<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>A couple of weeks ago, running back Kevin Jones was at Lions headquarters. Everything seemed fine. He went back to Arizona to rehab his surgically repaired right knee. He planned to come back to Detroit late this week, because the Lions start their off-season conditioning program Monday. And so, according to two sources, he was shocked this morning when president Matt Millen called to tell him he was going to be released. The Lions later announced the release of Jones and defensive end Kalimba Edwards, who did not expect to return. Two more players once considered building blocks of the Lions’ future are now, already, gone. Millen and coach Rod Marinelli were unavailable for comment. In a statement, Marinelli said: “With the off-season program beginning next week and with our draft preparation intensifying, we decided this was the right time to make these two roster moves. “While there are always a number of factors that go into this type of decision, we do believe these moves bring clarity to our roster and also eliminate some uncertainty heading into the draft that would have otherwise existed.” The draft is April 26-27. It is supposed to be deep in running backs, and the Lions have the No. 15 pick. The top-rated running backs are Arkansas’ Darren McFadden, Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall and Oregon’s Jonathan Stewart. Jones’ release comes at a time when the Lions want to run the ball more, with Jim Colletto replacing Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. The Lions cut Jones, a first-round pick in 2004, even though they lost T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones to Seattle in free agency. They re-signed Tatum Bell and Aveion Cason, and they also have Brian Calhoun, who is coming back from a knee injury, too. The sources said the Lions gave Jones two reasons for his release: the salary cap and injuries. Jones had one year left on his contract with a base salary of $2.37 million. One source said there was a possibility he could return at a lower number, depending on how things play out. He is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, after coming back from a serious foot injury last year.</div> Source
I'm not surprised that Edwards was released. It seems he never lived up to hype/potential. It does shock me somewhat that K Jones was sent packing. I wouldn't mind seeing him As R Brown's backup. It would be just like Millen to draft someone who has had 1 decent yr & all the hype that surrounds it.
Wow, i had heard once that millen was going to be GM of the year! He missed on some picks??? SHOCKING! Maybe roy williams was tabulating the votes on that straw poll
Edwards is doo-doo. Drafting a RB in the first round is a mistake for this team. I dont care if Mcfadden somehow falls to us, it is a heavy RB draft. We need O-Line, D-Line, and LBs. Hopfully in the later rounds we can snag a RB like Culcrick or however you spell his name.
Its also a draft where you can get some very good offensive tackles. I think its about time that the Lions stop wasting first round picks on skill positions and start bolstering the unheralded part of an offense: the line.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bearsfan1 @ Mar 14 2008, 02:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wow, i had heard once that millen was going to be GM of the year! He missed on some picks??? SHOCKING! Maybe roy williams was tabulating the votes on that straw poll</div> So, Bf1. What are you saying? Millen aka Dipshit is more more consistent/reliable than an exit poll at a Democratic primary?
