Four Lions make SI's All-Future dream team WR Johnson, LB Sims, S Alexander and coach Barry honored
August 15, 2007
Despite their recent struggles, the Lions' future looks bright, at least according to SI.com scribe Peter King.
King's All-Future dream team features four members of the Lions organization - wide receiver Calvin Johnson, linebacker Ernie Sims, safety Gerald Alexander and defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
King only picked players who were 28 or younger and did not consider anyone younger than college seniors for the All-Future team, his "team of the year in 2012."
King's comments on the four Lions:
WR Calvin Johnson: There are very few gimmes on this list. Johnson came out this year with the type of plaudits rarely heard before a guy plays his first NFL game. If he misses, lots of scouts should get fired.
ILB Ernie Sims: He might go down in history as one of the few draft choices Matt Millen got right. He's a leader like no other Lion, and he's a versatile, 225-pound force on the outside or inside. He's got the staying power to be a tackling machine for a long time.
Special teams player Gerald Alexander: Now, he might be a great safety by 2012, but the Lions drafted him last April with the idea that he'll bring energy over the next few years to special teams as well as the starting secondary -- if he plays well enough to earn a starting job. He's a headhunter with boundless energy.
Defensive coordinator Joe Barry: It stunned me to see that Barry was born in 1970. I've heard so many good things about him and his precocious defensive mind that I couldn't believe that he'll only be 42 in 2012 -- and could well be a head coach. He'll be the kind of motivator and strategist that will attract owners to him in the next few years.
King also selected two Lions to his all-current team: wide receiver Mike Furrey (as a backup) and offensive coordinator Mike Martz, about whom King wrote: "Jon Kitna threw for 4,300 yards last year. I rest my case."
All-Time Team: Starting QB: Otto Graham. Who? Starting TE: John Mackey over Ditka and Winslow? Backup RB: No Barry Sanders,instead Marion Motley. Coaching: No Lombardi
All-Current Team: Backup QB: Vince Young? Over Palmer and Brees? Backup RB: Maurice Jones-Drew over every other good RB in the game other than Bush and LT? Backup WR: Mike Furrey? Are you kidding me? I'm a Lions fan, but are you kidding me? I like him and I'm impressed that he's produced playing both Safety and Wide Receiver, but are you kidding me? Backup TE: Tony Gonzalez is good, but right now you have to take Heap or Shockey. Starting DT: Warren Sapp? He's not as washed-up as everybody says he is, but he's absolutely not one of the top DTs in the league. Starting CB: Antoine Winfield? Love the reasoning. "He loves to hit". Backup MLB: DeMeco Ryans? Sorry, but I'll still take Ray Ray.
All-Future Team: Starting KR: Tedd Ginn? Over Hester? Is he high? Also: Literally half of the players on the list have never played a real game in the NFL.
beanoX3 wrote:Didn't Peter King predict the Lions to win the division last year?
He should just stick to complaining about his coffee and leave football stuff alone.
Yeah, and he had them ranked 13th in his power rankings earlier. For some reason King continues to be infatuated with Matt Millen. King should no by now: When you sleep with Lions, you wake up with fleas.
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by whodey#9 » Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:16 pm 
