There are a few things. The way I took Brad’s comments were that David is the one who wants out and isn’t happy. Fair, I guess. But there’s a reason Sonic is the main character of the video game franchise and not Knuckles.
Also, I don’t care. Unless outside of a few select RBs, almost all RBs drop off a cliff after 28 years old and if I’m doing my math right, DMo will be 29 next season. So either stay here and get paid way too much to be a good backup or leave. Montgomery is not irreplaceable in the same way a Goff, Gibbs, Amon Ra, Hutch, etc are.
I get at the time people liked the move, but i think extending Monty was not the best move on Brad’s part (which hes been doing quite a bit recently)
last year was flushed with RB talent, felt like we could have grabbed an rb2 easily last year to replace monty on a cheaper contract and production (Like Monogani for example, whos playing really well for a 7th round rookie on the bears)
Totally am a BIGGGGG Gibbs fan. But you guys got it right here. DMO does have something special that makes him a valuable asset. And I’d be willing to bet that during those last games of the season his average was better than Gibbs when there was no place to run at all. Dude’s been MIS-used this entire year.
I try to look at this team so objectively for many years now that I rarely get flustered watching a game any more. This year you could just see they were flat as a team early on and just never playing great football for 4 quarters ever.
THEE ONLY time that I actually got up and yelled at the screen this season was against (I think??) Baltimore. I was like “stop being cute… give DMO the fking ball”!!! He’s in rhythm. Let him work his magic. Texted someone as well. A couple of plays later he rips off that 75 yard run and I’m like FINALLY!!
Watch his footwork / patience on that run from above and in end zone. It is a thing of SHEER beauty. DMO just has an uncanny feel for tight space. He keeps his feet moving but not overcommitting and combined with that patience he makes 5 and 8 and 12 yards and sometimes 70 where most people get nothing. Plus he’s good in pass pro and like a jack hammer when it’s time to let the opposing team know this is business. Some of the best highlights the past few years are DMOs.
I do not like this from a football point of view. I get that it makes some cap space sense. I get this might be because Monty wants a chance to have an increased role. But I don’t like it.
I like the Gibbs/Monty pairing. I think Monty was under-utilized this year, but he still has an important role. I also feel like letting Monty go puts all of your eggs in the Gibbs basket. That isn’t a bad place to have your eggs, but Monty helps keep Gibbs fresh. Monty gives you quality reps when in the game.
I think this is a done deal, but I do not like the decision if it comes to be.
If Brad wanted him to get more touches, Dan wanted to get him more touches, Choice is a huge Gibbs fan, then all signs point to Choice being the issue.
But that’s just all assumption, right? There haven’t been any reports of a strained relationship, have there? It’s just a bunch of extrapolating unless I’ve missed something.
Well, it could be coach/GM speak. Or Brad could mean it but Dan didn’t. Or Dan gets swept away in the momentum of a game when calling plays and doesn’t stick to his guns. There are actually a lot of potential answers, and personally I think jumping to “the RB coach and RB don’t get along” wouldn’t be in my top ten. Everyone who’s ever played for Choice loved him, not just Gibbs.
There’s no scenario that qualifies as Monty playing “unreal” and we stopped going to him.
Monty is a “stud” Here in Detroit, not anywhere else around the league.
Why did he have to sign a 3 year 18 million dollar contract the year he came here in FA yet DeAndre Swift got 3/24 and Tony Pollard got 3/22? I almost guarantee you don’t/didnt think those players were better. And Monty was arguably more productive up to that point.
He can leave for more playing time if that’s what he wants. Doesn’t mean he will get it. He’s also not going to get more money. He’s delusional if he thinks the grass is greener on the other side.
edit
I just realized the RBs I used in comparison were signed the following year. So have to account for the yearly increase or going rate. That being said, it does still go along with my overall outlook on the position. The majority of the backs in this league are interchangeable behind a + OLine.
I have been of the opinion that he has not returned to the form he had pre-injury. Lack a bit of burst and energy in his runs.
With that said, he is one of the best RBs I have ever watched to “run a hole”. He is so very good at zig zagging through the line of scrimmage. Light years better than Gibbs in my opinion. In the running of the ball between the tackles he is top 5 in the league for me and maybe tops.
But the problem with RBs is that they all hit a wall. Dmont seems to have kept that edge and still runs violently. So he likely has 2-3 more productive years. But the Lions could move on from him and be fine. Can they replace his between the tackle running? Yes and No. I think they can get a cheap back who can fall forward for 2-3 yards no matter what. But to replace Dmo ability to get 4-5 smooth yards on most running plays (when the line was good) is not as easy to replace. The reality is that the Lions can not afford to have so much money tied up in the RB position once Gibbs signs his next contract. And they likely are top 3 in the league in money spent on that position.
Listen we have been saying it for awhile that at some point the Lions can not keep signing all their guys to big dollars. Some will have to leave and be replaced by a cheaper rookie or journeyman that is cheaper.
Fair enough. I’ve heard Dan say it a few times, but yeah getting lost in play-to-play sequencing could certainly get in the way.
DMo is a pro’s pro. For him to become so frustrated to hint that he wants out, he must feel like he’s up against something he can’t control. He sees Choice every day, breaks down film with him, etc. etc. Yes, Choice came highly regarded and he could be a very good RB coach. He also could be an excellent coach for Gibbs, whom he had a prior relationship with, and a so-so coach for DMo, and may not recognize his value. It happens. Staley was a good RB coach but he wasn’t a good coach for Swift.
Sure there’s no reports of discontent between the two (DMo and Choice), but that’s not surprising.
I think its a very viable reason why DMo is unhappy. But if you have ten other better reasons, that’s OK too.
I’m glad this question was asked. DMo is gone. Brad could have easily deflected the question but he didn’t. He heavily implied that he’s gone. And in some ways Brad caught himself then went into “but i hope he stays!”
I hate it. I hated it all season. It doesn’t make sense to me. DMo was easily one of if not their most valuable player in 2023. He and Gibbs were the best tandom, unstoppable, a major part of the offense. You give DMo the ball on 3rd and 10 and he’s getting you a first down. He’s getting you 12+ TD’s a season. They are legit 1,000 and 1,000 tandem and they wanted to be the best ever.
Having a running back duo like that is so huge. Especially speed and power. They messed up.
The best the Jets could have got for Breece is a 4th rounder. DMo doesn’t have the hype. I suspect he’ll be traded for peanuts or he’ll get cut.
