One of the leaders in that Detroit Lions locker room is out
27:18 Share

It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

Life is full of personal wins. Whether it's cleaning your house, getting that dream car, or checking off your to-do list, winning at life is a great feeling. And with the State Farm Personal Price Plan, you can keep winning when you create an affordable price just for you by bundling home and auto. So give yourself a round of applause. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state, coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts and savings, and eligibility vary by state.

Hey, Locked On listeners. This is Joe Marino from Locked On Bills. As we progress through the season, every fan knows that big wins are hard to come by and tough losses are even harder to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept?

Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen Report, learn more at discover.com slash credit card. A fan favorite and a locker room favorite likely gone. You are locked on Lions. Your daily Detroit Lions podcast.

Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey-o, we're wrapping up the month of February right here on Locked On Lions. Locked On Podcast Network on a Friday, February 28th into Saturday, March 1st. Matt Derry with you. Thank you for making us your first listen and checking us out wherever you get your podcasts. It is a Friday edition of Locked On Lions.

We'll talk combine. We will talk Jalen Reeves-Maben. We will talk needs for the Lions, even though general manager Brad Holmes has said it. They are not a needs-based team when it comes to drafting. But saw something on a graphic today on NFL Network, and I wanted to bring that up.

coming up momentarily and Matthew Stafford in the news as well, as it appears he is going to stay with the Rams locked on lions today, brought to you by our friends at FanDuel right now, new FanDuel customers can get $150 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins. Thank you to our everydayers that are out there that watch and listen to the podcast daily. Appreciate all of you. If you want to be a call of the day, we'll do that on Monday, Tuesday,

please send a voicemail to speakpipe.com slash dairy podcast page. And you too can be our call of the day. If you have something on your mind in, in regards to the lions, keep it maybe under a minute, don't swear. And we might play it on the show. I don't know why I'm leading with this, but I decided to, the news came out yesterday and broke from numerous,

reporters that Jalen Reeves-Maben, who is due a $500,000 roster bonus tomorrow, is going to be released by the Lions in the next 24 to 48 hours. Jalen Reeves-Maben is kind of

An unsung hero, a Dan Campbell type, a prototypical Detroit Lion for the last handful of years. He was drafted by the team back in 2017. He's a 30-year-old linebacker that is mostly a backup, great special teams player, and a captain. He's been the Lions special teams captain, I believe, the last two years. But Germ, as he is known by his teammates and Dan Campbell, is a

is likely going to be, or it's not likely, is going to be released by the team. It'll save them about $2 million in cap space. And again, they would not have to pay him his $500,000 roster bonus if they release him today, tomorrow, because that is due on March 1st. Let me just say this about this man. He went through a lot of crap with this organization, especially during the Quinn Trisha era.

He's never been a star. He's never been a starter, really, at linebacker. He's basically been a special teamer.

but Jalen Reeves may have been, has been a valuable member of this team. Now you wonder, let's say the lions cut them. Do they maybe find a way to bring him back at a lesser salary? If there's an injury in training camp to one of the linebackers, when they try to trade for him again and send some future considerations or future draft picks to get them. It always seems like Jalen Reeves may have been somehow always lands back with the lions. Remember he was with the team.

in 2017 and for a few years, then ended up going down to Houston. Then he came back. This is a guy that just bleeds Honolulu blue and silver. And while he is not a star by any stretch of the imagination, this is one of those veteran players that waded through the crap, swam through the abyss. And when the Lions finally won the division last two seasons ago,

It was Dan Campbell in the locker room calling up players like Frank Ragnow, Taylor Decker, um, Kalief Raymond guys that have been with the team a long time. And he called up Jalen Reeves, Maven to, to be a part of that group. Um, Will Harris was a part of that group two years ago when they won the division, because these are the types of players that have been unselfish that have gone through the ringer that have been on bad teams for always great leaders, uh,

And always guys that did whatever they asked him them to do. Reeves. Maybe did not have a great season this year as a linebacker to two years ago, he played a lot, especially on third downs and did a really nice job this year. I know he was injured for part of the season and everything else, but just,

As good a special teamer as there is, has made Pro Bowls before as special teamers as a Lion, and is going to be missed if he is not back. Now, again, the Lions have some roster decisions to make. They are currently, I think, 10th in cap space. I think they got about $51 million to spend, so I think they're in pretty decent shape. But there are going to be some decisions to make on some veteran players in order to free up money to re-sign their own guys, um,

other free agents unrestricted free agents from other teams and to move some money around you know Graham Glasgow could be a a guy that could be a cap casualty DJ Reader could be a cap casualty there are other options on this roster Jalen Reeves may have been though as it came out yesterday just a great dude man awesome leader and you can't say enough about those types of players that

that were unselfish, Brad Holmes, Dan Campbell type of guys that fit in that locker room and led and led. The Lions have had some very, very young players come through the system and need to learn from the vets. And he was one of those veteran players, Jalen Reeves-Maben was, that did an outstanding job. So shout out to him. He will be missed.

I have some weird feeling that he'll be back. It almost will be like an Andre Flewellen situation. Somehow, some way, Jalen Reeves-Maben always finds a way to come back to the team, and you never know. You never know. Lions don't burn bridges. Lions treat their players very, very well, as we saw from the NFLPA polling and surveying this week.

As the Lions crack the top 10 in terms of overall team grade. Anybody, by the way, see the Arizona Cardinals grades? Oh, my gosh. In that NFL PA team poll, like, they were last in almost every category. Like, facilities, last. Food, last. It was bad. Their coach, Jonathan Gannon, got high marks. But, like, the rest of their grades were all ownership, last. Michael Bidwell, like, wow. They just got absolutely torched.

Um, in that, uh, in that survey. So shout out to Jalen Reeves, Mabin, hope he finds a home. You got a figure Aaron Glenn and the jets will be calling him. You know, Aaron Glenn is doing everything in New York with the, uh, the, the, the gang green up there, the jets to attempt to change the culture. That's the type of player you bring in.

A veteran, great leader, special teamer will play wherever you ask him to play on the field. That could be a spot certainly for J.R.M., Jalen Reeves-Maben. But it appears his days are going to be numbered here and done with your Detroit Lions. By the way, combine tomorrow. If you want to watch some of the quarterbacks throw, unfortunately, Cam Ward will not be throwing. Shadur Sanders will not be throwing.

Uh, they're going to show all of that tomorrow on ABC and ESPN. We're going to talk a little combine. There were some names I wrote down and I was talking to some folks in Indy today. Um, three names stood out as guys that look like Detroit lions on defense, uh,

that were a part of the combine, I guess, studs today and yesterday that we will get into coming up next right here on Locked on Lions. Again, thanks for making us your first listen, everybody, and checking us out wherever you get your podcasts. If you've not subscribed to our Locked on Lions YouTube channel, please do check us out on the YouTube side daily as well here on Locked on Lions as well. Am I doing my FanDuel read first? Yes, I am.

All right, coming up next, let's get into something that I saw on television today. Brad Holmes was being interviewed by Mike Garofalo on the NFL Network, and they listed on the bottom of the screen Lions draft team needs. And I want to read off these team needs and see if you agree with me on my reaction to seeing the needs. They put five positions down for Detroit. We'll get into that coming up next. Also, Matthew Stafford going back to the Rams.

Could the Giants be after Aaron Rodgers? Could you imagine that scene? Oh, my gosh. It was bad with the Jets. Does anybody think it would get any better with the Giants? We'll get into that coming up next as well right here on Locked on Lions.

And the program today brought to you by FanDuel. When the game tips off, the NBA action is just getting started, and there's no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, America's number one sportsbook. Pistons are going for nine straight wins tonight. Nine straight. They're playing the Nuggets.

Jokic is in town. Denver played last night. You want to put some shekels down on the Pistons, you can at FanDuel. Because with FanDuel, you can place live bets throughout the game. So even if you miss the opening tip-off or you want to bet on a fourth-quarter comeback, you can stay in on the action. If you're looking for a bigger payout, you can even combine your live bets into a same-game parlay. You love using FanDuel's live betting feature, right? Because it keeps every moment of the game exciting.

late game rally. You want to bet on the fourth quarter. You can do that player props late in the game. You can do that as well on FanDuel. Plus the app is easy to use. And when you win, you get paid instantly right now. New FanDuel customers can get $150 in bonus bets. If your first $5 bet wins, just visit FanDuel.com to join today. That's FanDuel.com for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make sure you subscribe to our channel.

Make every moment more with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. You just realized your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy. Use Indeed. With Indeed-sponsored jobs, there are no monthly subscriptions, no long-term contracts, and you only pay for results. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed.

Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash LockedOnNFL. Just go to Indeed.com slash LockedOnNFL right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash LockedOnNFL. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

Who's watching some of the combine today and some of the wide receivers that were running the 40 yard dash. Rich Eisen obviously does the play by play of the combine. If this guy makes one more Starbucks joke about Ian Rappaport and Jordan Schultz, I swear to God, I'm going to mute the TV.

Like, I don't get the whole Rich Eisen fascination. I don't know if he's popular or not. I've given up on trying to figure out who people like in the media and who people don't. But my gosh, I'm watching and everything's a Starbucks joke. Okay, we get it. It's an old bit from two nights ago. Great. Ian Rappaport and Jordan Schultz got into a fight at Starbucks. Ha ha ha. Oh my gosh, Rich, make it stop. I'll tell you what else, make it stop.

I read a column today by Carlos Menarez in the Free Press. This might be the single worst article I've ever read in my life. Oh, my God. Holy hell. All right. Lions draft needs. Brad Holmes said it the other day. I'm not going to be a needs-based drafter. We are not drafting a need. We take best available player. And Holmes proved that years ago when everybody said the Lions need defense and they drafted Jameer Gibbs 12. And look how good he turned out to be.

So yesterday, was it yesterday or today, I was watching the NFL Network, and Brad was being interviewed by Mike Garofalo, one of the reporters at the network. And at the bottom of the screen, you know, the graphic says Brad Holmes GM, and at the bottom of the screen it says Lions Draft Team Needs. What are their needs going into this draft? Every team has needs. We know that. Some teams have a lot more needs than others. But they listed five needs for Detroit in this order.

Edge, cornerback, wide receiver, guard, defensive tackle. Again, edge, corner, receiver, guard, D-tackle. First of all, when they put edge up there, you have a hard time disagreeing with that. I mentioned cap casualties before. I believe it's Darius Smith. If the Lions were to let him walk, they would save about $6 or $7 million under the cap.

If that could be another cap casualty for this team, he has a roster bonus due soon as well. If Z'Darrius Smith were to leave, if Levi Onzerike were to leave in free agency, and he's not necessarily an edge, he's kind of a tweener, D-tackle, and a defensive end. But yes, the Lions could always use another pass rusher. Who couldn't? What team doesn't have edge as a need? You got to get to the passer. So edge rusher for the Lions as a need, number one, with a bullet, absolutely.

Marcus Davenport was hurt. John Kaminsky was hurt. Josh Paschal was meh this year. Got to get another edge rusher. I agree with that need. The second one they mentioned was cornerback.

With all the injuries that the Lions had at the end of last season, Khalil Dorsey got hurt. Carl Davis got hurt. Yes. Again, another position where you can't go wrong in drafting a corner, signing a corner and adding to that room. Remember last year after the draft of free agency, we went, oh my gosh, the Lions have a ton of cornerbacks. They traded for Carl Davis. They signed to Meek Robertson. They drafted two corners, Terry on Arnold and Robinson.

um, uh, rake straw and it's rake straw and they brought Kendall Vildor back. Also, there were times this season, Brian branch moved up and played corner. Um, I mentioned Dorsey before and others, but the lions trotted out at cornerback this year. So corner as a need as a number two need you're talking edge, then corner. I would almost say defensive tackle. That was fifth on the list. They put wide receiver third, um,

If Tim Patrick is not back, I almost said Tim Bryson. That was an inside bit for all you Sandler fans out there. Tim, if Tim Patrick's not back, this team is going to need another veteran receiver, right? We know how good Amon Ross St. Brown is, how good JMO is. Kalief Raymond is just a solid fourth guy that,

uh can stretch the field play in the slot but yes wide receiver would be a need if the team elects not to bring back tim patrick or another team offers more money than the lions um so yes i would put wide receiver as a need guard is number four was interesting because right now the lions have their starting guards in kevin zeitler and graham glasgow now zeitler is a free agent

Hopefully the Lions bring him back. Glasgow did not have a good year this past year. If Zeitler leaves and they still like Glasgow left guard and they hope he plays better, you can move Christian Mahogany, last year's sixth round pick, to right guard. But yeah, team could always use depth along the offensive line. And as I said before, defensive tackle came in at number five on this list. These are all pretty accurate.

These are all pretty accurate. You know, there's no need to quarterback. There's no need to running back. There's no need to tight end. Certainly not a linebacker safety. I think these are pretty accurate assessments by the NFL network on where Detroit has their needs. I'd almost put edge and D tackle first before cornerback. But again, if Carlton Davis leaves in free agency and the lions don't, I think the lions are going to add a veteran corner regardless of

of whether Davis stays or not. But I thought those were pretty accurate assessments for the needs for Detroit. Again, that was just shown

While Brad Holmes is being interviewed on the NFL network. All right. Big news today. The Rams met with Matthew Stafford, the former lions quarterback and the 37 year old signal caller will in fact return to LA. They are restructuring his contract. It sounds like a two-year extension. Sounds like he's going to get what he wants, which is around $50 million a year. And Matthew Stafford, I never thought he would leave.

I know there was some talk about the Raiders and Tom Brady wooing him and the Raiders were ready to give him a longer extension. There was talk about the Giants trading the third pick to get Stafford. But at the end of the day, Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay kind of belong together in L.A. And my guess, too, is that Kelly Stafford didn't want to move either. But this was a smart move by the Rams. The Rams were right in that playoff game in the divisional round against Philly, right in it, leading in the second half.

They got a very good young defense. They got a lot of good skill position players. They're building their offensive line back up again.

And Matthew Stafford would be in a much better position with the Rams than being, you know, going to the Browns or the Giants or the Raiders. So this was the right move by the Rams to acquire or reacquire and keep, I should say, Matthew Stafford. The Stafford dominoes now fallen, which means now you've got other teams having to jockey for position for these other teams.

garbage or serviceable veteran quarterbacks on the market. I'm sorry. Kirk Cousins, awesome at Michigan State. Great career with the Vikings. His arm is shot. If anybody watched him play for the Falcons last year. And look, he's still on the Falcons. The Falcons have kind of come out and said they're the GM Terry Fontenot. He's our backup quarterback right now. They're trying to move him. I'm not sure anybody wants him.

Russell Wilson is out there. Justin Fields is out there. Oh, the Hall of Fields. Oh, I missed the Hall of Fields bit. That's right up there with the kicker list bit. Still got the kicker list. I have not burned it yet. I haven't decided what I'm doing. Aaron Rodgers is out there. A lot of rumors. I saw Adam Schefter say today the Giants have been engaged with Aaron Rodgers. Oh, God. I mean, Aaron Rodgers and the Giants. I just...

But these teams need quarterbacks. That's why when you guys come up to me at the, at the, at Meyer or wherever I'm at and you're like, Oh, Jared golf sucks. And I'm like, guys, no, he doesn't. You know, me teams would take Jared golf right now. You know, me bad teams are out there searching for a quarterback. The saints have come out and said, we're keeping Derek car for another year. Oh my gosh. Imagine being a saints fan and going, wait, we're what? Now again, they could draft one. Okay. But my goodness, man,

I'll be interested in seeing if a Cleveland or a Giants or a Raiders, somebody moves up to number one to try to get cam ward. Now that it sounds like Abdul Carter's banged up and the Penn state edge rusher who many felt was the best player in this draft. Um,

Might not be available to start the year because he's got a foot injury. We'll see. All right. Speaking of the combine, got some names for you. The Lions have talked to, got some names for you out of Indy as well that are kind of tearing it up at the combine and could be fits for your Honolulu Blue and Silver Gladiators. We will do that coming up next right here on Locked on Lions.

Don't forget, folks, you can get all of your local teams, Detroit sports teams, on the different podcasts and on the different shows right here on the Locked On Podcast Network.

Scotty Bentley hosts Locked On Tigers. Does a great job. Brian Fisher, Locked On Red Wings. Our guy Ku is having a blast. Do Locked On Pistons. Don't forget to check them out wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out Locked On NFL Draft. Those guys do a great job. All across our network here on the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Today's show is sponsored by Indeed. If you've ever been a hiring manager, you know just how challenging it can be to find the right candidates and to do it fast. But with Indeed's sponsored jobs, there are no monthly subscriptions, no long-term contracts, and you only pay for results. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed.

Listeners of this show will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash LockedOnSports. Just go to Indeed.com slash LockedOnSports right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash LockedOnSports. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring Indeed is all you need.

Daredevil is born again on Disney+. Why did you stop being a vigilante? The line was crossed. Sometimes peace needs to be broken. And chaos must reign. On March 4th, the nine-episode event begins. I was raised to believe in grace. I was also raised to believe in retribution. Reign!

Marvel television's daredevil born again. Don't miss the two episode premiere March 4th, only on Disney plus. All right. Uh, our buddy, John Macaroon at lions, uh, SI or si.com slash NFL slash lions. All lions, uh, did talk to a few of the receivers today. Um, and, and a quarterback, by the way, who did speak with the lions, um, uh,

about, um, or did they, these players did have a formal interview with the Detroit lions at the combine in Indianapolis. All right. So the, uh, the tracker is alive and well, um, couple of names that are interesting. Stanford wide receiver, Elick a manner, um, is a guy that knows David Shaw very well. Of course, the lions new past game coordinator, Pat Bryant, the wide out from Illinois, um, brew McCoy, Tennessee wide receiver, um,

He also had a formal interview with the Lions that he'd love to come to Detroit and feels like he is the fit. He is a fit for Dan Campbell and Detroit. Memphis quarterback Seth Hennigan had an informal chat with the Lions, but this was the one I was surprised about.

A formal interview with Detroit, none other than Alabama quarterback Jalen Milrow. Now, again, all of these teams talk to most of these players, all right? Or most of these teams talk to all these players, whatever. You know what I mean? The Lions are doing their due diligence. But I said this before, Jalen Milrow, if I see one more mock draft with Jalen Milrow going in the first round, I swear to God, I'll be stunned.

he what what is the one thing that most quarterbacks really need to do well that would be throw a forward pass jaylen milrow does not do that everybody at the senior bowl said it was one of the worst performances by a quarterback they've ever seen that he was overshooting undershooting and could not get it done but yes today the detroit lions did have a formal interview

with Jalen Milrow. What that means, I have no idea. Maybe the Lions envision him playing a different position. I don't even know. There's people I've seen mock drafts of Pittsburgh, like an 18 taking Jalen Milrow to be their future. I just don't see it. We all watched him in the bowl game against Michigan against Michigan. And I know it was raining for a part of that game, but man, he struggles just throwing the ball. This is the NFL we're talking about here. This is not, you know, not high school. All right. Um,

Combine studs. I saw a guy, I watched a guy work out yesterday and I went, sign me up for Detroit right now. And I don't know if any of you guys saw this as well. His name is CJ West, defensive tackle from Indiana, who spent the first three years of his college career at Kent State. I watched this dude work out yesterday. I couldn't believe it. Number one, he is only the ninth defensive tackle in NFL Combine history to run a 40-yard dash in under five seconds.

I think they clocked him at like four, nine. He's 300 pounds. He was running a below five 40 yard dash as a defensive tackle. Uh, the, the, the, the drills with the, um, with the pads where you, where you smash through the pads running through the cones. This guy was a stud CJ West and Indiana's defense this past year was excellent. Obviously, uh,

The Sig 10 coach, Sig Nettie, Kurt Sig Nettie, went out and got a bunch of transfers, many of them from his old school, James Madison. But he got this kid out of Kent State. And C.J. West was really, really impressive just in watching the drills that he took part in at the Combine yesterday. Keep an eye on him. Could be a day two or day three guy. But, man, was he impressive at the Combine. You want to talk about speed for an edge rusher.

Another player that was very, very good in Indy and everybody's buzzing about is James Pierce Jr., the defensive end from Tennessee. Had 10 sacks this past year, which led the SEC, and ran the 40-yard dash in 4-5. 4-5-40 for an edge rusher. Wowzers. Everybody's saying he is making the jump up in this draft. That's James Pierce Jr.,

Again, lots. I mean, this draft is chock full of edge rushers and defensive tackles. So there's going to be plenty to choose from if you are Bradley Holmes. The last one, and again, I've seen interviews with this guy. This guy sounds like a lion. All right. I heard him on the NFL, Sirius XM NFL show. I saw an interview he did with Pro Football Talk. Nick Skorton from Texas A&M. 6'3", 257, a little bit undersized.

Out of A&M. His teammates, Jamar Stewart, everybody's talking about as a first round pick. But this Nick Skorton kid is just salt of the earth. Good edge rusher, good speed, a little bit undersized. But guess what? He could be a guy that when Brad Holmes and Brad Holmes has talked about this, how Dan Campbell knows talent, too, and the two of them work so well together. This may be a scenario where it's like we think we can get the most out of this player.

And while he might not be as good as his teammate was in Stewart on the other edge, this guy is such a culture fit and such a winner and such a great kid that we've got to have him in our locker room. That's Nick NIC, Nick Skorton. Keep an eye on him. Like I said, I was watching a few interviews with him and he is just impressive. And again, it's not all about interviews. I mean, great talkers sometimes can't play the game, but you see where I'm coming from here.

Could be a fit, certainly, especially on the culture side for the Lions. All right, that'll do it for this Friday edition of Locked on Lions. We'll have more on Monday on the weekend combine stuff and everything else. Thank you, everybody, for checking us out wherever you get your podcasts. Have a great weekend. Stay positive. Talk to you Monday. The road is calling. Embrace the thrill of the drive with the all-new fully electric Audi Q6 e-tron featuring effortless power.

and advanced Audi tech. The next chapter of Audi starts now. Are your alterative colitis symptoms proving difficult to manage?

Tramvaya, Gacelcomab, can help you manage the cycle of UC symptoms. At one year, many patients taking Tramvaya achieved clinical remission, and some patients also achieved endoscopic remission. Individual results may vary. Tramvaya is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur.

Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and TB. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms, or if you need a vaccine. Ask your doctor if Tramfiya can help you manage the cycle of UC symptoms. Call 1-800-526-7736 to learn more or visit tramfiyradio.com.

There are some things in life that just shouldn't be forgotten, like bringing your keys when you leave the house, setting your fantasy lineup, and most importantly, having Hidden Valley Ranch to watch the game. Especially if wings are on the menu. Those creamy, zesty Cool Ranch flavors take each spicy, savory bite to an unforgettable level. Hidden Valley Ranch. Only serious about flavor.