OK, Detroit Lions. You want to have a great run game? You want a more balanced offense? You want a great playmaker? You want to…
OK, Detroit Lions. You want to have a great run game? You want a more balanced offense? You want a great playmaker?
You want to be the Seattle Seahawks? Here’s your chance.
Go sign Le’Veon Bell.
I don’t care what it costs. Make it happen.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Wednesday they won’t use the franchise or transitional tags on their All-Pro running back. That means the former Michigan State football star, who sat out all of last season over a contract dispute, will be an unrestricted free agent. When NFL free agency opens at 4 p.m. March 13, the Lions should have a deal done by 4:01 p.m.
The Lions have done and said everything to indicate they want to mimic the Seahawks’ offense.
You want a power run game? Go sign Bell.
You want your Beast Mode? Go sign Bell.
You want to control the clock? Go sign Bell.
You want the best hybrid running back-receiver in the NFL? Go sign Bell.
I’m not in love with the Lions’ direction on offense. They’re taking a step back with their more balanced, run-first, ball-control offense while the rest of the NFL is sprinting ahead with exotic schemes, dynamic quarterbacks and high-flying aerial attacks.
More from Monarrez: Lions hiring Darrell Bevell like getting meatloaf for dinner
But if there was any question the Lions are committed to copying the Seahawks’ offensive success, they gave a resounding affirmation when they hired former Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
As Free Press reporter Dave Birkett recently pointed out, it was analyst and Lions legend Chris Spielman — who still has plenty of deep ties to the team — who said “they want to be Seattle with the mindset.… I think that’s the formula that they want. I’m not saying 57 percent (running plays), but I do think that’s kind of what they’re building.”
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The Lions did the right thing by drafting Kerryon Johnson last year.
