriously. Cliff Avril didn't get cut but walked. However, I belive Paris L got cut. Maybe Manny Ramirez?
February 13th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^
If nothing else, you had to appreciate Burleson's savvy in nicknaming himself 'Recepticon' as an homage to his teammate Megatron.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^
Apparently, the Lions are not looking to bring him back on a cheaper deal (like Raiola last year)
There was no talk of a new contract or pay-cut. #Lions just released him and are moving on. Nate will have a new home in 2014.
— Matt Dery (@dery1051) February 13, 2014
February 13th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
Amazing that the team with the league's best receiver has receiver as its biggest or second biggest need.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:45 PM ^
You have to have more than one receiver. The rest of the receiving corp was the walking wounded (Burleson, Broyles) or practice squad guys. Teams were rolling two and three d-backs at Megatron. They HAVE to get at least one other receiver other teams will have to key on and very likely two. I just wonder how much money they'll throw at it and who is available considering Sammy Watkins likely won't be available in the draft.
February 13th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^
but I can see the Lions draft Eric Ebron at #10 overall. Freak athlete at TE who can line up at X, Y and Z spot. He is an underrated blocker as well.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^
Ebron would be awesome. The dude is a monster!
February 14th, 2014 at 7:47 AM ^
Yeah, and the Titus Young pick really hurts them there. They took a risk but in hindsight they could have instead drafted Torrey Smith, Greg Little, Randall Cobb, or Cecil Shorts.
The attention to CJ has given Bush and Bell a lot of wide open looks but there is still a lot of field for some possession guy with good hands.
February 13th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^
1st defensive play of the 2013 season.
February 13th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 7:00 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 7:08 PM ^
February 13th, 2014 at 8:06 PM ^
hi i just want to say this is a very interesting website. please continue posting.
thank you
February 13th, 2014 at 8:15 PM ^
Delmas just can't seem to stay healthy, which is sad because he's a good safety.
I think Burleson is a good WR, but I'm not sure how he fit in with the new regime. I'm guessing they'll make a play at resigning him if the price is right, but he's a bit older and hasn't been healthy for a couple of years.
February 13th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^