Detroit Lions Weblog

Bly to Broncos?, Rams Release G Timmerman, Pollard Also Gone?

Apparently, the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins have emerged as front-runners of sorts for the services of outgoing Lions CB Dre Bly.  Many sources have speculated that the Broncos may part with a third round draft pick and player(s) for Bly.   Several Broncos players are rumored to be available to be had via trade, in what will likely be one of the more active off-seasons for NFL trades, including RB Tatum Bell, OT George Foster, and QB Jake Plummer.   With that in mind, Bly still has some say where he can be traded similar to the manner in which Joey Harrington was able to restrict the Lions to a trade to the Dolphins last season.   The pairing of Bly with Champ Bailey would be an exceptional one, although Bly’s risk-taking style may make him even more vulnerable because few teams will chance throwing in Bailey’s vicinity and attempt to exploit Bly’s all-in, gambling tendencies.

With trade rumors in the air, another player has recently been added to the list of candidates who are earmarked to be heading out of Allen Park. TE Marcus Pollard, who was an ineffective and seldom-used component of the roster in ‘06, apparently has garnered some interest from teams.   DE James Hall has drawn some interest from the Rams and Raiders, but I believe it is safe to say that Hall, G Ross Verba, and DT Marcus Bell will eventually end up being released by Saturday, so why would the Rams or Raiders give up anything higher than a 5th or 6th round draft pick for Hall?  

If you are keeping a check list, the Lions will definitely not retain seven players: CB Dre Bly, G Ross Verba, DT Marcus Bell, FB Cory Schlesinger, TE Marcus Pollard, DE James Hall, and G Rick DeMulling.   They are unlikely to re-sign free agent Terrence Holt and I would say it’s a better than 90% chance that neither G Damien Woody or WR Mike Williams will return next season, either.  That is 10 players out of the 53 man roster who are likely heading out, with a possibility of more to come.    One thing that is certain in Rod Marinelli’s ongoing “weeding out” process, more chaff will need to be separated from the wheat as the Lions continue to attempt to build a roster to his liking.

The Rams released veteran G Adam Timmerman this week.   As much as I think the veteran O-Line acquisitions that the Lions have made in recent years have proven dubious, (ex.Stai, Brendan, DeMulling, Rick, and Verba, Ross et al) don’t be surprised if the Lions don’t at least give him a look with their willingness to serve as a St. Louis North since the hiring of Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz.   The Lions have also engaged in a very public courting of Rams WR Kevin Curtis and have also been rumored to be interested in RB Marshall Faulk, if he proves capable of returning from his year out of football.   This whole fixation on Rams castoffs is a little troubling since it has been nearly 10 seasons since the “Greatest Show on Turf” was turning heads.   It is safe to say, in my opinion, that the game has caught up with the innovation and overwhelming success enjoyed by that high-powered offense.   Not that I don’t have faith in Martz, but it seems that the Lions are never on the cutting edge of these trends, but always seem to find themselves significantly behind the curve in most cases when it comes to innovative and effective strategies for success in the NFL.