The New #55, Larry Foote

Foote signed a one-year contract with the Lions this week. The team also released last year’s starter Paris Lenon, so Foote will certainly fill a huge need as the general/playcaller of the defense.

But the staff has made it clear that Foote will have to “compete” for the job, along with second-year middle linebacker Jordon Dizon (who struggled a bit in the position last year) and rookie DeAndre Levy (who must have showed some promise during mini-camp).

There is speculation that Foote’s decision to leave the Steelers was partly to avoid becoming a back-up to linebacker Lawrence Timmons, even after Foote helped the Steelers win two championships during his seven years there.

Foote is a native Detroiter and was first team All-American at the University of Michigan. He recently bought a home in Detroit, even before he was released by the Steelers.

“This is my home,” Foote said to the Associated Press. “When I am done playing, I’m going to be back here and that’s part of the reason why I wanted to come here.

“Detroit is on the up-and-up,” he said. “We’ve got a new team, we’ve got a new mayor and we can’t do nothing but go up. But people have to be willing to roll up their sleeves and get to the root of it and turn things around.”

Maybe home is where the heart is…