Pride of Detroit
There may not be a single currently Detroit Lions player more negatively impacted by the team’s offseason moves than Giovanni Manu. The developmental offensive tackle is entering his third year with the team after being drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and this was the season many hoped to see a jump in the depth chart. But in free agency the Lions signed offensive tackle Larry Borom and they drafted Blake Miller in the first round. With Penei Sewell not going anywhere, Manu is pretty firmly OT4 on the team right now.
Before the team broke from spring practices, Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network caught up with Manu, and the 25-year-old offensive lineman was clearly honest in that conversation.
“…I’m not going to sugarcoat anything, I was frustrated,” Manu said. “I definitely had to sit in my living room for a little bit and just weigh it out, you know? What’s this (mean for) me in the future, how am I going to handle it?”
Out of respect for Rogers’ paywall, I won’t give away the full story. But Manu did seek guidance from former NFL Pro Bowler LeCharles Bentley, who offered him some valuable advice. Combine that with Manu starting to get some reps at guard, and it’s clear he doesn’t believe his NFL fate has been written yet.
“I’ve faced harder situations in life than this, so if I can overcome those things, like this won’t break me,” Manu said.
On to the rest of the Notes:
Over on The Feed, I thought RoarMore37 made an interesting point that I had briefly considered. How NIL money may help teams evaluate how players will handle money at an early age–and maybe prevent a Terrion Arnold-like situation :
Congrats to former Lions defensive lineman Julian Okwara, who got married over the weekend. You know the photography was top-notch with Romeo there:
DetroitLions.com has a light Q&A with rookie linebacker Jimmy Rolder. Noteworthy: his walk-up music would be Eminem. He may have grown up in Chicago, but he’s Pure Michigan now.
Barry Sanders: GOAT running back, GOAT human being:
Ben Raven of MLive sets the table for an upcoming big camp battle at left guard.
Looks like Terrion Arnold’s situation could get even worse if he gets out on bail:
