Detroit Lions Weblog

Mike Williams’ Future is in Doubt, But He is Unlikely to be Traded

Their have been a growing number of rumors in regard to the Lions possibly trading WR Mike Williams, in lieu of the unresolvable impasse between the Lions and Williams.   Williams, who is not on board at all with the Lions current program, will be gone, eventually, but is unlikely to be traded due to the immediate cap ramifications.

If the Lions cut Williams, they can spread the cap charge across two seasons.   If they choose to trade him, the charge is immediate to the tune of about $7 million.  I can’t believe that any team who has potential interest in Williams would deal for him, with his contract as is, and give the Lions something that they would need in return, with the obvious realization for all parties involved that Williams can, and will, be had for much less once he is released.   Trades don’t make reasonable sense for any of the parties involved, especially considering the total lack of production or consistency from Williams thus far.

Their are Trojan-”homers” who are involved in decision-making in a couple of organizations around the league who may want to give “Big Mike” a chance.   Oakland’s Al Davis and Lane Kiffin have obvious connections to USC, as well as Jeff Fisher and Norm Chow with the Titans.  Both teams have been mentioned as possible landing spots for the disappointing Williams, too.

Their is nothing to indicate that their is any sort of widely-held, league-wide view that Williams has been misunderstood or short-changed by the Lions coaching staff or front office.   In fact, I believe that every organization but the Lions were in tune with the high possibility that Williams would be a failure, due to his relative immaturity and complete season away from playing organized football.

Much like the drama and disappointment surrounding the the brief tenures of players like Aaron Gibson, Stockar McDougle, Joey Harrington, and Charles Rogers, Williams will be expelled from the Lions organization soon in much of the same anti-climatic and unceremonious manner that the aforementioned players were.  Unfortunately for Lions fans, the misfortunes of the Lions organization will likely keep marching on.