Detroit Lions Weblog

Only the Lions….

Only the Lions could so swiftly and completely damage their bargaining ability to make an off-season trade.   The recent news in regards to Shaun Rogers’ likely being traded or jettisoned comes as no surprise to any of the team’s observers.

The problem is that the Lions, rather than allowing a leak to emerge from within their normally air-tight inner sanctum in Allen Park, should have at least attempted to sell the idea to the rest of the league that Rogers has value remaining to their organization, and would not be available anytime soon.

In the meantime, they could have possibly retained some of his value to other organizations, since it is clear that he would potentially, rather than definitely, be available for the right price. Admittedly, subterfuge is not an organizational strong suit, but how do the Lions continue to so thoroughly botch all of their personnel decisions? (Here’s a clue: Who’s name rhymes with Catt Chillen?)

Now, if they receive any offers at all, they will be operating from a subordinate position when it comes to hedging out a deal.   Typically, that is where they begin their bargaining in most cases, due to their near complete incompetence.  That being said, the damage that they have recently done makes it increasingly likely that Rogers will be had, on the open market, without recompense to the Lions.

The Lions have publicly criticized Rogers before, in a transparent attempt to motivate the wayward Rogers.  I believe that it would be foolish to draw from that well again.   Rogers deserves to leave the team on principle alone, but with that in mind, the Lions are likely to end up with the short end of the stick, yet again, in this situation.

What remains to be seen, other than the Lions continuing their improbably infamous descent as an organization, is whether the normally surly Rogers will take the recent announcement in stride, or will he put down his “Double Whopper” sandwich and force the Lions hand a bit, in order to gain a quicker exit out of town? (Same Ol’ Lions……)