Friend: Steelers' Larry Foote wants to play for Lions

[SteelersMongol]

TAMPA — Could linebacker Larry Foote leave the Pittsburgh Steelers for his hometown Lions?

“He wants to come back here,” said Brian Blackburn, a friend of Foote’s. “This is the last year of his contract, and he wants to come back here and play for the Lions for about four years and call it quits after that.”

When Foote was a student at Detroit Pershing, Blackburn was the offensive and defensive line coach and ran the weight room. They still lift together occasionally in the off-season and keep in touch throughout the year.

Blackburn said Foote told him of his future plans the last time they spoke. Told it is hard to believe that any NFL player, especially one playing in the Super Bowl, wants to play for the Lions, Blackburn laughed.

“He does,” Blackburn said. “He’ll take it. He wants to get something set up in the Detroit area for inner-city kids. He’s got as real desire to work with kids. As a matter of fact, I tried to get him to come to my son’s school at Warren Cousino and speak to the kids, and he said, ‘I’ve got to go in the city first and speak to them.’”

Foote also told Blackburn that he wants coach, but not at the college or pro level. Foote played in college at Michigan.

“He wants to coach Pershing,’’ Blackburn said.

Foote was not asked about the Lions today. But asked whether this could be his last season with the Steelers, even though he is signed for 2009, he said: “It could possibly be that way. We’re running out of room here on this team. Hopefully, we’ll see what happens in the off-season.”

For two years, Foote has held off first-round pick Lawrence Timmons for a starting job.

“But he’s showing what he can do,” Foote said. “He’s definitely the future of this team. We’ll just see what happens.”

http://www.freep.com/article/2009012...091/1049/rss14

Can't blame him 4 trying 2 help out the kids in Detroit area. But why would he want 2 play 4 the Lions? He's a Steeler, & he knows it.

[JackHammer]

Two words: Lawrence Timmons. Foote wants to be a starter.

[Steeldude]

Originally Posted by SteelersMongol

Can't blame him 4 trying 2 help out the kids in Detroit area. But why would he want 2 play 4 the Lions? He's a Steeler, & he knows it.

foote knows he is going to benched soon. i doubt the steelers were going to re-sign him anyway.

it's great news for the steelers if he wants to leave for detroit. timmons will be an upgrade.

[The Duke]

Foote could get a huge contract there. Player from the #1 defense in the league, still at a fairly young age. But I like his intentions, just helping out

Timmons seems more than ready to start

And then it's when mike humpal hopefully steps up as a backup

[MasterOfPuppets]

tade him for detroits 3rd rd pick....:we'd have back to back picks !!!t ... git er done colbert !!! then draft scott mckillop with the second 3rd ....dude is a tackling machine....

[jjpro11]

lets see... he will have possibly 2 ring, a chance to cash out, and the opportunity to play for his hometown team with a retirement plan in place.. can anyone blame him? timmons is the future, he admitted that himself earlier this year.

[hindes204]

I dont blame him at all, hes knows timmons is the future, and hes was born and raised in detroit....he has one ring already and hopefully another on sunday....he will get paid big in detroit, so i say go, get paid, and retire in your hometown

[steelreserve]

Well, good for him. But I hope Foote at least plays out his contract next year, if for no other reason than it would be nice to keep the kind of depth we have right now. If Foote's gone and Timmons is the starter, I'm not terribly confident we have any capable backup LBs either inside or outside. And who knows, maybe he can walk away with three Super Bowl rings.

[Preacher]

I have a feeling that wasn't EXACTLY what was said.

I bet the conversation was something more like. . . "IF I end up becoming a free-agent, I would like to come back to Detriot. . . ."

"That Timmons kid is good, they probably wouldn't resign me, or maybe even trade me, it woudl be nice to go to Detroit, both for me and for the team... In Detroit, I could. . . "

[Galax Steeler]

I think that gos to show you that Timmons will be starting next year Timmons , Woodley , Harrison what is our sack total going to be next year.