It sounds like the Lions are smoothing things over with David Montgomery. Hiring an offensive coordinator known for pounding the ball likely helped.
Montgomery's future with the Lions was thrown into doubt when GM Brad Holmes said last month that the veteran running back "deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized" and that the Lions would have to consider moving him elsewhere after a season in which Montgomery's role was diminished in Detroit's offense. It painted the picture of a player who potentially wanted out.
Montgomery, who signed a two-year extension with the Lions last season that runs through 2027, saw career lows in carries and touches as Detroit leaned especially hard on Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery finished with the second most yards per carry (4.5) of his career but got fewer than 10 carries in nine games, far more than in his first two seasons with the Lions combined. Some weeks, he felt like an afterthought.
But Drew Petzing could change things. Hired last month as Detroit's new offensive coordinator after the firing of John Morton, who lasted just one year on the job and just eight games calling plays, Petzing oversaw an elite rushing offense during his time with the Cardinals. He could be a key to restoring the Lions' punishing ground game and perhaps to retaining Montgomery. (The key is fortifying the offensive line.)
Asked about Petzing at Super Bowl week in San Francisco, Montgomery told NBC Sports, "I talked to him briefly. It’s pretty evident that he knows exactly what has to happen and he’s prepared for the task at hand, so it will be good to see what he implements in our offense and how we can improve better than what we were last year."
That's not quite a promise to be back, but it also doesn't sound like a player who's angling to leave. If the Lions can ensure Montgomery that he'll be more involved next season -- and show him as much by investing in their offensive line -- he'll have good reason to stick around with Petzing calling plays.
"Those are discussions that we’re going to have to have, a lot more in-depth in terms of, what is the plan for him going forward? Is it somewhere else or whatever the case (may) be?" Holmes said. "Just really appreciate everything that he has done for us, if it does end up going that way. I hope it doesn’t, because we love David Montgomery. He’s a good football player. I wish we would’ve been able to get more utilization from him. I know Dan (Campbell) feels the same way.
"But those are conversations that we’re going to have, because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player. He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized. I would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you have to just see what you can work out the best for him."
Montgomery has always been a big fan of Campbell, and reiterated that this week.
"I think it’s really important to follow someone who did the same thing and took the same path as any other player in the NFL," he said. "He cares about who you are and he wants the best for you, and being able to have somebody who believes in who you are, it makes you play for him at another different level."
With Petzing in the fold, maybe Montgomery and the Lions can work this out.