Detroit Lions Weblog

In Regards to Corey Schlesinger

The Detroit Free Press’s Nicholas Cotsonika recently penned an interesting article about Corey Schlesinger entitled Earning Respect… that updates the current standing of the future of the seasoned veteran.

Schlesinger, who has been perhaps the classiest and most consistent Lion in recent team history (with only Jason Hanson and Robert Porcher recently challenging that assertion), will face an uphill struggle to make the team’s final roster this season. As valuable as Schlesinger has been in the past, he’s consistently been a punishing run blocker and an often versatile offensive weapon, Mike Martz’s new, single-back oriented offense may struggle to find a consistent role for him. Even though Martz recently complimented his professionalism and work ethic, Schlesinger’s advanced years may render him somewhat expendable to the rebuilding franchise. That being said, I, like most Lion fans will not count him out since he has proven to be such a tenacious competitor.

Most remarkable about Schlesinger’s current situation (at least to me), in a time when other athletes would obnoxiously demand a trade to more suitable environs (like an offense that runs a more conventional I-formation) or lament their current unfavorable situation by bellyaching to the local media, Schlesinger has remained strongly-resolved and steadfast throughout his entire history as a Lion and I believe that these strong attributes will remain consistent throughout whatever future endeavors he may choose to pursue. Schlesinger is surely a vanishing breed and will be sorely missed when he finally plays his last down as a Lion.