Lions Beat Bears to LB Durant

Clipped from: www.chicagotribune.com (share this clip)

The season hasn’t started yet but the popular up-and-comer preseason pick, the Detroit Lions, scored their first victory over the Chicago Bears by agreeing to terms on a 2-year deal with former Jaguars linebacker Justin Durant.  The Bears had reached out to Durant at the start of free agency to fill their vacant strong side linebacker position.

With Durant off the market, Nick Roach’s value certainly goes up for the Bears.  Don’t forget Pisa Tinoisamoa too.  While oft injured, he knows the system and has done well playing alongside Urlacher and Briggs.  Another name that has come up is former Packers linebacker Nick Barnett.

I’ve heard some rumblings that a good move for many free agents is to move within divisions, where there is strong familiarity of rival teams.  The next best thing to getting into an offseason program with a team could be to jump ship to a division rival that you face twice a year.  It will help get new players up to speed more quickly.