Should the Lions pay Alex Anzalone $7.6 million to stay, or let their five-year captain walk in free agency?

Alex Anzalone just posted career-best numbers at 31, anchored a top-10 defense, and wants to retire in Honolulu blue. But with Jack Campbell's extension looming, limited draft capital, and Aaron Glenn circling in New York, Brad Holmes faces a 50/50 decision that could define Detroit's Super Bowl window. We break down the four replacement paths (free agency, draft, trade, or re-sign), debate the linebacker age curve, and reveal what a "fair deal" actually looks like.

Plus: The Grey Manes Hall of the Underrated inducts Corey Schlesinger, the unsung fullback who paved the way for Barry Sanders and embodied old-school Lions grit.

Full article “The Case for Free Agent LB Alex Anzalone” by Dan Keener: https://www.thegreymanes.com/post/the-case-for-free-agent-lb-alex-anzalone

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

he David Montgomery situation isn't what the hot-take crowd wants you to believe.

When Brad Holmes gave his cryptic answer about Monty's future at the January 8th press conference, Lions media immediately declared him gone. But the we don't deal in knee-jerk reactions - we dissect the numbers, the cap implications, and the strategic realities that casual fans overlook.

In this episode, we break down the actual financial impact of trading or cutting Montgomery (spoiler: $4.8M in dead cap for $1.3M net savings), analyze the replacement cost matrix that makes moving on nearly impossible, and explain why a 29-year-old power back with a young family and championship aspirations has every reason to run it back in Detroit for 2025.

We'll decode Holmes' carefully worded response, examine the three realistic scenarios (Monty-initiated departure, Lions-initiated pay cut, or blockbuster trade offer), and reveal why Sonic and Knuckles are far more likely to share the backfield again than the narrative suggests.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

With John Morton fired and 15 names circulating for Detroit's OC vacancy, the Grey Manes break down the candidates through the lens that matters: data, scheme fit, and Lions identity.

Which candidate has actually elevated pocket passers like Jared Goff? Who brings the intellectual firepower Goff craved with Ben Johnson? And critically: which hire ensures Detroit doesn't sacrifice offensive dominance for coordinator roulette?

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

What if Frank Ragnow never retired? What if the Lions injury report didn’t look like a CVS receipt every week? What if those five fourth-down failures in Philadelphia went differently?

The Detroit Lions entered 2025 with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. They're ending it on their couches. The Grey Manes dissect the season's autopsy report with surgical precision - identifying the 13 critical junctures where championship dreams fractured into bitter reality.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

If you're wondering whether the Lions should pay a 32-year-old linebacker, which free agents deserve new deals after an 8-8 collapse, and where Brad Holmes will pick in April's draft - this episode breaks it all down.

From Super Bowl contenders to playoff elimination in one brutal season. We dissect the six-turnover disaster against Minnesota that ended Detroit's postseason hopes, preview a Bears finale that matters more than the standings suggest, and do our best to analyze all 30 pending free agents with contract projections and re-signing odds.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

The Lions Grey Manes break down the devastating Steelers loss: two controversial OPI calls, DK Metcalf's fan assault, the worst rushing performance in 20 years, and why injured starters returning hasn't saved the season. Plus, Vikings preview and playoff scenarios.

We dissect the defensive collapse that allowed two 45-yard touchdowns, examine the officiating controversies, and provide data-driven keys to beating Minnesota on Christmas Day.

Join us for the hard truths about injuries, depth issues, and whether this team can salvage a playoff berth.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

We break down the Lions' 41-34 loss to the Rams: questionable officiating, run defense collapse, underutilized backfield weapons, and whether Brad Holmes' trade deadline inactivity left this team vulnerable. Plus, we preview the must-win Steelers matchup and map out the exact playoff scenarios for the final 3 games. Your complete Lions fan rooting guide to keep postseason hopes alive through Christmas and beyond.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

The Lions are 8-5 with four games left and a depleted secondary. We break down the playoff scenarios, what the Cowboys win revealed, and why facing Matthew Stafford's MVP-level Rams team might be the biggest test of the Brad Holmes era. Data-driven Lions analysis for serious fans.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

If you're a Lions fan wondering why this season feels like Murphy's Law in action while rivals catch every break, it’s time to cut through the noise with a data-driven perspective you won't find anywhere else.

This week, we dissect the real reasons behind Detroit's defensive communication breakdowns, the harsh reality of in-game injuries that no medical staff can predict, and why blaming Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell might show a fundamental misunderstanding of roster construction. 

Join the conversation and bring your sharpest questions - because mature Lions analysis demands more than surface-level commentary.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net

If you're tired of hot-take artists blaming Jared Goff's glove while ignoring the five batted passes, four drops, and backup interior offensive line communication breakdowns that actually derailed the Eagles game, this data-driven breakdown is for you.

The Grey Manes dissect why the Lions' 37.7% completion percentage wasn't about one player - it was systemic offensive execution issues colliding with weather, injuries, and questionable fourth-down play calling (Gibbs up the gut with backup linemen? Really, Dan?).

We map out the realistic 6-1 path through the remaining schedule (only the Rams pose a legitimate threat), evaluate how the two new coordinators need to adapt offensive schemes around IOL instability, and explain why Detroit is still firmly in control of their playoff destiny - despite currently sitting outside looking in.

No panic. No narratives. Just film study, historical context, and the analytical rigor Brad Holmes would approve of.

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Lions Grey Manes is produced by Chris Stone at https://CastAhead.net