Detroit Lions Weblog

Charles Rogers receives late Nobel Prize nomination

How do you spell first-round disaster? Charles Rogers, who will receive a 4 game suspension for his third offense of the league’s substance abuse policy, is an unmitigated disaster as a first round draft pick. Rogers, after his appeal of his suspension and subsequent four game suspension, will have missed nearly 30 games in three seasons as a Lion. The nearest comparisons I can draw to Rogers are such unnotables as R. Jay Soward, David Terrell, Freddie “Don’t Call Me Fred-Ex” Mitchell, and Koren Robinson. Has anyone began to wonder what the possible salary cap ramifications are for releasing two first rounders in one season (Rogers, Harrington)? The Lions may have the honor of pulling a trifecta by not re-signing Jeff Backus to a new contract after this season. That would be three first round draft picks gone with a quickness!

Let’s face facts here, the Lions are helmed by a President who has built a 17-50 record during his tenure, coached by a coach who came to the Lions with the highest of credentials and yet thus far has come nowhere even close to a .500 career record with the team. The team also features an over-rated assemblage of high-priced skill players (Harrington, Rogers, Williams and Williams, and Jones) who are costing the Lions $125 million dollars and have produced a whopping 12 points/game 3 games into the 2005 schedule. Things are just not going well in Motown.

In the Tampa Bay game there were signs of encouragement. Kalimba Edwards is moving closer to be a productive NFL performer. The Lions defense has accounted for itself quite well, thus far. At some point, with all of the offensive struggles and deficiencies, the defense will weaken because it will spend too much time on the field trying to bail out the offense. The defense will suffer from more injuries, increased fatigue, a noticeable lack of concentration and an overriding sense of frustration if this offense continues to underachieve. Their are dark clouds ahead.

Charles Rogers is emblematic of the Lions struggles towards respectability. Rogers was a glossy pick. Hometown favorite. Exciting superstar. Yet, in the process, he has failed to live up to his hyped billing. The most galling aspect of this failure is the fact that Rogers has been the most selfish and vocal member of the team about his place within the Lions organization. How dare he, whine and moan to the media about not getting the ball when he was fully aware that he was soon to be suspended. I hope the Lions let him rot.

One has to wonder if Matt Millen was being proactive when he chose Mike Williams over Kansas City LB Derrick Johnson in last year’s draft. Johnson may have been the more sensible pick, but Millen may have realized that the chances were slim and none that Rogers would make it though a complete season. I hope that was the case, otherwise, who is the captain of this ship?