ARLINGTON, Texas — Larry Foote went from starter to role player when he left the Lions for the Steelers in free agency last year, but the former Detroit Pershing and Michigan standout couldn't be happier with his decision — and it has nothing to do with playing in another Super Bowl.
"Just the overall fit as far as me with the coaches and the scheme of things, it just didn't fit right," Foote said Tuesday at Super Bowl media day. "We just couldn't co-exist. I seen it one way, they seen it their way. I wasn't a problem or nothing like that, but I knew if I had the opportunity to get out of here, when they wanted to talk contract I didn't want to be back."
Foote, 30, said the Lions opened contract talks with his agent last December, but he already had his mind set on returning to Pittsburgh, where he played his first seven NFL seasons.
"They didn't offer me nothing I couldn't refuse, I ain't saying that," Foote said. "But the negotiation, we didn't open that door."
Although Foote referred to his season in Detroit as "dog days" when he re-signed with the Steelers and said Tuesday that he deserved to play in another Super Bowl because he "paid my dues last year," he insisted he holds no animosity toward the Lions and was happy to see them improve from 2-14 to 6-10 this season.
"They turned the corner," he said. "It looked like they're on their way. Coach (Jim) Schwartz and them, made them competitive this year. I wish they had that D-line last year when I was there. I wouldn't be so beat-up right now. But it was impressive. Hopefully, (quarterback Matthew) Stafford can get healthy and a couple more key players they can turn that thing around."
(c) 2011, Detroit Free Press.
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