Thursday, August 31,
2006
On Their Way Out?
Inside My Head -
So, the start of the season will be like this?
Millen's draft day blunders are coming to a head. Joey Harrington was jetisoned to Miami. Now 2 of the 3 # 1 pick receivers look to be out soon as well.
In the last 2 pre-season games, Mike Williams did nothing. Against Oakland, he didn't take the field. Against Buffalo, he may as well not have, as he didn't have a catch.
The more disturbing is Charles Rogers. This was supposed to be the Lions offensive superstar when he was drafted # 2 overall. His rookie year, he looked like he would live up to this. Then he broke his collar bone. The following year, the Lions used a top ten pick on Roy Williams. This had to burn Rogers, but he looked to be back to his rookie year form. Then he broke his collar bone again. The Lions followed this up by taking Mike Williams with a top ten pick. It was all down hill from there for Rogers. He ended up in Mooch's doghouse, then he got suspended for 4 games. New staff comes in & Rogers again seems to be in the doghouse. Now maybe released.
Mike Williams is also in Rogers boat. Rumors are running that he also could be released in 2 days. Mike made very bad impressions last year by missing meeting, being late for practice & sleeping in film sessions. It was also reported that at one point, Williams weighed as much as 260 last year.
Marinelli & company decided they wanted Williams to play at 220. So far he hasn't come close to that weight. 230 is about it.
Now you look at all the money paid out to these 2 players & it could be hard to keep them around. However, when you have a new tough talking coach, how can he keep them? If they do stick, how do the coaches keep them from being a cancer in the locker room? To keep them around & have them sit on the bench all year could lead to the receivers undermining what the coaches want to do. They haven't reached Rogers or Williams so far, so chances are, they won't.
I don't believe that players like Glenn Martinez, Shaun Bodiford, Mike Furrey, or Eddie Drummond are better player then Williams or Rogers or that any of them would help win more then Williams or Rogers. The problem is, it's clear Charles & Mike don't care & unless they are given starting positions, they will not put forth any effort.
This once again points right at Millen. He has spent alot of high 1st round picks on offensive players. Jeff Backus, Joey Harrington, Charles Rogers, Roy Williams, & Mike Williams. Backus is ok at best. He isn't close to being one of the better tackles in the league. Joey Harrington is gone. Now it seems Rogers & Mike Williams may be gone as well. People mocked Millen for taking receivers top ten 3 years in a row. They are going to go even more nuts if 2 of those receivers get released. This is all further proof of why the Lions are the worst team ever in the NFL over a 6 year period. Eventually, the hammer needs to fall on Millen.
