Detroit Lions Weblog

Jerry Porter Rumors, FitzSimmons returns

The rampant rumors that started this week surrounding Raiders WR Jerry Porter possibly coming to Detroit in a trade seemed outlandish enough to me that I wanted to wait before I commented about them. Porter has been a wildly inconsistent player who at times has been an effective downfield presence at receiver when given the opportunity. The thought that Lions Team Pres. Matt Millen would approach the owner of his old team, Al Davis, to discuss a player exchange is logical. The illogical aspect of such a move would be taking such a big risk on a player who has produced so little in his brief career, especially considering the Lion’s recent travails at that position. If the Lions are serious about taking risks with their personnel, then they should investigate the possibility of acquiring a big time playmaker like Randy Moss instead of Jerry Porter.

The Lions will have another weapon available to them on Sunday. Casey FitzSimmons, who was the recent beneficiary of a contract extension, will return from his wrist injury and play with a cast. FitzSimmons will play FB, H-Back, and TE which will increase the offensive packages that Coordinator Mike Martz can utilize. This is a big season for FitzSimmons to establish himself and attempt to meet some of his promise. He has exhibited a lot of potential, but has never exhibited the consistency and play-making ability necessary to distinguish himself from the “Boo” Williams’s and Doug Jolley’s of the league. I don’t think that FitzSimmons will be ever be a top-flight TE, but he could easily play as well as players like Chad Lewis, Stephen Alexander, etc.