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One thing you can count on with the Detroit Lions is that they are never, ever boring. Follow the latest news including injuries, roster moves and more here daily from Oakland Press beat writer Paula Pasche. Plus you'll find regular commentary about the team.

4/15/2014

Detroit Lions seek closers in free agency, the NFL drat


Closers. The Lions have been looking for guys who can finish out a game during free agency. That will be another focus during the draft.

It’s not a shock considering in 2013 they let so many wins slip away.

Sheldon White, the Lions vice president of pro personnel, explained that when the Lions play, he and team president Tom Lewand make their way to the sidelines late in games. It gives them a good perspective.

“We’re going to be there right with Jim (Caldwell) when we finish up each game. We’ll see the positives and negatives. With that we also saw six games out of seven where we did not finish,’’ White said Monday night at a town hall for season ticket holders.

“We’re going to be looking for closers this year, we look for them in free agency guys who have been there, guys like our coaching staff that have been there. Guys who will not quit ... that’s what we’re looking for and that’s what we’ve done so far. We still have a lot of work to do,’’ he added.

They have signed two free agents who own Super Bowl rings — wide receiver Golden Tate and safety James Ihedigbo. Caldwell, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi have won Super Bowls. 

You win a Super Bowl, you know what it takes to finish.

Through free agency, the Lions have put themselves in a position where there is not one huge screaming need when it comes to the draft.

Obviously that’s a good thing.

“It’s not just simply a talent factor, obviously that makes a huge difference, but it’s also a character factor, it’s also a commitment factor, it’s also being able to gel with your teammates and create chemistry you need,’’ Caldwell said.

Naturally White would not share the players the Lions are most interested in with their eight picks, starting at No. 10 overall.

But he narrowed it down this way.

He wants players with “high integrity, high motor and a guy who finishes well.’’

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)

1 Comments:

Blogger Jack Jarvis said...

Hopefully our coaches can do that. Poor clock management and play calling in the fourth quarter cost us three games for sure.

3:24 PM 

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