3 Ways Lions Organization Can Be More Appealing to Free Agents
It is no secret the Lions are not a preferred destination for many established and talented NFL veterans.
All-Pro defensive back Richard Sherman and ex-NFL wide receiver Reggie Wayne both have made public comments about why they chose not to join the Ford family-run organization.
Sherman told The Athletic, "That’s not the kind of football I want to play. The way you run their scheme, your culture. You want to do it the Patriots’ way, and that’s really not the way I do football."
He added, "Hey, I can get this $20 million guaranteed and be in Detroit and lose football games. Or I can go to a place where I’m very comfortable with the scheme, coach and culture. And I’m very comfortable with the things they do, and I really believe we can win."
Wayne recently appeared on "The Helliepod", and expressed frustration that Detroit wanted him to work out prior to deciding on offering him a contract back in 2014.
“I said, ‘Work out? You the Detroit Lions. Wait. Work out? I’m good.’ Like, I can give you -- I got 14 years of working out that you can see,” Wayne said. “So, I was like, ‘Nah, I’m cool.’”
Here are three ways in which the Lions can change free agents' perception of the organization moving forward:
1.) Let personalities shine
Sometimes perception is reality in the eyes of free agents that are exploring which organization to join.
At the moment, there is a strong perception across the league that Detroit is stifling personalities and wants the locker room to fall in line with little dissent or hints of a "me-first" attitude.
Detroit must embrace strong personalities and not be so quick to move on from talented players who happen to express themselves in unique ways online or in the public eye.
2.) Player-friendly workout schedules and routines
NFL bodies are not built to run all day and night.
Sherman hinted that he discovered the Lions conditioned even after practices, and some players felt like they were run into the ground.
“I have fun. I like music at practice. I like to hang out and be relaxed in meetings. I don’t like the stressful environment in football. (The Lions) condition every day after practice. My body isn’t built to run all day and night. I’ll be prepared, but I don’t have to be run into the ground," Sherman said.
3.) Win
Bottom line, winning will attract more players to the organization.
Historically, Detroit has been known as the destination where careers flounder and eventually end with a whimper.
Winning much more consistently will make Detroit the place where free agents desire to come, instead of routinely passing on and choosing other organizations to join.
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