Tag: jack fox

The Lions have the cheapest group of specialists in the NFL in 2022

No team will pay less salary cap room to the punter, kicker and long snapper positions than the Lions in 2022

No NFL team will spend less salary cap room in 2022 on their specialists than the Detroit Lions. The core punter, kicker and long snapper payroll in Detroit tally up at just $3.51 million for 2022.

That is the lowest figure in the entire league. The Dallas Cowboys are next at just over $4 million. Seattle has the highest specialist payroll at $10.5 million. The Seahawks have the league’s highest-paid punter in Michael Dickson and fifth-highest-paid kicker in Jason Myers, each of whom earns significantly more than what the Lions will pay their entire current quartet.

The low figure really stands out because the Lions currently employ two kickers. Veteran Austin Seibert will battle second-year Riley Patterson for the kicking gig to join long snapper Scott Daly and punter Jack Fox as the Lions’ specialists.

All four specialists will earn the league minimum for their experience level this year. None will earn more than Seibert’s $965,000.

Fox and Daly are among the better players at their positions from 2021. The kicking shoes of longtime Lion Matt Prater are still struggling to get filled, however.

All salary information is provided by Spotrac. 

Lions P Jack Fox signs his ERFA tender offer

Fox is back in the Lions’ den for 2022 and can now sign an extension to keep him in Detroit long-term

It took a little longer than normal to happen, but Lions punter Jack Fox has officially put his signature on the exclusive rights free agent tender offer from the team. Fox signed the deal on Monday, per the NFL’s transaction wire.

There wasn’t really any other option for Fox, who will earn the league minimum of $895,000 for his experience level in 2022. As an exclusive rights free agent who was tendered by the team, he was either going to sign for the offer or not play anywhere in the upcoming season.

It’s a short-term solution for Fox, who has proven one of the NFL’s better punters in his two seasons in Detroit. Fox, a Pro Bowler in 2020, also has been the Lions’ primary kickoff guy, too. He can now work out a longer-term contract extension with the Lions, who have every intention of keeping the 25-year-old Fox in the den.

Detroit Lions play of the game for Week 16: Special teams trickery earns first down

Detroit Lions play of the game: Special teams trickery earns first down

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In yet another Lions-Falcons matchup that was decided in the last minute of the game, Detroit was unable to come away with a win despite a very strong defensive effort.

On offense, things didn’t always click, but they were able to keep this game within one score. The biggest play of the game for the Lions wasn’t on offense or defense though — it was on special teams.

Here’s how it went down:

The Lions started the drive at their 25-yard line thanks to a touchback by Atlanta’s kicker Younghoe Koo. The very first play of the drive never even happened thanks to a false start by rookie tight end Shane Zylstra.

Now backed up to the 20-yard line, quarterback Tim Boyle handed the ball off to Jamaal Williams who took it and ran for 14 yards before being pushed out of bounds. The next three plays were all Craig Reynolds. The running back gained the first down on the first carry but lost yardage on the second. He then was able to take a screen from Boyle for 14 yards while eluding several Falcons’ defenders to gain another first down.

The next three plays stuck to the run game but were slightly hindered by a false start from rookie right tackle Penei Sewell. The Lions now had a conundrum as they were faced with fourth-and-one. Down four points, they call a timeout to decide on their game plan and send the offense back out. Unfortunately, left guard Jonah Jackson committed the third false start penalty of the drive and moved Detroit back five yards once again.

The Lions called for a personnel change and the punt unit came out. Former Pro-Bowler took the field along with gunners Bobby Price and KhaDarel Hodge. Fox took the snap from Scott Daly but instead of punting the ball, he dropped back quickly for a pass.

Hodge and Price both sold the fake and their defenders were already trying to jam them downfield. The defense gave their initial push before preparing to block for the return that they thought was coming. Fox, standing on Detroit’s 42-yard line, made his first read and quickly passed it to Hodge. The receiver caught it at Atlanta’s 39-yard line and took it 15 more yards while making defenders miss.

This play was big, not just because it was risky to pull off and gained a first down, but it led to Detroit’s first touchdown of the game. That gave the Lions a 10-7 lead over Atlanta in the first half.

No Lions in the Pro Bowl? No problem!

No Detroit Lions garnered Pro Bowl berths for the 2021 season, but our Jeff Risdon believes that shouldn’t bother Lions fans

Not a single Detroit Lions player was selected for the Pro Bowl from the 2021 season. Not one.

Four players were chosen as alternates, but getting in as a third alternate in the way fullback Jason Cabinda could is the football equivalent of winning an F1 race because all the cars ahead of you crash on the final lap.

It’s an affront to Lions players who have performed consistently well despite the lack of team success. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye was tabbed as an “egregious snub” by Touchdown Wire, and that’s spot on. He’s not the only Detroit player overlooked because of some combination of the team’s 2-11-1 record, lack of national prominence, lack of sizzle players and being relegated to having Chris Myers call half their games for FOX.

Has there been a better right tackle than Penei Sewell? Both the eye test and the Pro Football Focus grading say he’s the best RT in the league. But he’s not even a Pro Bowl alternate. Maybe it stems from him playing half the year out of position at left tackle, though Sewell was still pretty good on the left side too.

Three Lions made the Pro Bowl after the 2020 season: Frank Ragnow, Jack Fox and T.J. Hockenson. Ragnow has missed almost all of 2021 with a thumb injury. Hockenson is now on IR after thumb surgery of his own, though he was one of the four Lions named as an alternate. Fox is technically having a better year in 2021 in gross yards per punt and ranks the same (third) leaguewide, so he’s a viable snub too.

There was no game last year, of course. And the players who did earn spots in the annual exhibition would likely prefer to not have the game played in 2022 either; the trip to Las Vegas with the family and colleagues is great, but the watered-down game itself has become a pointless cash grab of declining prestige in search of a paying audience.

Would it be nice if Oruwariye, Sewell, Fox or OLB Charles Harris made an appearance in the Pro Bowl? Of course. Are they deserving? Probably. Does it really matter? Other than for bonus incentives in contracts, heck no!

More knowledgeable and hardcore fans are coming to realize that it’s All-Pro nods that matter, not Pro Bowls. Between fan voting, virulently effective PR campaigns by teams to promote obscure players to get votes, and reflexive reactions based on team records or player reputations that might be woefully outdated (see: Alvin Kamara), there is a growing realization that the Pro Bowl isn’t the honor it used to be.

That’s a good thing. From a Lions perspective, it will be better when the team gets players honored with Pro Bowl nods who don’t really deserve it. Until then, forget about the popularity contest and the worst of the professional sports exhibitions, just as the Pro Bowl has forgotten about the Detroit Lions.

Takeaways from the Lions loss to the Bears on Thanksgiving

Here are some morning-after takeaways on the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Bears. 

The Detroit Lions failed to deliver a win once again in Week 12. Playing at home against a banged-up Chicago Bears team that had lost five in a row, the Lions once again couldn’t seal the deal on a late lead and fell, 16-14, on a last-second field goal by Bears kicker Cairo Santos.

Now that the tryptophan has worn off from the postgame turkey spread, it’s time to dive back into another game where the Lions played well enough to win but also just a bit worse to create the loss. Now 0-10-1 on the season, this game represented Detroit’s best chance all season to notch an entry in the win column.

Here are some morning-after takeaways on the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Bears.

Pro Bowl voting is open but the Lions don’t have many candidates

The Pro Bowl voting is now open and you can vote for Lions players, but it’s hard to find great candidates on the team

The NFL has opened up voting for the 2022 Pro Bowl. Fans can now help select the players who earn spots in the annual exhibition game that purports to honor the league’s top players.

The prestige of the Pro Bowl has largely worn off, and the game itself is often an unwatchable exhibition of players socializing during plays and trying desperately to not do anything strenuous. But it’s still a big deal for players, a status symbol and often a contractual bonus trigger.

There aren’t likely to be many Detroit Lions representing the team in the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas next February. In fact, it’s hard to find more than one strong candidate currently wearing a Lions uniform.

Punter Jack Fox made it last year, and Fox is well on his way to earning a return to the Pro Bowl. Fox currently ranks fourth in gross yards per punt.

There were two other Lions who made it after last season, C Frank Ragnow and TE T.J. Hockenson. Ragnow would be a lock at center this year too, but he’s on injured reserve after toe surgery.

Hockenson is sixth in receiving yards amongst tight ends and tied for second in receptions at TE. His pace has cooled in the last couple of games. If he can produce a 100-yard effort or bolster the touchdown total, Hockenson could be in line for a return.

On the rest of the offense, rookie right tackle Penei Sewell stands the best chance. He’s performed very well at a position where a lot of the regular fixtures are not all having Pro Bowl-worthy seasons. Running back D’Andre Swift is outside the top 20 in rushing yards but his NFL-high receiving production for RBs gives him a chance.

That’s really about it for the viable Pro Bowl candidates for Detroit in 2021. There’s a chance another player or two could surge into consideration with a strong second half of the year, but that seems unlikely.

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Lions vs Vikings: Studs and Duds for Week 5

The Detroit Lions suffered another heartbreaking loss this time to the Minnesota Vikings, but amongst the duds, there were some studs today.

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In a game where most thought the Detroit Lions would have no business being in, they made it a game till the very end. After going up late in the game, the victory was snatched away by another long field goal to seal the 19-17 victory for the Minnesota Vikings.

Like the first time against the Ravens, this is just as equally heartbreaking. The Lions’ defense kept the Vikings mostly at bay throughout the game, giving them a shot to steal it from their division opponent. Unfortunately, due to miscues, costly turnovers, and yet again questionable play-calling, the Lions are walking away with their fifth straight loss of the season.

It is hard not to feel for a team you are leaving it all on the field, especially the way they were able to come back right up until the end in an all-familiar fashion. It would be wrong not to highlight the few studs this week but also putting salt in the wound for the dud section.

Frank Ragnow leads the way for Lions players in latest Madden 22 ratings

The Madden ratings were not kind for the Detroit Lions, but there are notable ratings that are quite interesting among the team

In the midst of the opening of training camp, EA Sports released their latest Madden 22 ratings for every player and team. With the new regime in place, not many people have high hopes for the Detroit Lions this coming season, and it showed with the ratings that were given to the team and players.

With only five players managing to receive an 80 overall rating or higher, the team came at a 74 overall rating, coming in at third-worst in the league behind the Carolina Panthers (73 overall) and the New York Jets (72 overall).

Frank Ragnow comes in as the highest-rated Lion with an 88 overall rating, which was good enough to (barely) crack Madden’s Top-100 players — coming in right at 100. To no surprise, he is the lone Lions representative. Ragnow is easily the best player on the Lions and will be looked upon as a cornerstone for the organization going through a rebuild.

T.J. Hockenson follows with an 85 overall rating, landing him as the 8th-best tight end in the league. That seems disrespectful considering who is ahead of him: Hunter Henry, Rob Gronkowski, and Austin Hooper. None of those three tight ends came near what Hockenson produced last year and it leaves you scratching your head.

Next comes Michael Brockers (82 overall), who will be looked upon providing a veteran presence, especially for the two rookies, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, while providing a force up the middle. Trey Flowers comes in with an 81 overall rating as a right outside linebacker, following suit to his position change from end. He will be a player to keep your eye on with the new coaching and see how he responds.

Finishing out the top five lands us in the special teams category with Pro Bowl sensation punter Jack Fox with an 80 overall rating. Fox lit the NFL on fire leading, averaging 49.1 yards per punt, ranking third in the league, and was easily was one of the better players for the Lions last season.

To round out the top ten Lions, Jamie Collins (79 overall), Tyrell Williams (79 overall), Romeo Okwara (79 overall), D’Andre Swift (78 overall), and Taylor Decker (78 overall). Jamaal Williams finishes outside the top ten with a 77 overall rating, but interesting how close the two running backs are rated.

For the rookies, Penei Sewell comes at a respectable 75 overall, landing him eighth among rookies. McNeill and Onwuzurike each earn a 71 overall rating, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Amon-Ra St. Brown receive a 67 overall rating, Derrick Barnes gets a 66 rating, and Jemar Jefferson lands with a 64 rating.

Since these two are tied at the hip with comparisons, Jared Goff comes in with a 77 overall rating, while ex-Lion Matthew Stafford receives an 83 overall rating.

Other interesting rating nuggets for the Lions:

  • Brockers comes in with the highest tackle rating with a 96, ahead of Aaron Donald with a 95.
  • Williams ranks as the third-best back in the carrying attribute with a 97 rating. Also, rates at the 20th-best back in stiff-arm with an 85 rating.
  • Melifonwu ranks as the 18th-best player (95 rating) in the jumping rating, the best among rookies
  • Goff ranks as the 11th best (86 rating) in medium throw accuracy, 12th best quarterback (88 rating) in the play-action category, and short-throw accuracy (90 rating). But comes at 29th overall with an 89 throw power rating.
  • Kalif Raymond rates as the fastest Lion with a 94 rating in the speed section.
  • Ragnow comes in as the 13th-toughest player rating with a 98 overall, but it should be a 99 considering he played with a broken throat.

T.J. Hockenson earns a spot on the NFL’s best players under 25 list

“He’s the best tight end under 25, and it might not be long before he’s considered one of the premier players at the position”

Tight end T.J. Hockenson is coming off his first Pro Bowl season in Detroit. His second year with the Lions saw Hockenson spike up into the top three tight ends in receiving yards and improved blocking chops to go with it.

As a result, Hockenson earned a spot as the tight end on the NFL’s All-Under-25 team from NFL.com. The 23-year-old was an easy choice for the honor as the league’s top young tight end,

Hockenson enjoyed a relative breakout in 2020, finishing third in receiving yards among tight ends behind established stars Travis Kelce and Darren Waller. Lions tight ends coach Ben Johnson thinks it’s just the beginning for the 2019 draft’s eighth overall pick, recently telling reporters “there’s plenty of meat still on the bone” with Hockenson, and adding that “the sky’s the limit for this kid.”

The arrow is still pointing way up for Detroit’s first-round pick in 2019, too. The concluding sentence of his segment says it all,

“He’s the best tight end under 25, and it might not be long before he’s considered one of the premier players at the position, regardless of age.”

Hockenson caught 67 passes for 723 yards and six touchdowns in 2020.

The only other Lions player to earn a mention on the list was punter Jack Fox, who was second at his spot to New England’s Jake Bailey.

Jack Fox working on being a better holder

Fox did awesome punting in 2020 but his holding was suspect

As a punter, Jack Fox was a pleasant revelation in Detroit in 2020. One of the few bright spots on the team, Fox was a second-team All-Pro for his glorious punting prowess in his first season as the Lions punter.

But punting isn’t the only part of Fox’s game, and the Pro Bowler is working hard to get his duties as the team’s holder up to snuff.

He wasn’t particularly good at it in 2020, and it led to issues for now-departed kicker Matt Prater. The veteran placekicker had his worst full season since 2008, and at least a couple of Prater’s missed kicks featured subpar holds from Fox.

Fox worked with long snapper Don Muhlbach earlier this offseason in Texas, and he’s getting plenty of work in OTAs and this week’s minicamp.

“I think I’ve gotten to be a better holder so far, especially being here the last couple weeks, getting a lot of snaps,” Fox said after Wednesday’s practice. “Having two kickers and two snappers, I’m getting a lot of work at holding.”

Thus far, there is no camp competition for Fox as the holder. Backup QBs Tim Boyle and David Blough have not rotated in for reps at all, a clear sign Fox’s focus on his holding is a good idea.