Lions trade Cory Redding to Seattle for Julian Peterson
BY CARLOS MONARREZ • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • March 14, 2009

The Lions have confirmed they have traded defensive tackle Cory Redding and a fifth-round selection in next month’s NFL draft for Seattle Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson.

The deal, which is contingent on both players passing physicals, went through after Redding agreed to restructure the seven-year, $49-million deal he signed with the Lions in 2007, according to Foxsports.com.

Seattle reportedly was working on trading or releasing Peterson, a former player at Michigan State, after he refused to take a pay cut in his $6.5-million salary for this season. Peterson, a 6-feet-3, 240 pound strong-side linebacker, has been to five Pro Bowls.

Peterson, addition fills a big need on the linebacker corps but also raises questions about what the Lions intentions are for Aaron Curry, a draft prospect from Wake Forest the team will host Sunday. Curry played on the strong side in college but he is supposed to be versatile enough to play in the middle – Lions coach Jim Schwartz has called him “multidimensional” -- even though he has had only a few practices at that position.

Redding became the highest-paid NFL defensive tackle after the 2006 season, when he racked up eight sacks after the Lions converted him from a defensive end. Redding struggled the past two seasons and he missed the final three games of the 2008 season on injured reserve with a knee ailment.

On the one hand I really like this move. I'm a Peterson fan, he's a local product, and I think he can help the team a ton.

On the other hand, do we have a DT on the roster anymore? Peterson is proven, but he's not getting any younger and he's been through serious injury.

Does this completely eliminate Curry as a possibility? It would certainly seem that we need to draft at least one DT now, and probably more than one and probably quite early in the draft.

Don't you wish we had Albert Haynesworth?

So I'm torn on this one. I don't think Redding was worth what we were paying him. But the best LB corps in the world struggle when they're playing behind a horrible line.

By the way, I also wonder if this means the team will go with a 3-4.

They can use Grady Jackson for now in the middle of the line. Avril would probably move to LB and have Peterson at the other OLB spot, moving Sims as one of the ILB and likely drafting Laurinitis for the other.

Either way, it certainly looks like Curry's visit tomorrow will concentrate completely on testing him at MLB.
It also would seem that he's not going to be their pick unless he's the easiest to negotiate with. So...Stafford or Smith then? Maybe Monroe? Maybe Raji just moved way up.

We have been discussing this in another thread all day. I think the offseason thread. Maybe the Syndicate can move that over into this thread? I hadn't even thought of the 3-4 possibilities with this. We do still have Darby on the roster, so I assume in a 4-3 he would be starting with Jackson. Schwartz seems to like having space-eaters on his d-line, leaving his linebackers free to make plays.

I thought we'd be gong to a 3-4 next year. But we are close, imo, if thats what they want to do. If they would trade Dizon and Sims (rumors) it'd look to me that they are going to it this year.

A draft of Curry at 1 and Connor Barwin (I've said a million times hes good, but we'll see) and maybe even Ziggy.

White, Grady, AF on the line. Ziggy replaces Grady in a couple years.

Move Avril back to lb. He's like Barwin. Both fast.

Barwin, Curry, Peterson, Avril. We'd be big and fast at LB. I doubt they go that way but its possible.

Neither of Schwartz and Cunningham have much experience with a 3-4... I'll believe it when I see it.

What the fuck do you do just follow me around and poo poo every one of my posts?

lol no. I didn't even read who posted that, i'm sorry.

For the record though, I'm not opposed to a 3-4, I just don't see it happening with the previous experience of our coaches.

I doubt they do it, but I have heard them mention it. Maybe it was just when the question was asked but you can do so much more with it, imo, if you have the players.

Schwartz mentioned previously that he'd adjust the scheme based on the strengths of our players, and with the right personnel, I could see 3 down linemen in certain situations (with Avril back).

Mayhew also discussed developing a system and philosophy a la the Steelers. The two seem to be in a bit of an oxy moron, but I see where they both fit together; develop a main philosophy but adjust it slightly to the strengths of the players.

And I don't care what scheme we have, I'm just dying for a competitive team.

This will continue to be an interesting offseason.

Schwartz mentioned previously that he'd adjust the scheme based on the strengths of our players, and with the right personnel, I could see 3 down linemen in certain situations (with Avril back).

Mayhew also discussed developing a system and philosophy a la the Steelers. The two seem to be in a bit of an oxy moron, but I see where they both fit together; develop a main philosophy but adjust it slightly to the strengths of the players.

Interesting thought.

Since Avril is a hybrid-type player it would make more sense for him to be the 'Adalius Thomas' of our defense.

Not to mention, Grady Jackson is more than enough 'man' to plug up the nose.

A 3-4 scheme could even be beneficial to a guy like Jordon Dizon, who is useless in a 4-3.

I'm wary of a 3-4. I've always felt to make it work you really need a big (and yeah, pretty damn fat) yet athletic nose tackle to plug up the middle and eat up at least two blockers. Anyone remember Jerry Ball? I'm just not sure the Lions have a player who could do that right now. Rogers would have been good, but I don't think I have to go there.

Neither of Schwartz and Cunningham have much experience with a 3-4... I'll believe it when I see it.

Neither of Schwartz and Cunningham have much experience with a 3-4... I'll believe it when I see it.

lol. I think we'll definitely be in a base 4-3.

One can go in circles around here if one wants to.

And I guess I wanted to.

Is Peterson declining at all? 30 isn't that old, but it's not young in linebacker years...

Is Peterson declining at all? 30 isn't that old, but it's not young in linebacker years...


Hawks fans say he is, but he's played every game the past few years, so it's not as if he's broke.

I think he went to the Pro Bowl last year as an alternate??? His tackles were down last year. I don't think he's physically declining but he has had that 'could do more' label on him.

Get him in the right frame of mind and he should be fine for a few more years.

Pro Bowl the last 3 years, I believe? If he's declining, his declined level of play is still better than anything we would have had at the position.

But is his declining pay worth the money he's making?

Hell yeah it is. His bonus money is totally relegated to Seattle's cap; we can cut him whenever the fuck we want at no cap hit.

I think this is a good move even with the extra dough. I do think it will be even better of a move if we draft Curry. We will get a LB in the first 3, but he could be really good in that way too.

I think this netted out costing us about 2m extra this year.

This year, actually, we take a big cap hit for Redding but, in the future, yes, it's about a little bit extra each year, which should be a great deal.

Its over 2m and under 3m.

Schwartz mentioned previously that he'd adjust the scheme based on the strengths of our players, and with the right personnel, I could see 3 down linemen in certain situations (with Avril back).

Mayhew also discussed developing a system and philosophy a la the Steelers. The two seem to be in a bit of an oxy moron, but I see where they both fit together; develop a main philosophy but adjust it slightly to the strengths of the players.

Did you see this DrRay? Hybrid Ds. I bet we go to it this year or next. Especially if we draft a Connor Barwin type to add to Avril.

http://www.nfl.com/kickoff/story?id=09000d5d80a4c956&template=without-video&confirm=true

^^That's another reason we may draft the extremely versatile Aaron Curry.

The only problem I have with Curry at 1 is the arguments you read about a LB going 1 and the money he will get. OT would be better at 1. If we can move down a about 2 or 3 picks, it would make a huge difference.

Having the number 1 makes me believe it'll be QB or OT.

I don't disagree with that, but if Curry comes for a good price I wouldn't mind it at all.

Also, we'll see what happens with Jason Peters & Jay Cutler...

I'm reallly cooling on this Cutler thing. I don't want some douche thats going to create a dust up every other week. I don't think he's like that, but he does appear to be a lil bit of bitch in this. I don't know...

If we build a good enough team, a QB will come here. Either through FA, the draft or a trade.

Curry's price is up to his agent and him. Since there is no salary slotting he could be expensive or cheap. it's all up to him.

^ yep, but at the #1oa, it won't be cheap. OT would be better contract wise at 1oa.

I'm reallly cooling on this Cutler thing. I don't want some douche thats going to create a dust up every other week. I don't think he's like that, but he does appear to be a lil bit of bitch in this. I don't know...

If we build a good enough team, a QB will come here. Either through FA, the draft or a trade.

I agree, but his bitchiness may allow us to get him at a real bargain. That's the excitement in it; if we're going to have to give up, say, 3+ draft picks, I'm not interested.

^ yep, but at the #1oa, it won't be cheap. OT would be better contract wise at 1oa.
LOL, no it won't. Unless you're saying if an LT and LB were both offered the same amount, then yes, the LT would make more sense capwise.

But they wouldn't and shouldn't be offered the same amount.

OT's are paid more dough, it would be an easier sign. There will be harder bargaining with a LB at 1.

Take a look at Jake Long's contract.

NOBODY is coming "cheap" at #1.

OTs are paid like that. LBs aren't. L OTs are an important position to a team and they make bank.

I'm reallly cooling on this Cutler thing. I don't want some douche thats going to create a dust up every other week. I don't think he's like that, but he does appear to be a lil bit of bitch in this. I don't know...

If we build a good enough team, a QB will come here. Either through FA, the draft or a trade.

here is the issue I take with national media (I posted a little about this yesterday). They already dicked Cutler over when they told him Bates (his coordinator) was staying after Shanny was fired. I don't know why they even said that (you can't force a new HC to keep coordinators), but it was said.

Basically this comes down to trust. Cutler doesn't feel he can trust the organization. If they'd simply admitted they had trade talks but decided he was the best QB for the team, so be it. They could move on. But they let this all fester by denying they had trade talks at first.

I know it isn't all him. But he seems to like to keep it going to. Maybe if his agent was front and center instead of him, I wouldn't tie everything thats gong on to him. At least every thing that they have done.

And now he is owed a 10-11m dollar bonus, iirc, and his contract doesn't last that much longer and we'd need to resign him.

If those questions can be answered, I'm ok with it, but I hope we wouldn't be introducing a constant bitcher to the locker room. I searched for a lil bit to see if he has caused other dust ups. It didn't look bad at all. So maybe it is just the trade thing.

btw...did you read the Peter King SI piece where he thinks a lot of this was orchestrated by Cut and Cook?

I know that Phillip Rivers doesn't like him.

Lions saying that they'd have a hole at DT even if they didn't trade Redding, as they were planning on using him at DE and moving him to DT only for passing downs.

Also, they have no word on the status of Darby (how they plan to use him). It seems a bit strange that they're staying mum on him when they talk about everyone else on the d-line.

I was watching the Petersen presser and another interview and he was talking about how Darby was in front of him in his best year as LB or something.

I like some of these young guys we've drafted with the addition of Grady to.

Schwart is telling them to bulk up, eat more and they players are diggin it.