After signing 3-year contract, Furrey wants Curtis to join Lions
Thursday, January 25, 2007By Tom Kowalski
ALLEN PARK -- Now that Detroit Lions wide receiver Mike Furrey is back on board with the team, he's looking forward to another year with offensive coordinator Mike Martz and anticipating a reunion with an old friend.
Furrey, who led the Lions with 98 catches (for 1,086 yards and six touchdowns) last season, signed a three-year contract on Wednesday.
Furrey signed with the Lions as a free agent last year and was originally put in the slot receiving position but was moved to the No. 2 spot for most of the season. Furrey, who already knew Martz's offense (he was in St. Louis when Martz was the Rams head coach), was the Lions most consistent and reliable receiver.
"It's great, for a lot of reasons," said Lions head coach Rod Marinelli about Furrey's new contract. "He's a good player, but there's another dimension to it: work habits, character and he makes plays when it counts. He's the whole package you're looking for.
"I want to reward those types of guys, I want them to be here."
Furrey knows his role with the team will change this season and he'll spend more time in the slot, but he's fine with that, especially if another former St. Louis Rams receiver decides to sign in Detroit as an unrestricted free agent.
"Kevin Curtis is a very good friend of mine and I've talked to him quite a bit," Furrey said. "This offense needs three impact receivers. I expect to contribute on the outside. I'd love to go inside and do everything I did last year."
Curtis would be a better fit at the No. 2 spot for the Lions because he has better downfield speed than Furrey.
"He's looking to go somewhere and contribute and not be a 20- or 30-catch guy. I know he loves this offense," said Furrey, adding that he believes Martz will be back with the Lions next season.
Martz had an interview with the Miami Dolphins recently for their head coaching position and his name is now being mentioned for the vacant head coaching job with the Dallas Cowboys.
"We've talked the last couple of days because he (Martz) wanted to know if (the contract) was done. He said he's coming back to Detroit," Furrey said. "What he's told me, he's coming back to Detroit."
Marinelli, though, said it's still possible Martz might head to Dallas.
"He loves it here, I know that. He loves what he does. This thing (Cowboys job) just popped open and there will always be inquires about him. He's got to listen," Marinelli said. "We'll wait and see how it all rolls out."
If Martz stays in Detroit, he's made it pretty clear that he doesn't want the Lions to select a quarterback with the second overall pick in the April draft. Martz believes veteran Jon Kitna is the best person for the job.
There are a couple of quarterbacks -- JaMarcus Russell of LSU and Brady Quinn of Notre Dame -- who could be worthy of the second overall choice, but Furrey sees it the same way as his coach.
"I have the same feelings that Martz does," Furrey said. "If we bring in a quarterback right now, we'll be taking a step back. What Kitna has done -- and he'll eliminate what he wants to eliminate (turnovers) -- he'll come back with a greater understanding of this offense, how the defense wants to play us and where the ball is supposed to go. You cannot trade that experience in for somebody who hasn't been in the league before. I cannot see that happening."
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