Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Release Bradford, Millen’s Personnel Woes Continue…

The Lion’s released veteran WR Corey Bradford on Wednesday so that they could sign former Rams OT Blaine Saipia. The Lion’s were very thin depthwise on the offensive line with the injuries that have been sustained by Rex Tucker, Ross Verba, and Barry Stokes. Saipia is a very versatile linemen (he can play all of the O-line positions and even occasionally serve as a “jumbo” tight end) and has a great deal of familiarity with Mike Martz’s offensive scheme after playing in St. Louis.

Bradford had recently fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and with each passing week seemed to be being utilized even less than the game previous. The decision to release Bradford was a costly one. The Lion’s essentially paid Bradford a million dollars per game (or catch) in his short tenure as a Lion. Bradford, who can be an excellent downfield threat, never has shown particularly good hands or exhibited that he could be a consistent factor in a given offense.

Matt Millen really must have liked Bradford as player, he decided to pursue Bradford twice in free agency before finally signing him this offseason. It is apparent that the current coaching staff really likes the potential that Shaun Bodiford possesses if they decided to keep him rather than a player with a proven NFL track reocrd like Bradford. Hopefully, Millen will be much more successful in his decision to keep an undrafted free agent than he was in selecting a veteran to solidify an overhyped and underperforming receiving corps.