Detroit Lions Weblog

Kevin Jones, More on Millen/Martz

MLive.com’s Tom “Killer” Kowalski recently blogged about a  NFL Network report by Adam Schefter that stated that the Lions were planning for the possibility that Kevin Jones will not be back until the season’s midpoint and that the Lions are going to have to find another feature back, along with all of their other many needs.   Kowalski contradicts that report by saying that Jones is on schedule for the start of training camp, which starts in the beginning of July.   The Lisfranc injury that Jones suffered is one of the more difficult to rehabilitate and predict to what degree a player will recover from the injury.   The Lions are going to be cautious with Jones, in hopes that the injury does not have any lingering effects and do their best to avoid re-injury. 

The Lions are still going to need help at running back, though.   Winning football teams have quality depth at running back and the Lions had to place three of their backs on the IR last season.   Shawn Bryson will likely serve as a FB and 3rd down back.  The Lions devoted a 3rd round pick to Brian Calhoun last season and Calhoun will basically return to the team this year as a rookie because he played so little and was injured for most of the season.  To a degree Schefter is correct, the Lions will need an upgrade at the position.

Kowalski also reported about the potential unrest within the Lions headquarters (namely between Mike Martz and Matt Millen) over who they should select with their 2007 draft pick.   Kowalski makes an interesting point in the article by stating that the fact that their is an emerging disagreement over whom to pick is a good thing.   If everybody fell lock step into place with Matt Millen, in spite of the complete lack of remaining credibility he has as Team President, it would be a very bad sign.   The Lions are not in a situation where they can have their “Decider” be surrounded by a bunch of sycophants.   In fact, it is the most promising news to Kowalski that their is dissension within the ranks.   The Lions do not have the luxury of not taking the best player available when they draft, irregardless of the position that player may play. 

Monday was the first day that teams were able to release players from their contracts.   Their has been a lot of speculation about whom the Lions may release.   At this point, they will probably be content to remain knee deep in their free agency and draft preparation, then begin releasing players as the team finds suitable replacements for the incumbents.  There are a number of players who I believe should go and it will be very interesting to see whom the Lions choose to part company with.   It will be the best current indicator of who is on board with Marinelli and his staff’s program, and who is not.