Shutdown Corner - NFL

Larry Foote(notes), who spent last season with the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers, just got his first taste of action with the Detroit Lions. This might come as a shock to you, but the six-time world champion Steelers and the perennially downtrodden Lions take a different approach to things. From MLive.com:

"There are a lot of curse words going on," Foote told Matt Shepard on WDFN-AM Detroit. "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."

I guess that stands to reason. More f-bombs are required in Detroit because there are more players who are f-bomb-ing terrible at playing f-bomb-ing football.

Still, just because that's how the Lions do it, it doesn't mean that that's the wrong way to do it. With Pittsburgh, you have mostly veteran guys who know what they're doing, and they don't need to be screamed at like children. And if someone does get out of line, there are veteran players to set him straight. They can afford to take a more relaxed approach in May.

With Detroit, it's a whole different culture. It's more of a blank slate; with younger players, worse players and players who require more coaching (or the repeated and bloodthirsty screaming of profanity, as the case may be). There's a reason that new defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and his shooting glasses need to yell four-letter words other than "Pull!"

Enjoy your new culture, Larry Foote.

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69 Comments

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  1. SteelerB
    1. Posted by SteelerB Mon May 11, 2009 2:14 pm EDT

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    Hopfully some of Foote's veteran leadership can help in the Lions locker room. Thw Steeler nation will miss Foote's leadership and presence on the defense. Good luck with all that in Detroit.
  2. The Wiz
    2. Posted by The Wiz Mon May 11, 2009 2:15 pm EDT

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    At least with Foote, the Lions will be less crappy
  3. dicknead
    3. Posted by dicknead Mon May 11, 2009 2:18 pm EDT

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    The F%$# word..........such a nice word
  4. HAMILTON
    4. Posted by HAMILTON Mon May 11, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

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    Well Larry Foot, i wish that you would'nt have left the World Champion "STEELERS". Will miss your great play, good luck. "GO S.B. STEELERS"
  5. Lewis
    5. Posted by Lewis Mon May 11, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

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    He should have been there last year when their whole season was an F-bomb!
    What do the Lions and Billy Graham have in common?
    They both can make 70,000 people stand up and yell Jesus Christ!
  6. Clayton
    6. Posted by Clayton Mon May 11, 2009 2:23 pm EDT

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    The Steelers won't miss anything from Foote aside from his good quotes. Timmons is the new freak linebacker.
  7. renko30
    7. Posted by renko30 Mon May 11, 2009 2:25 pm EDT

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    As a Chief's fan, I can tell the Lions and their fans that with Gunther Cunningham around, you will be hearing a lot of foul language. At first, during his practice sessions, Gun we'll be shouting all kinds of colorful language. Later, after his defense takes the field and gets repeatedly torched, the fans will be the ones cursing.....
  8. Drizzle
    8. Posted by Drizzle Mon May 11, 2009 2:38 pm EDT

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    Thanks for everything Footse! You will be missed and I hope you have a positive impact on the Lions d. Timmons should have probowl caliber year. Let's go STEELERS
  9. April O
    9. Posted by April O Mon May 11, 2009 2:50 pm EDT

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    HEY LIONS!!!!!!! wish in one hand and s### in the other ,se ewhich fills first,, all though you do get a golf clap for your 4-12 record this season...
  10. Superman
    10. Posted by Superman Mon May 11, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Just goes to show the Lions are and always will be class-less! I played arena football for 6 years, and we never had to put up with any of that crap! Go Steelers!!!
  11. Cranny
    11. Posted by Cranny Mon May 11, 2009 3:04 pm EDT

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    Go figure
  12. Chris D
    12. Posted by Chris D Mon May 11, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Another intelligent MJD article. It reminds me of Cat in the Hat without any Cat.
  13. YankeeCarp
    13. Posted by YankeeCarp Mon May 11, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    #5--VERY funny!
  14. Scott E
    14. Posted by Scott E Mon May 11, 2009 3:36 pm EDT

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    Awesome Lewis. I'll have to use that down at the pub sometime. Thanks!
    And yes, another standout Michigan player doing well. The Lions could use more. It would at least upgrade their classiness and eventually lead to good football and less cursing.
  15. Sean Phillips
    15. Posted by Sean Phillips Mon May 11, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    The Steelers aren't the World Champions. They are the NFL Champions or the Superbowl Champions. There would have to be a World Championship event before you could declare a team to be World Champions.
  16. swanson
    16. Posted by swanson Mon May 11, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    We'll see how good Foote is this upcoming year! Everyone who's a linebacker in Pittsburg is good...I know Joey Porter had a great season last year, but remember what he done with the Dolphins 2 years ago ;)!
  17. M Douglass
    17. Posted by M Douglass Mon May 11, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    Hey Sean, When the rest of the world starts playing American style football (ie: not soccer)at a high level you can make asinine comments about 'World' Championships. This isn't baseball or basketball.
  18. gold1102
    18. Posted by gold1102 Mon May 11, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    DISCIPLINE and TALENT!
    PITTSBURGH has it and the LIONS NEED IT ! This is why the Steelers WIN SUPERBOWLS and the LIONS go 0-16.
  19. rjiii88
    19. Posted by rjiii88 Mon May 11, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    Nice one Douglas,and also Sean I thought that teams had players from around the world, so whats that make it?
    All the players are not only from THE USA.
  20. JohnBoy
    20. Posted by JohnBoy Mon May 11, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    As is in all sports,not all are trying to win the big game! The Steelers are like a football college. When they get productive,they want more money and end up signing somewhere else. Chuck Knoll said the NFL has a graduating class. Hard to build a team without vets who stick around. The Lions arent interested in winning period.
  21. se@n
    21. Posted by se@n Mon May 11, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Larry Foote- as a Steelers fan we'll miss you. I hope you are able to turn the Lions fortunes around since they are your hometown team.
  22. Fasi
    22. Posted by Fasi Mon May 11, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    larry foote made a big mistake leaving pittsburgh for detroit. he needs to remember that it's all about the team, not the individual, this is why he won a championship in pittburgh and why he left for detroit. he wanted to get more playing time, instead of doing his part to repeat. he is choosing playing time over winning. the article reminds him that he has left football heaven and entered the purgatory of the nfl. i wish him the best but feel that he is going to miss pittsburgh more than he can imagine.
  23. mark
    23. Posted by mark Mon May 11, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    as far as the guy saying the steelers are not the world champions ! we are the world ! he must be a brown or cowboy fan!! poor poor man !
  24. vinnie
    24. Posted by vinnie Mon May 11, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    Listen bottom line is this, foote was no he is one hell of a player but he realized his time was short in the burg.He is choosing playing time over winning is what restaurant guest said well being an athlete you want to play and contribute. The man has two s b rings he has won now he needs to play and if he can help turn a team around in the process more power to him.I will miss him in the black and gold but he needs to play and I respect him for moving out of the way to let timmons move up that is very rare in to days sports.
  25. Capn Stu
    25. Posted by Capn Stu Mon May 11, 2009 5:45 pm EDT

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    Surprise, surprise: The Lions and Steelers do things differently

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