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Lions Bring Back Pinner

By Mick Miller | May 1st, 2008

Detroit is busy restocking the runningback stable by adding former Lion Artose Pinner, whom they drafted in the fourth round in 2003. In the spirit of competition, the club is creating a more versatile unit that will obviously include special teams.

Pinner is an example of the former Detroit players who come back to haunt us. As a member of the Vikings, in a December 10, 2006 game at Ford Field, Pinner stuck it to his former team with 29 carries, 125 yards, and three touchdowns in a 30-20 Minnesota win. Much like Joey Harrington coming back with the Dolphins and ripping the Lions, Pinner was unstoppable in the game and bringing him back will be an underrated move but in my opinion, a smart one. I know many will view this as revisiting another Millen draft mistake, or team error in cutting the man, but he’s back and I think he’ll be motivated to help.

It is obvious that Tatum Bell is the immediate present and rookie Kevin Smith is the future at the position. I am hoping that the result will be the cutting of Brian Calhoun, who has been injured since his arrival from Wisconsin in 2006 (3rd round) as he never panned out as a runner or slot receiver (an ill-advised idea from the start). Aveion Cason, who is serviceable and fast, but ineffective unless the planets are properly aligned, may be the kick returner this season while fullback Jon Bradley, a novelty at 300+ pounds should also be handed his walking papers as Pinner has played the position and rookie Jerome Felton is an accomplished playmaker drafted in the fifth round (146th) that will certainly contribute if utilized.

You have to like the club sticking to its policy of everyone competing for their playing time.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at 4:29 pm and is filed under Detroit Lions, Football, NFL, NFL Draft, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses to “Lions Bring Back Pinner”

5Bakerstreet says:

May 2nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm

When Artose was previously cut by the Lions his main competition for that spot on the roster was Shawn Bryson. Bryson was more a prototype Martz running back because of receiving skills out of the backfield, so Martz opted to keep Bryson and cut Pinner. Today, Martz is gone and Toose is back, almost ironic.

It will be interesting to see whether the doctrine of a rookie having to earn their starting position when the season starts willl apply to Smith. Does Bell start? Does Smith start? Hopefully injury doesn’t make the determination.

Bell, 1 yr. contract. Pinner, 1 yr. contract. Calhoun may be on the last year of his contract[?], Cason gets cut then resigned, time and time again.

Obviously the hopes of the Lions are that Smith becomes the starting feature back, but most teams have a backfield rotation and with the contract terms described above it potentially sets the Lions up to make another decision in 2009 in the area of the backfield, to which the answer may again come from the draft, because if the Lions were really sold on those other backs they’d have more than a 1 year contract, today.

Go Lions
Mick Miller says:

May 4th, 2008 at 9:58 am

I agree 5BSt.

The wild card here in my opinion is the fullback from Furman, Jerome Felton. who scored 64 TDs (I believe) in his college career including 4 in a game. He had a little trouble with fumbles as a senior but many figure its because he fought for yardage. I would like to see a contribution from him in short yardage and goal line in the very least and has the skills to be productive.

I agree with your assumption that there will more than likely be another back added in next years draft.