ALLEN PARK–The history between Dwight Freeney and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell dates back to the late 90s when the Lions’ newest defensive end was still in high school, and Caldwell–then the head coach at Wake Forest–was trying to recruit him. And even though Freeney hasn’t played under Caldwell since he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts, the two have stayed in touch over the years, specifically in the offseason, which ultimately led to the veteran defensive end being claimed by off waivers by the Lions last week.
Speaking to the Detroit media for the first time after practice on Monday, Freeney gave a glimpse into the annual conversations with Caldwell.
“Every year, the offseason is kind of like, ‘Ok, I’ll text Jim. ‘What’s going on?’” Freeney said. “I know he’s on the golf course, I’m on the golf course. ‘How’s the golf game?’ We usually start there, and then we kind of go into, ‘You need me this year or what?’ He’s always said to me, ‘Hey Dwight, just stay ready, we might call on you. We’ll see what happens.”
After spending the 2016 season with the Atlanta Falcons, Freeney, 37, was without a team at the start of this one. The 16-year veteran said he spoke to several teams at the beginning of the season, including the Lions.
“They were one of those teams that kind of kept me on that little hook, like I was a worm on the end of the hook,” said Freeney. “They were like, ‘Dwight, you know what? Stay ready, man. We are going to call you any moment now, any second now. So, I think that was the strategy for them. It may suck for me when they don’t call me, but it still makes me feel like, ‘OK, let me stay ready. Let me get going here because at any point at any time I can get that call.”
Freeney got the call in Week 7. Not from the Lions, though, but the Seattle Seahawks, where he registered three sacks in four games, proving he can still make an impact as a pass rusher. Things were “clicking” in Seattle, he said. But after the Seahawks lost to the Falcons on Monday Night Football at the end of Week 12, Freeney was placed on waivers the following day due to the team’s need at linebacker. The move left him “completely surprised” with his “jaw on the ground,” he said.
And just 24 hours later he was reunited with Caldwell and heading to Detroit to join a team vying for a playoff spot.
That time between getting waived by the Seahawks and claimed by the Lions was an “emotional roller coaster,” said Freeney, who informed his agent he’d retire rather than go to a team he didn’t wish to play for. “Detroit called me and this was a place I actually wanted to go,” he said.
The allure of Detroit stemmed from his familiarity with Caldwell and also with defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who was the defensive backs coach at Syracuse while Freeney played there in college. He’s feeling good, and he’s very happy to be around some familiar faces now that he’s joining his second team this season, and fifth since 2013.
“I’m still having fun,” said Freeney, who is now 17th on the NFL’s all-time sack leaders list with 125. “I think I have a lot left. That’s why I’m still playing. Like for me, I’m here to help out however [I can]. It’s funny how things come full circle. I started off with Jim in my career in Indy, he was there and now I have the same guys with me in the end. I don’t know if this is going to be the last thing for me, the last year for me, but if it is, it’s just amazing to be here with extended family with Jim and those guys.”
Caldwell, speaking to Dan Miller on “Lions Review” on WJR Monday evening, listed some of Freeney’s attributes and why the Lions wanted to add him to the defense.
“He’s got power,” Caldwell said. “He’s still got his moves, those crafty and veteran moves. And something that he’s always been able to do and no one can mimic: his spin move. It’s still one of those things that he utilizes liberally and particularly in the right situations where he can get pressure on the quarterback. He’s one of those guys that you have to pay attention to. You cannot just say, ‘hey, you know what? This guy is 37 years old and he can’t get it done.’ He can.”
Now that he’s in his 16th season, and he’s on his second team this year and has bounced around to different teams the last few seasons, Freeney was asked if it’s more the case that he’s just grateful to be playing, or has it been tough on him?
“Well, I think it’s a little bit of a mix of both, to be honest with you,” Freeney said. “I think it’s a little bit of you are grateful you are still out there being able to play the game that you love and that you’ve been playing for so long. I think that is a big part of it. But then it is also tough. You have to learn new teammates, new scheme, and how they are going to use you. Knowing the right, intricate, little details that you just knew when you were on the Indianapolis Colts for so many years or other teams. There’s little things that you have to play catch up. It’s really catch up now because it’s December and these are when the games count twice. So they mean so much more, so it’s time to be ready and get things going.”
The Lions are now 6-5 and currently fighting for a berth in the NFC playoffs. With the Vikings currently sitting in the NFC North lead at 9-2, the Lions are likely going to have to lock up a Wildcard spot if they want to play in January. Freeney, remarkably, has only missed the playoffs twice since joining the NFL in 2002. He’s excited to join a team that is still in the hunt.
“I hadn’t had an experience to where I’ve joined a team to know the other side of that, where they weren’t in a playoff run or push or what have you,” Freeney said. “So, for me, this is all I know. It would probably be difficult for me to go to a team that had no type of playoff push or could possibly play in the playoffs. For me, like I said, I’m blessed to be in this situation once again.”
Freeney is expected to see his first action on Sunday when the Lions take on the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Whether it’s 15-20 snaps on defense–which many are expecting–or a heavier workload, Freeney said he’s prepared for however defensive coordinator Teryl Austin wants to use him.
“It’s pretty much up to the coaching staff. It’s whatever they want. I’m here just filling in, and helping out however I can. I’ve had those years. I’ve had the years where I’ve played 50, 60 snaps and it’s a wear and tear on the body. I train for that if they need me. But if they don’t need it, then, hey, that’s OK. If you want me for 35, 40 plays I’m ok with that. However they want to use me I’m OK with it. Like I said, I still love the game. I love to play on Sunday and however they need me I’m there.”