Last week the Green Bay Packers cut Mike Daniels, a top defensive tackle and a seven-year veteran. This news stunned the media and the fans. When quarterback Aaron Rodgers learned the Packers cut Daniels, he said, “[I had] no idea, and then next thing I know, I get a text from somebody that, ‘Mike is getting taken upstairs.’ When you say that, ‘So-and-so just went upstairs,’ you know what’s happened. I was surprised. I really was.” Rodgers also adds that Daniels had contributed significantly for years with the team and will be missed for his efforts on and off the field.

Although this move will save Green Bay $8 million in cap space, Daniels was an integral piece to their defense. Daniels recorded 29 sacks in his time with Green Bay, which is a Packers record for an interior lineman. This decision leaves many confused, but not Mike Daniels. After receiving calls from 13 other teams, Daniels chose the Detroit Lions solely because of coach Matt Patricia.

Why Mike Daniels Chose the Detroit Lions

Daniels did not spend much time upset that the Packers cut him. Days after this news broke, reports came out that Daniels was finalizing a deal with the Packers division rivals, the Lions. The defensive tackle admitted that he’d always respected the Lions defense. Now that Patricia and Detroit are on the same page, the team has implemented the genius defensive scheme he brought from New England. Although the Lions got off to a slow start last season, their defense certainly had a strong finish.

Daniels is excited to work with Patricia because he sees that the coach is improving Detroit’s defense just like he did in New England. In his six years with New England, the team always landed in the top ten for points allowed rankings. Because Patricia has brought this intense defensive scheme with him to Detroit, the Lions ranked in the top ten defenses for the second half of last season. With a man that consistently has top ten defenses, it’s no wonder why Mike Daniels chose the Detroit Lions.

Daniels had this to say of his new head coach, “Coach Patricia. Just flat out. He’s just a genius. He really is, man. [Patricia] understands the game of football. He knows what it takes, so to be able to play for a coach like that means everything. It means everything. I’m really just trying to be restrained right now because I’m so excited. If I could do a backflip right now, I’d do one. I’m really excited.”

Daniels on the Lions

For his entire NFL career so far, Daniels has been a leader in the Packers defense. He has had to carry the team to a degree. Daniels is excited to work with Patricia, who he calls a defensive genius. He says Patricia “does things the right way.” He could also be ready to have less on his shoulders alone. Daniels is impressed with the personnel that Patricia has recruited and says how awesome it will be to play with these guys.

As excited as this defensive tackle is that he chose the Detroit Lions, one might wonder if he was starting to be unhappy to play for the Packers. He says Patricia does things the right way, so is he implying that the Packers weren’t?