http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2002/0307/1347185.html Lions Land Hakim The Detroit Lions and unrestricted free agent wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim have reached an agreement on a five-year, $16 million contract, ESPN.com has learned. Hakim's agent, Rocky Arceneaux, confirmed the deal, which will include a signing bonus of more than $5.25 million. The addition of Hakim, a four-year veteran who made his name with the St. Louis Rams, fills the Lions' desperate need for speed. One of the NFL's quickest players, Hakim will team with incumbent Lions starter Johnnie Morton to dramatically upgrade the Detroit receiving corps. Hakim, 24, has been the No. 3 wide receiver for the Rams, behind Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. But the Rams acknowledged early in free agency that Hakim's price tag probably would be too exorbitant for them to have a chance of retaining him. St. Louis officials will meet on Friday with unrestricted free agent Jacquez Green, formerly of Tampa Bay, and he becomes the frontrunner to replace Hakim there. The Lions have also been in contact with free agent wide receiver Corey Bradford of Green Bay, had tentatively scheduled a Friday visit, but may now cancel that. A former San Diego State star, Hakim is among the NFL's quickest and most explosive players. The only issues surrounding him are his size (5 feet 10, 178 pounds) and propensity for fumbling, especially on punt returns. Rams coach Mike Martz replaced him in the return game late in the '01 season after his fourth fumble. It will be interesting to monitor Hakim's production now that he will be a starter and not surrounded by as much talent. There is little doubt, however, that he is a proven playmaker and a critical acquisition for the Lions, who likely will turn to second-year quarterback Mike McMahon as the starter in 2002. During his St. Louis tenure, Hakim caught 148 passes for 2,032 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also returned 112 punts for an 11.4-yard average and two touchdowns, and rushed 22 times for 143 yards and one score. A fourth-round pick in the 1998 draft, Hakim appeared in 56 games and started 10 contests. -------------- I think he would've been good if he were to have landed in Houston. it would've given him the opportunity to become the no.1 reciever.
the texans were never interested; they already have an undersized WR with speed and suspect hands on the roster: jermaine lewis.
Hakim is great....in video games. Seriously, his speed is amazing, but his impeccable ability to drop passes, and fumble catches and punts is a huge negative. I don't think he'll be all that in detroit. He is a great weapon, but hardly a number 1 receiver. I think he'll miss the STL, and a QB with warner's accuracy.
I sure hope Det doesn't have aspirations of starting Hakim. He is a good #2 slot WR. But I don't see him doing much against starting CBs. He made a living off of backup DBs and OLBs.
