Detroit Lions Weblog

Lions Continue to Bestow Permission For Potential Trades, Redding, Martz…

Wow!  The Lions off-season is now really kicking into overdrive.   The Detroit Free Press has reported that the Lions have granted both DE James Hall and DT Marcus Bell the opportunity to engineer trades, if they are in the Lions best interest.   Bell, who was successful as a run-stuffing back-up to “Big Daddy” Wilkinson in his first season with the Lions, is not suited for the Lions new defensive scheme.   Bell can’t play on enough downs as a situational linemen and he doesn’t provide the pressure necessary to be a contributor in the Tampa-2 style of defense, which is predicated upon consistent pressure by it’s front four.   It is rumored that Bell will be jettisoned soon, irregardless of whether or not he can drum up potential trade partners with the Lions.

Hall, an overachieving, undrafted free agent, has been one of the Lions steadiest contributors in the past.   After having a career year three seasons ago, Hall has experienced a drop-off in his performance level and has suffered consecutive season-ending injuries. Hall can still potentially provide the Lions with quality performance, but it is rumored that he has become a disgruntled locker room lawyer.   These scenarios beg me to ask these questions, Who is going to be willing to trade for either of these players, and who are they to believe that there will be a number of available suitors anxiously awaiting their future services?

The deadline for the Lions to place the franchise tag upon DE/DT Cory Redding is 4 P.M. next Thursday (22nd).   If the Lions are unable to work out an extension with Redding, they will place the franchise tag upon him.   Free Agency begins March 2nd and Redding is not likely to be happy about his situation.   The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and owners states that the franchise tag will be designated for the position at which the player played the most games the previous season.  In this case, Redding a career defensive end, will be paid about $2 million less since he played more defensive tackle than defensive end.    The Lions will have until summer to work out an extension with Redding, similar to the deal they made with OT Jeff Backus last season.   On the other hand, Redding and his agent could hope to engineer a trade out of Detroit, although any potential suitors will have to relinquish a lot in return for Redding.

Mike Martz’s name has been mentioned as potential candidate for the Chargers vacant head coaching position.   There does not appear to be an interview scheduled, though.   If I were going to make a wager, I would think that the Chargers will shock the world by contiguously hiring USC’s Pete Carroll and making an announcement that the team will move to Los Angeles in the future.   I know it’s crazy, but so was firing a head coach whose team was 14-2 last season.

The growing tumult in the Lions off season indicates a lot.   For starters, it is apparent that not everybody is as on board with Coach Rod Marinelli as it was earlier indicated.   The entire defensive line appears to have one beef or another with Marinelli.   Hopefully, the players who remain, after any potnetial trades or releases,  will displace some of that surliness towards opposing QB’s, rather than continue to sulk over their individual situations.  It is also apparent that the players are losing faith in the ability of the Lions front office to turn their current situation around and are growing impatient.  Marinelli will not only have to continue to sell the current Lions on the value of hard work, discipline, and poise, but he will also have to convince them that their jobs are not an exercise in futility with Matt Millen in charge.   It is really no wonder that this team has one playoff victory in 50 years now.

By the way, G Damien Woody has entered Duke University’s weight loss clinic, which is likely an attempt to salvage his once promising career.   A trimmer, motivated Woody could help the Lions a great deal.   It is still debatable whether or not he will remain a Lion as the ‘07 season approaches.