Proving yet again that one team’s trash can be another team’s treasure, cornerback Drayton Florence is taking first-team reps in practice with the Lions, only three days after getting the boot from the Broncos.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free-Press, Florence filled in at right corner for Chris Houston, who is still recovering from a sprained ankle.
“I was shocked, but he’s out there making calls,” linebacker Justin Durant said, via Birkett. “He’s been playing a long time, he knows what he’s doing. I’ve got confidence in him. Everybody here knows who he is so once he gets our terminology down I know he’s going to be good.”
“He’s a veteran player,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “He’s played inside, he’s played outside. He’s got a lot of experience. Can play press. He’s got some multi-dimensional skills that we like and like I said he’s very experienced. He didn’t make it at Denver, but he had a good career before that and we look forward to having him contribute for us.”
It’s an upgrade the Lions desperately needed, given the manner in which they were torched by the Saints in the postseason. And it fell out of the sky on Friday, after the Broncos surprisingly cut ties with a player to whom they cut a $1.5 million check when he signed earlier this year.