In a somewhat odd move, the Lions today signed running back Artose Pinner to a contract. Pinner played last year for the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. In 2006, he played for the Minnesota Vikings. He played for the Detroit Lions in the 2003 - 2005 seasons.

I find this move very strange. Pinner didn’t do anything the last two seasons (except for his career day against the Lions in 2006). For the most part, he was also ineffective as a Detroit Lion. How many chances are we going to give this guy? Five pretty average to sub-par seasons and now we want him on the roster again?

What this tells me is that the Lions are still not sold on Tatum Bell and/or Brian Calhoun. Calhoun has struggled to stay healthy and Bell disappeared off the depth charts last season. This doesn’t have anything to do with Kevin Smith. He will make the roster and will be starting by October, if not sooner.

The one advantage the Pinner might bring to the mix is that as a backup running back during his previous stint with the Lions, he was active on special teams. Bell and Calhoun have not contributed in this manner, though if he is healthy, Calhoun might be able to.

Still, a strange move and another case of the Lions giving a retread another try. If nothing else, perhaps the cries of “Toooooooossee” will ring through Ford Field once again.

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Well, I am still on vacation until early next week - actually been sick for last three of four days, so it hasn’t been much fun. Look for my offseason review by mid to late next week. Anyways, word comes that the Detroit has signed another linebacker, Alfred Fincher.

Fincher was also a 3rd round draft pick (like other free agent signee Gardner earliers) from 2005. He played college ball at Connecticut. He has spent all three seasons with the New Orleans Saints though not as a starter. He spent the last half of last year on injured reserve with after sustaining a concussion. Eventually, he was waived towards the end of the season.

The Lions seem to be taking some relatively cheap shots here at some project players at a position they desperately need some help. Fincher was contributing more to the Saints than Gardner was, so he may actually have a shot at some playing time at linebacker if he can fully recover from the concussion. 7 games is a lot of missed time for a concussion - it must have been pretty severe. Add in the offseason and he should be ready to go come camp.

I haven’t seen terms of the contract, but I suspect we didn’t have to pay a whole lot to get him. I think this is a respectable play at getting some quality players at a cheap price. It doesn’t hurt to bring em into camp and try em out. This assumes, though, that we still go after a linebacker early in the draft. I think it would be a mistake to assume either of these two players would be full time starters. The Lions simply have to get better at this position and while Gardner and Fincher may help, alone I don’t see them as being enough.

One sign that the Lions are still serious about drafting a LB high in the draft was that they did have Tennessee LB Jerod Mayo in for a visit. He is considered one of the top LBs in the draft.

Back to being sick on my vacation though I am greatly improved…