Foote Released; Wants To Be a Lion?

[RipCity32]

Larry Foote wants to play for his hometown Lions.

“Ain’t no doubt about that,” Foote said from his home in Michigan today, after he learned that the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers plan to release him. “I would love to come home. My family is here. I just bought a house here. It would be great. And just to answer critics: I’m not a veteran trying to come home and cash out on my hometown team. I’m a baller first. I wouldn’t sacrifice that for nothing.”

Before Lions fans get too excited, though, please understand: this is hypothetical.

“I would love to come home, but whoever wants me, that’s who I’m going to start with first,” Foote said.

Foote said this afternoon that he had been asking the Steelers for his release and was under the impression this morning that he had gotten his wish. But he talked to Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert in the afternoon, and he told him Foote had, in fact, not been released ... yet.

"He said they're trying to trade me," Foote said.

It is likely that if the Steelers don't find a trade partner, they will release Foote.

Foote, who played at Detroit Pershing and Michigan, started every game for the Steelers in the last five years and helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls. He turns 29 in June, and he was only let go for financial reasons and because the Steelers have a talented replacement, Lawrence Timmons, on the roster.

“I’m actually happy,” Foote said. “I’d be a little more happy if they did it in February, but it all worked out. The last couple of years, they got me locked into a certain role where, quite frankly, I couldn’t grow from it anymore. As a football player, I was tired of that situation. I’m a three-down linebacker, and they tried to turn me into a two-down linebacker, take me off the field in passing situations. I don’t want to be sitting back in a role, knowing I could do more.

“It gives me a fresh start, a new opportunity to show myself. There is a lot of football left inside of me. Quite frankly, I don’t know if people have seen the best of me because I’ve been locked up the last couple of years.”

Because of his age and talent level, Foote would seem to be attractive to the Lions, who desperately need linebacker help. But the Lions play a 4-3 defense, and the Steelers play a 3-4, so the Lions would have to decide whether Foote would fit their scheme. He said today he envisions himself as a middle linebacker “but I can play outside” if necessary.

As for the Lions …

“I don’t necessarily say that’s my first choice, but if it’s a tie with other teams, the Lions are definitely going to win,” he said. “But I’m getting a lot of calls from other teams as we speak now.”

Foote added that, ideally, he would like to sign with somebody “as soon as possible. A lot of teams are doing minicamps this week. I would want to get in there and learn the playbook.”

freep.com


All I gotta say is get it done.

 

[Lake Louise]

That would be sweet if they did get it done. That would be the advantage of having amazing players from Michigan or schools from Michigan, for they always have Detroit on the mind. No matter how good or bad they are. It`s the home atmosphere.

 

[RipCity32]

Peterson and Foote <3 Michigan boys coming back.

And add Sims and you have a hell of a LB core.

 

[JoshHoward5]

If he does get released, and the Lions don't get him, they might as well never play again. If they can't get people that want to go to Detroit, then they'll never succeed.

 

[RipCity32]

Pretty much, but not only that, one of our biggest needs on defense in an ILB.

Hmm, an ILB who wants to play in Detroit. Should be a no brainer.

 

[Lake Louise]

It sounds like a perfect fit, but if it doesn`t happen than what the heck.

 

[.GR]

I liked Foote, but I wanna see Timmons play. Wish him luck.