| 23 July 2010
The Lions signed another special teams demon and added linebacker depth today. But they only had to sign one player to get both.
While the Detroit Lions might still be in the market for a starting linebacker, they continue to add to their depth, signing five-year veteran Isaiah Ekejiuba to a two-year contract.
The Lions confirmed the deal this afternoon for Ekejiuba, who didn't start a single game in his five years with the Oakland Raiders.
Ekejiuba may not have started any games with the Raiders, but he did get on the field quite a bit as their best special teams player. Ekejiuba played well enough on overage teams to be named an alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl.
Isaiah Ekejiuba blocking a punt. A playmaker on special teams? Who knew they actually existed?
Ekejiuba was actually in demand after his release from the Raiders earlier this month...which was surprising in itself, according to the National Football Post.
Any team with a little money left over and in need of a core special teams player may turn to Isaiah Ekejiuba quickly.
The Oakland Raiders released the veteran linebacker on Thursday* in a surprising move, perhaps deeming that $1.45 million to pay a special teams ace this season was too much.
*Note from Al: Ekejiuba was released back on July 8th.
No one can explain anything the Raiders do. For all we know, Ekejiuba might have looked at Al Davis the wrong way. At least the Raiders' loss becomes the Lions' gain.
With Zack Follett, Landon Johnson and now Isaiah Ekejiuba, the Lions' special teams should be damn fun to watch...and very effective against returns, which is something I haven't been able to say since the Stan Kwan era began, then mercifully ended. (May I never mention Kwan's name again here at TWFE.)
A decade of awful return and coverage teams may finally be coming to an end.
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