When Derrick Barnes added it all up, the math was clear. Detroit is his home, the Lions are his team and their job isn't done. Their foundation was poured in his draft class. Their new defensive coordinator is his former position coach. Barnes could have tested free agency, but two other variables -- three years, $25.5 million -- made the equation rather simple.
"I’m blessed to be back here," Barnes said Monday. "This is where I wanted to be. When it came down to it, I was telling my agent, I want to go back home, I want to be in Detroit, that’s where I belong. We’re building something great -- we’re continuing to build something great -- and I want to be a part of it."
Barnes, 25, was playing the best football of his life last year before a knee injury ended his season in Week 3. He was "putting everything together" as the SAM linebacker in Detroit's defense, rushing the passer, dropping into coverage and snuffing out the run. He played on the edge of the line, in the box, even in the slot. Alongside Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell, Barnes was a key link in one of the top linebacking trios in the NFL.
"Physically, mentally, more comfortable," he said. "The game just really slowed down for me and it felt good to be out there, not super nervous, not worried about mistakes and just went out there playing ball. I feel like my best football is yet to come. I think that’s another reason why they love me here, is just the steps I’ve taken every year and I’ll continue to do that."
If he maintains that trajectory, Barnes could turn into a bargain for the Lions. Last season, he says, is just a "glimpse of what I was becoming." And if his growth stalls, the Lions can get out of the contract at a minimal cap cost in the final year. His $8.5 million salary ranks outside the 15 highest-paid players at his position, and will only fall as the cap rises and his peers continue to cash in.
Barnes has been sharpened for four years by Kelvin Sheppard, who's taking over Detroit's defense from Aaron Glenn. Sheppard knows better than anyone how to put Barnes' tools to use. Already, said Barnes, "it’s amazing to see the bits and pieces of what Shep" is preparing for the linebackers in his scheme. Barnes' relationship with Sheppard, a former NFL linebacker himself, was "a big part of my decision of coming back to Detroit."
"He is a guy that anybody would want to play for. Him being the DC, I’m pretty sure every guy here is going to buy into what he wants. He’s super passionate about what he does, loves the game, and why not want to go play for a guy like that?" said Barnes. "He has those characteristics of Dan (Campbell). We see how Dan is on the field and the way he loves his players. He can put his player hat on when he wants to, when he needs to especially. And I think that Shep does the same thing.
"Man, I’m just surrounded by a good group of coaches, great group of guys, and there’s no way I would want that anywhere else."
After a long season of rehab, Barnes is ready to get back to work. He's been cleared physically. He said his knee feels good and that he'll be on the field for OTA's. Being removed from the game only makes him more grateful "to come back and play for the best city in the world." And for an organization that was willing "to pay me that amount of money coming off this injury."
"It’s emotional," said Barnes, "because I know a lot of people don’t get this opportunity. The fact that Dan and Brad (Holmes) have confidence in me so I can have confidence in myself, it means the world to me."
Barnes' story reads a bit like the Lions' rebuild. He was kicked around in year one, found his footing in year two, and kicked it into gear in year three. Who knows how year four would have ended had Detroit's defense stayed healthy -- "you always think about what could have happened," said Barnes. "What could and what would."
"I feel like when we’re a healthy team, we’re unstoppable and I think that we can beat any team in this league, and we’ve proven that," he said.
When he came back into the building to sign his deal, Barnes told Campbell and Sheppard, "Let's run it back." The Lions won a franchise record 15 games last year but flamed out in the first round of the playoffs, burned in part by a depleted defense. Their Super Bowl window remains very much open. As Barnes put it, "This is a winning program now. We’ve changed things. We’ve built a culture where going to the playoffs is not going to be enough for us."
“I just feel like there’s unfinished business here," he said. "We didn’t make it as far as we wanted to last year, but years to come of great football and to get what we really want -- and we all know what that is."