The Detroit Lions inked their first defensive addition in free agency, agreeing to terms with defensive back Christian Izien. Formerly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team opted not to give him a restricted free agent tender, allowing him to hit free agency. It’s not clear what kind of deal the Lions are getting, but it is clear that a lot of fans in Tampa Bay wanted him back.
Here’s what Buccaneers writer and fans are saying about losing Christian Izien to the Lions in free agency:
What Buccaneers writers are saying
If Izien were to leave, the need to replace him would be more significant than it appears on paper. It would not just be about finding another defensive back; it would be about finding one who can do several jobs competently and understands the complexity of Bowles’ system. Young players can develop into that, but development takes time, and mistakes in the secondary are costly (see Morrison during his rookie year). Veterans who offer that same flexibility do not come at bargain prices.
The Bucs seem to be destined to deal with a plethora of injuries each season. The benefit of having players who are versatile, like Christian Izien, allows them to step up when those injuries happen. Izien could be brought back on a cheaper deal, and his role could be fluid as well. Both of those things should mean he can come back and should be.
Here are some other reactions:
What Buccaneers fans are saying
It’s pretty clear from the initial reaction that Tampa fans really liked Izien. Here’s a sampling of their reactions on Twitter: