Detroit's slow, slow, slow crawl back to respectability took a step in the right direction on Thursday, as the Lions signed running back Maurice Morris to a three-year, $7 million deal.Morris rushed for 574 yards in 13 games with the Seahawks last season. He's been in Seattle since being drafted out of Oregon in 2002 (fun Lions fact: Morris was the Ducks running back when Joey Harrington was their quarterback), and has proven to be a valuable backup behind guys like Shaun Alexander and Julius Jones.
The Lions had need for a second-string running back -- and everything else basically -- after letting Rudi Johnson walk. Morris isn't a short-yardage guy, but he does have good speed and has shown the ability to make catches out of the backfield, totaling 42 receptions over the past two seasons. If nothing else, he should be able to alleviate the load on Jones.
This isn't a gigantic deal for Detroit; it takes more than a solid backup running back to get from 0-16 to the playoffs. Still, if Lion fans are looking for positive signs, this definitely falls in that category. The frequently hapless Detroit front office went out and signed a solid player and great character guy to a reasonable contract.
On paper, at least, this move makes total sense, and that alone is a minor victory for the boys from the Motor City.
