Detroit Lions Weblog

Return to Az?

WR Az-Zahir Hakim was signed by the Lions on Tuesday. He takes WRDeVale Ellis’s roster spot. Hakim, one of Matt Millen’s first free agent signings (along with Bill Schroeder), has experience both as a Lion and as a player in a Mike Martz-designed St. Louis Rams offense, which obviously increased his desirability to the team. Hakim could provide some quality depth for the team and is capable of making some fantastic plays if he has recovered to full health and speed. Hakim had been given a tryout by the Lions in the off-season and was not signed at that time because the Lions thought he may still have some knee trouble. Hakim has been both turnover and injury-prone so it is not likely he will be a starter or major contributor soon. That being said, you can never be sure just what Hakim’s role may become if the team continues it’s offensive struggles for long.

Roy Williams has continued to expand his role as the team’s self-designated media spokesperson. Yesterday, he was quoted as saying that the Lions should start beleaguered WR Mike Williams on Sunday against the Bears. I believe that Roy’s encouragement of Mike Williams could become a positive, especially by standing behind “Big” Mike publicly. That being said, Williams still has to earn his playing time just like everybody else and if the Lions had believed that he could have contributed to a victory for the team on Sunday, he would have been activated.

Mike Williams is likely the most enigmatic Lion of all-time. As if suffering through the near continuous stream of Lion first round draft pick failures has not been enough, Williams doesn’t give a strong impressiion that he is concerned about his future. After seeing players like Charles Rogers and Joey Harrington jettisoned in the off-season, when will the message that his NFL career may be in jeopardy seep into his consciousness? It bothers me that he can’t get focused enough so that at the very least, the Lions can exploit the matchup difficulties he can create inside of the red zone. If the first game is any indication, Lion’s touchdowns may come at a premium, especially early in the season.