Lyght Signs with Detroit
UHND.com - Frank Vitovitch
April 13, 2001
Detroit, Michigan (UHND) - Ten year NFL veteran Todd
Lyght ended his 10 year career with the Rams Friday and signed a two year contract with
the Detroit Lions. Lyght, who had been with the Rams his entire career after getting
selected #5 in the 1991 Draft, left the offensive minded Rams after losing his starting
job.
After ten seasons with the Rams, the Rams paid no respect to Lyght by signing Dexter
McLeon to a five year deal at the end of the season basically giving him the starting spot
along with Dre Bly who was given Lyght's job mid-way through the season. All of this just
one year after Lyght was named to his first Pro Bowl and All Pro team when the Rams won
the Super Bowl.
Letting defensive players go seems to be a theme with the Rams who traded Kevin Carter and
now let Lyght go. Lyght and Carter were cornerstones on the 1999 Ram team that won a Super
Bowl, but are now both gone from the team that possesses the most explosive offense in the
league.
Instead of locking up defensive players to help improve the Rams weak defense the team and
offensive minded coach Mike Martz have given Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and Isaac Bruce
long term deals. Maybe the Rams don't realize that you simply can't go out every week and
put up 40 points on the board every week and expect to win a Super Bowl.
The Lions were in need of help in the secondary after Bryant Westbrook tore his ACL. Lyght
should be penciled in as a starter opposite of Terry Fair.
Detroit missed the playoffs in 2000, but with a healthy Charlie Batch and an improved
defense, the Lions could find their way back to the post season next year.