OT: Lions to be host of Hard Knocks this season

Submitted by DP on March 28th, 2022 at 11:51 AM

Title says it all. Not sure what players will be entertaining, but Dan Campbell should be.

 

Seems like the past few seasons haven't been what it used to be. 

mGrowOld

March 28th, 2022 at 12:00 PM ^

This should be entertaining.  Question for Lions fans-why isn't Detroit being discussed as possible landing spot for Baker?  Goff isn't the long-term answer (candidly Baker might not be either) but he sure would be a fantastic fit culturally with Campbell.

DP

March 28th, 2022 at 12:07 PM ^

Personality wise Baker is a fit, but to commit that much cap to a QB who isn't top tier doesnt make sense. Based on what the lions have done draft and free agency wise I think they are looking to build the team up from the inside out.

Get a QB in the draft in the next year or two, and not have to use a ton of cap on one as they build. Somewhat like what the Seahawks did when they were competing for titles.

stephenrjking

March 28th, 2022 at 12:11 PM ^

I haven't watched as closely as some others, but: I don't feel like Baker is that much of an upgrade over Goff. Unless the team is ready for the playoffs or thinks it has identified the guy in the draft that will lead the team to the playoffs for the next ten years (which I don't see at the top end this year, though I think the scouts should be looking hard for a potential second-round type to take a chance on), I think you stand pat with Goff while you rebuild the rest of the roster. Goff won't win a Super Bowl, but nobody will with the team this year, so why use up more resources on the position?

To me, the Lions have the luxury of waiting a couple of years to see if the right QB solution presents itself. They don't have to reach this year if that guy doesn't exist yet. 

The Deer Hunter

March 28th, 2022 at 12:36 PM ^

If it weren't for Goff's cap hit and the fact the Lions's have restructured his contract as a gap filler for the future, it financially doesn't make sense to turn the direction now. 

It would be a bad look to take on Baker's 19mil at this point unless the Browns want to eat half that and don't want high picks in return.  

Baker is a broken QB right now and there's not much market out there for him, IMO he does have the potential to turn it around but there's no guarantee. 

XM - Mt 1822

March 28th, 2022 at 12:38 PM ^

you gotta lotta nerve, as a former lions fan, picking on us poor souls who remain.  lions fans are veteran 'school of hard knocks' attendees! 

kidding aside, i'm not down on goff.  he is an NFL QB, not a superstar, but i thought he did a lot with very little and seemed to play hard.  i agree with SRJK's comment about no need to stretch, but wait and see. 

is wild with the economics, hundreds of millions of dollars on a single player who might not pan out, might get hurt, etc, and your salary cap is crushed for years, similar to the tigers with miggy.

 

Hotel Putingrad

March 28th, 2022 at 4:13 PM ^

I'm not convinced Goff isn't the long term answer. He looked fine after they took play calling away from Lynn, and he really hasn't had a ton of help other than St Brown. Both Swift and Hock missed a lot of snaps last year. And we all know the defense wasn't an asset.

Of course, this being the Lions, I can also see them taking Willis at #2. Would at least give Hard Knocks a juicy storyline.

Rickett88

March 28th, 2022 at 12:41 PM ^

The good news is we won't have to wonder why the Lions are so dysfunctional and a below average team this year. 

The bad news is... well, see "good news" above.

CaliforniaNobody

March 28th, 2022 at 12:43 PM ^

As a Colts fan, it sucks having your team on it lol. Still think it was enough of a distraction to have conceivably affected us down the stretch, and as the last team out of the playoffs that hurt extra bad. 

 

That said I love Campbell and getting more of him will be fun. And if they take Hutch that'd be an added bonus. 

CRISPed in the DIAG

March 28th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^

I'll watch. There have been too many repeat or uninteresting teams over the years (Cowboys, Bengals). I don't expect the Lions to sniff the playoffs this year, so why not? I'm sure Matt Campbell will give them plenty of sound bytes.

Sione For Prez

March 28th, 2022 at 1:25 PM ^

Oh hell yeah. The Lions aren't going to be looked at as contenders this year so no reason to worry about "distractions". 

Jamaal Williams is hilarious and should become a household name if any of the Lions produced content from preseason last year is any indication. Dan Campbell will be Dan Campbell. The number of former NFL players on the staff will likely lead to some interesting moments. Plus other storylines like whether or not Okudah can come back from his injury, what the Lions do in the draft with some high end picks etc.

 

Don

March 28th, 2022 at 1:58 PM ^

The Detroit Lions have gone without appearing in the league's ultimate championship game for a longer span of time than any other franchise.

So the Detroit Lions ownership—the Ford family, IOW—decided that it was a good marketing strategy to let the entire world see the inner workings of the franchise that's been in their incompetent hands since November 22, 1963.

Brilliant.

mackbru

March 28th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^

Mayfield may be one rung better than Goff, but you don't mortgage your future for an exciting but second-tier QB with a high pricetag and an inflated opinion of himself. If you could get him at a discount, or on a 1-year deal, maybe that's another story.

kjhager444

March 28th, 2022 at 2:45 PM ^

As mentioned down below, Jamaal Williams will likely steal the show from a non Dan Campbell perspective.  Hockenson, Ragnow, Sewell, St. Brown, and then some of the UDFA's from last year should be entertaining as well. 

For the first time in a while, people are laughing at the lions a bit less and generally interested in seeing what Campbell can do.  Obviously guarded due to *gestures at last 65 years* but it's a weird feeling to not be only the laughingstock and having other team's fans actively root for you to improve/do well.

turtleboy

March 28th, 2022 at 10:49 PM ^

The Lions have been rebuilding for decades. Some times they draft well, but it doesn't matter how well you draft if you can't keep anybody. It's a miracle if any of our top 3 picks make a 4th season in Detroit.