NFL Rumors: Detroit Lions not a great fit for Brandon Flowers?
By Hayden Kane
If you were going to start putting together a list of units that were as successful as the Detroit Lions’ secondary in the last couple years, you might mention the Colorado Rockies’ pitching staff, the Philadelphia 76ers’ front office, or the New York Jets’ aerial offense.
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Successful is not the word you would use to describe the Lions’ secondary. Effective in stopping the passing attacks of opposing teams might actually be the opposite of what they managed over the course of the 2013 season. So with that in mind, one might assume that a Pro Bowl cornerback on the free agent market would call for immediate action.
That is not necessarily the case, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Rothstein notes that the Lions’ anticipated defensive scheme in 2014 might not suit Flowers in a manner similar to the way he did not fit with his now-former team, the Kansas City Chiefs.
From Rothstein:
"All indications – including from Slay himself – is that Detroit is going to be heavily aggressive this season and will likely use a lot of press coverage in man situations on the outside. This doesn’t mean Flowers wouldn’t be able to adapt to it, but signing him would be a risk in this scenario because of the money they would have to likely pay the former second-round pick."
These considerations have to weighed with extra care in Detroit’s case because of their complete and utter lack of payroll flexibility at the present moment.
The Lions’ secondary unquestionably needs help, but it likely won’t come in the form of Flowers.