Veteran CB Drayton Florence Cut By The Detroit Lions
By Zach Libby
With Chris Houston out of the picture for the Detroit Lions this season, there’s no question that the skill at the cornerback position is depleting as Rashean Mathis is the only one on the depth chart with a respectable amount of game time experience.
Less than two weeks ago, the team originally thought that Drayton Florence could be the answer to their problems as both sides agreed to a one-year deal.
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Florence, a 33-year old veteran, was a second round draft choice by the San Diego Chargers back in 2003. In 11 years in the league, Florence has recorded 414 tackles and 20 interceptions with five teams.
Florence played in eight games, including three starts for the Lions back in 2012 before injuring his forearm midway through the season.
When asked how much of an impact Florence would provide for the Lions this season, head coach Jim Caldwell exclaimed that the signing will make the team much more fierce.
"“Obviously, he’s a guy that has experience and background, so it gives us another player that certainly can come in and bolster our roster and make it a little bit even more competitive,” Caldwell said per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press."
But Florence’s second stint with Detroit was short-lived as the team announced on Tuesday that they have cut ties with the Tuskegee University graduate.
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According to Birkett, Florence was supposed to compete for the No. 4 spot with Nevin Lawson, Cassius Vaughn and Jonte Green, as Mathis and Darius Slay appear to have the starting roles locked in for week one with Bill Bentley scheduled to appear in their nickel packages.
Florence did not participate in the preseason opener at home against the Cleveland Browns, but did play 14 snaps at Oakland against the Raiders, in which he recorded one tackle with a penalty during his time with the third stringers.
With Florence departing for free agency, the Lions currently have one spot available on their 90-man roster. However, Birkett wrote that the team may leave it open due to the fact that the roster needs to be trimmed to 75 by next week.