After the Tennessee Titans decided they wouldn’t be re-signing Stephen Tulloch, the Detroit Lions emerged as the popular team to acquire the talented linebacker.
It made sense given current Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was the defensive coordinator with the Titans while Tulloch was there. It also made sense because Tulloch was pretty successful under Schwartz’s schemes in Tennessee.
So when the Lions signed Tulloch to a one-year, $3.25 million contract no one was really that surprised.
The return has been great for Detroit as well.
Thus far, Tulloch leads the team with 97 tackles, has five passes deflected, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. More so though, Tulloch has helped provide stability to a linebacking corps that was very thin last season.
Right now, it’s unclear what Tulloch’s plans are for 2012 and whether or not he thinks the Lions will be part of those plans…
“Man, I’ve never been a fan of the business part of football,” Tulloch revealed, per the Detroit News. “I just love the game and play the game with my heart. I let my agent take care of everything and just play ball. That’s all I care about.”
Not only do the Lions have to concern themselves with Tulloch in the offseason (since he is sure to get a hefty pay increase next season), the Lions also have to get defensive end Cliff Avril under contract long-term. The young lineman who is having a career year is set to become a free agent at the end of the season and like Tulloch should get a nice pay raise next year.
If the Lions were to lose Tulloch in the offseason, it would create a hole that would need to be patched up. However the Lions wouldn’t be in the same position they were before Tulloch. DeAndre Levy has proved to be a capable linebacker in the league and Justin Durant has shown to be another nice signing for the Lions as well.
Ref: Detroit News, ESPN, DetNews.com (image)
