Furrey signs deal to play wide receiver for Lions: RAMS

[RamWraith]

By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Apr. 06 2006

Mike Furrey made the radical switch from wide receiver to safety last season,
and despite missing his share of tackles, ended up leading the Rams in
interceptions with four.

Now he's continuing his career in Detroit - but back at wide receiver. Furrey
has signed a one-year, $540,000 contract with the Lions in a deal that includes
a $40,000 signing bonus. He will be reunited in the Motor City with former Rams
head coach Mike Martz, now the Lions' offensive coordinator.

"Obviously, he wants me to come up here and be part of his offense," Furrey
said Wednesday night in a phone interview from Detroit. "We were kind of
looking at other options, and decided on Detroit."

After one year at safety, Furrey sees no problem in switching back to receiver.

"I've been playing it for the last 20 years of my life," said Furrey, 28. "So
it shouldn't be a problem. Playing safety's been good for me. Now that I'm back
at wide receiver, it'll help me understand defenses."

As a restricted free agent, Furrey was not made a tender offer by the Rams,
ending his three-year tenure with the team. Furrey said he found out about his
release by reading the Post-Dispatch but refused to take any parting shots at
management. "That's just the business," he said.

Furrey met briefly with new Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett after
Haslett was hired but quickly figured out that he didn't figure in the team's
plans. "I don't think the new coaching staff was willing to continue to watch a
kid grow (at safety), and I can't blame them," Furrey said.

Furrey becomes the sixth Rams free agent to sign with another team. He joins
running back Arlen Harris and offensive lineman Rex Tucker with Detroit. Safety
Adam Archuleta signed with Washington, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett signed
with Green Bay, and defensive tackle Damione Lewis went to Carolina.

Ram-blings

Yet another Rams free agent, quarterback Jamie Martin, continues to talk to
Cincinnati and Miami. ... Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler, considered one of the top
three quarterbacks in the draft, will pay a pre-draft visit to St. Louis.

[RamsFan16]

Good Luck Furrey!

[Bruce=GOAT]

Good luck Furrey.

[RamsFan4ever]

Good luck Furrey.......Thanks for those game winning/drive ending interceptions in the Saints and Jaguars game....Thanks for all your help you did on the Rams

[tomahawk247]

I wish he could stay, he was a beast on ST