kassim osgood?
>> 4.16.2009
A regular poster on The Huddle says he met the Chargers' Kassim Osgood last night, while filming a commercial for the Can Cancer campaign. Osgood then told him the Lions have made Osgood a very nice contract offer. Ordinarily, this would constitute tampering, but according to Pro Football Weekly, Osgood's been on the trading block, and the Chargers are only looking for a late-round pick. Osgood is a very tall, fast return specialist who's been dying to get a chance to play wideout. Last season he held out for a bigger contract and better playing time--and didn't get either. Osgood would be a very nice fit, indeed--see the "Lions should look at tall wideouts who can return" post immediately below--and nicely take care of one more need heading into the draft. Osgood would also be a better option than, say, blowing a third-round pick on a returner like Brandon Tate, because there'll be no learning curve. Osgood could step in and immediately provide a huge boost to the return game--and, if the talking he's done to the media about how good of a wideout he is is even remotely true, he'll step right into the slot WR role, and could even challenge Bryant Johnson for the #2 gig.
Posts
4 comments:
I wouldn't mind bringing him in as a return specialist, but he'll never make it as a WR.
What makes you think so? I mean besides, you know, the fact that if a 6'-5" WR with speed hasn't cracked a lineup in this long, he probably won't ever. Even as a return specialist though, he'd provide an enormous boost. Also, the Lions' WR depth is so pathetic that he should be the #3 WR just on raw talent alone . . . can a two-time Pro Bowl returner really be that much worse than John Standeford?
Peace
Ty
I think you answered your own question...dude's been in the league now for 7 years, several of those years in which San Diego had NO wide receivers to speak of. In 2004 (Osgood's second year), Eric Parker led all SD wide receivers with 47 receptions. The following 3 years they didn't really have anything either, until toward the end of the 2007 season when Vincent Jackson started to step up (and they traded for Chambers).
Another thing to think about, with these return specialists, they tend to run out of gas very quickly and abruptly in their careers (see Drummond, Eddie; Hall, Dante), so you gotta think San Diego is well aware of this, otherwise they wouldn't be so willing to trade him.
So I still say bring him in if it doesn't take much, but don't expect him to do anything but return kicks. I'm about as pessimistic as it gets where the Lions are concerned, but I'm not as down on their WR corps as most seem to be (especially if they bring in Curry). And keep an eye on Will Franklin.
I'd love to see Kassim sign with the Lions. He's a great S/T 'coverage' athlete & a high-character guy in the community as well. IIRC, he was a Pro-Bowl selection a couple of years ago? Go Aztecs!
Post a Comment