Detroit Lions Weblog

Adios Verba, Bly Traded to Broncos

The Lions have fired a couple of warning shots across the bough today.   Veteran G Ross Verba, who was signed last season in hopes of upgrading the offensive line, was released to avoid paying the bonus he was due this month.   Verba played 6 games last season and struggled with assorted nagging injuries from the moment he was signed by the Lions.  At this point, after missing all of the 2005 and most of the 2006 season, one has to wonder if Verba will eventually land elsewhere or if his career is finished.

The Lions have completed their trade of two time all-pro CB Dre Bly to the Denver Broncos. The Lions will receive versatile RB Tatum Bell, OT George Foster, and a 5th round draft pick.   Considering how little they received in their trade with Miami for Joey Harrington (a fifth round draft pick in ‘07) last season, I believe that the Lions accounted for themselves quite well with this transaction.

Bell, who is entering his fourth season, has gained 2,342 (4.9 yards/carry) rushing yards and scored 13 touchdowns in his three seasons.  Bell is somewhat of a situational back and Denver’s system has produced several 1,000 yard rushers who never have came close again to matching that particular milestone at any point during the remainder of their careers, once they have left the Denver organization.  Foster has started 45 NFL games in his three seasons.  The fifth round draft pick is negligible, but the Lions now will have more than one pick in that round.  Pro Football Talk is reporting that is quite possible that the Lions intend on spinning these players (Bell, Foster) into trades for more draft picks from other organizations down the line.   Apparently, the Lions have their sights on trying to rebuild their roster with as many picks as they can from the ‘07 draft.   With that in mind, I hope that the Lions strongly consider the value of the dependability and experience that they may be receiving from the acquisition of Bell and Foster before they choose to deal them again so quickly.  As we all know, the Lions have a definite need in both personnel groups.

The Free Press’  Nicholas J. Cotsonika   wrote an interesting article about the propensity NFL coaches have for acquiring players whom they have coached before and possess a basic level of familiarity with their coaching schemes and philosophies.  As we enter free agency, it bears mentioning this fact because as mystified as we often are by the Lion’s decision-making in regards to choosing personnel, these previous associations are often a major factor in determining which players a particular team may pursue.   Cotsonika suggests, for example, that the Lions may pursue Tampa DE DeWayne White (whom Marinelli coached in Tampa) to help remedy their lack of quality personnel at that particular position.

Here is a checklist of roster needs as the team enters the free agency period (if you are keeping track):1) OT (if they don’t keep the newly acquired Foster)

2) OG (Depending on what happens with Damien Woody off-season conditioning)

3) DE (James Hall is on his way out, Cory Redding will likely move to DT and Kalimba “The Ghost” Edwards counts for about 1/3 a DE)

4) CB (Dre Bly is gone, their are several young players on the roster who can ably fill a nickel role, but it remains to be seen whether they can be depended upon to play on every down)

5) RB (Even if Kevin Jones returns at the beginning of the season, if they trade Bell, the Lions will only have versatile Shawn Bryson, who will serve as a part-time FB, too, and unproven Brian Calhoun on their current roster)

6) WR (Mike Williams days are likely numbered with the team and they really only have two receivers that they can count on)

7) MLB (next to DE, this is likely the Lions biggest personnel void)

8) TE (with the news that Marcus Pollard is gone and the wild inconsistency of Casey FitzSimmons, the Lions will likely need a backup for Dan Campbell.)

With the considerable erosion of credibility that Matt Millen has suffered from during his six season tenure, it will be interesting to see whether his personnel decisions will show any sign of improvement, as the off-season progresses.  Furthermore, with the number of players the team is attempting to eradicate from it’s roster, will that serve as a notice to potential free agents that the Lions are not a team that they want to consider playing for, as the mass exodus begins.