Larry Foote Says Detroit Is 'A Lot Different From Pittsburgh'

Good news: Larry Foote is an NFL starter, which is all he wanted. Bad news: he went from the Steelers, twice Super Bowl champs in the past three years, to the Lions, winners of exactly zero games in 2008.

In Detroit, Foote will have to adjust to playing middle linebacker in the 4-3, and despite suspect pass-coverage skills, he'll upgrade the defense. (Given that the Lions were one of the worst units in the league, it would be hard not to. Point taken.)

Foote, signed last week and, after wrapping up OTAs with his new team, talked to WDFN-AM Detroit's Matt Shepard about the subtle differences between the Steelers and the Lions:

"There are a lot of curse words going on ... I think I heard more f-bombs in one day than I have in five years." ... "It's a lot different from Pittsburgh," Foote said. "I don't know if it was the new coaches or the new staff, but it was military style yesterday. Pittsburgh is a little bit more laid back."

Regarding the f-bombs, Foote was referring to new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, who came to Detroit from Kansas City, where the Chiefs were routinely one of the worst defenses in the league. Cunningham's not completely responsible; players play and coaches coach, as they say, and if you don't have the players, coaching is a lot tougher. After watching the 2008 Patriots' patchwork defense, I think Bill Belichick would agree.

As for Foote's previous five years, those were spent with Dick LeBeau, the mild-mannered 71-year-old who reads "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" to the team every December. Pretty sure he does it without the aid of f-bombs, too.

But, hey, different strokes and whatnot. The Steelers are a veteran team accustomed to winning; the Lions are neither. Not even close, really. And while adding veterans like Foote can help change the locker room, maybe dropping a few f-bombs will facilitate the transformation. I mean, things can't get worse.

via Shutdown Corner