Aaron Curry REALLY Wants to Be a Lion

Aaron Curry has it all backwards. See, I’d assume the only good thing about being taken No. 1 overall in the NFL draft would be the extra money that comes along with it. You’re going to the worst team in the league -- there has to be some monetary compensation for that. But Curry, for reasons I don’t understand, wants to sign a deal with the Lions before Saturday, and is willing to do so below market value:

Asked on Sirius satellite radio if he would sign a deal worth less than the $30 million last year's top pick, Jake Long, got, Curry emphatically said yes.

"I'd be more than happy to accept that deal," Curry said. [...]

"I’ve actually been able to exchange text messages with [Lions GM Martin] Mayhew himself, just discussing the whole situation," Curry said. "He gave me some birthday wishes on my birthday and we talked about just how things would be if me, (and Lions linebackers) Ernie Sims and Julian Peterson were together in one room, just to be able to go out there and wreak havoc.”

When you combine the fact that Matthew Stafford will likely want more than the $30 mil Long received last year with Curry being the safer pick, it seems like a no-brainer for the Lions to sign the linebacker this week. (Although “no-brainer” and “Lions” usually don’t jibe when put together in the same sentence.) Curry will have an immediate impact on the defense, unlike Stafford who will be rushed into the starting QB job and likely struggle for a few years before maybe becoming a quality player. The odds are against that happening, though.

Still, Curry willing to sign with the Lions is a mind-boggler. If he takes his chances on draft day, instead of signing before Saturday, he could still end up with Detroit, but more likely he’ll fall somewhere between No. 3 and No. 8. If picked in that range, he’ll still sign for about the same amount of money he’s willing to take right now from the Lions, yet likely end up as part of a more promising franchise. Unless he goes No. 6 to the Bengals, in which case, nevermind.

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