Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison played 25 games with the Detroit Lions in 2018 and 2019. The retired NFL defensive lineman is impressed with how much the organization has changed since the previous regime.
He could not believe how the team for which he once played is treating its newest arrival, Za’Darius Smith.
Harrison, a former undrafted free agent, recorded 299 total tackles during his nine-year career with the Jets, Giants, Lions, Seahawks and Packers. His time with the G-Men was most successful, which led him to be traded from New York to Detroit in October of 2018.
This is where the discrepancy lies.
It is a new era for the Detroit Lions!
Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh round draft pick were traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2025 fifth round and a 2026 sixth round draft picks on Nov. 5, 2024. The 32-year-old, three-time Pro Bowl defensive end is going to be a crucial piece of the puzzle after Aidan Hutchinson was lost for the season with a knee injury. It was a great acquisition.
Smith was traded on on Tuesday. His new head coach, Dan Campbell, gave him a few days off to get his things in order before throwing him out onto the field.
He made his debut with the Lions at practice on Friday. He may or may not play on Sunday. It depends on how he and the team are feeling about his status after a short, chaotic week.
Harrison did not have the same experience when he was traded to the Lions. Matt Patricia did not give him any time off. They never even discussed the idea.
Detroit truly has changed…them folks threw me out there ASAP with swollen knees from the plane ride 😂😂😂😂l https://t.co/D22sQvs5Lc
— Billy (@snacks) November 8, 2024
Times have changed in the Motor City. The organization often destroyed careers or forced an early retirement. See: Kerryon Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders, Joey Harrington, Ndamukong Suh, Herman Moore…. the list goes on.
Detroit is taking a completely different approach under new leadership and it’s paying off in a big way. Unfortunately, Snacks Harrison is among the many players who did not get the same treatment.