The Detroit Lions brought in Oregon running back LaMichael James for a visit Wednesday and it says as much about Jahvid Best as anything else. Best only played in six games last season after suffering a concussion in October. To this point, he hasn't been cleared by team doctors to play football. Even when healthy, though, Best is only a 10-15 carry a game running back.
Detroit Lions bring LaMichael James in for a visit
James is practically a Best clone. The 5-foot-8, 194-pound James is a speed back with shifty moves in the open field and good enough hands out of the backfield.
“I feel like if I came here I would be just another weapon in the arsenal,” James told the Detroit Free Press. “They have a lot of great players, a lot of great running backs and I would just get in where I fit in.”
If the Lions drafted a running back, it would be their third in three years. The team took Best 30th in 2010 and Mikel Leshoure 57th overall in 2011. Leshoure is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in the preseason last year. To get James, the Lions would likely have to use their second-round pick (54th overall). He may not be available when the team drafts in the third round (pick 87).
James has injury concerns of his own. He missed some time last season with a broken elbow. James is one of the 30 players the Lions can bring in for a pre-draft visit.
See More:
