<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>For potentially the first time since taking over as general manager of the Detroit Lions, Matt Millen will be getting the last laugh this week. Millen's tenure has been filled with bad draft choices and poor decisions, but when he was able to trade cornerback Dr? Bly to the Denver Broncos, he pulled off one of the biggest moves in his time as GM.The Lions agreed Thursday to trade Bly for offensive tackle George Foster, RB Tatum Bell and a fifth-round draft choice in this year's draft. In making the deal, the Lions gave themselves a lot more options this offseason. Foster has started 45 games over the past three seasons. Bell rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season while splitting time with undrafted free agent Mike Bell and has averaged 4.9 yards per carry over his career. He has the big-time speed that can be a huge asset on the turf at Ford Field.The Lions accomplished two things with this move. First, they added some insurance should starting RB Kevin Jones not return to 100 percent after offseason foot surgery. Should Jones come back healthy, Bell still gives them a different look with his speed and would be an excellent change-of-pace back.Second, the acquisition of Foster gives them more flexibility on draft day. It has been widely assumed the Lions will take Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas with the second overall selection in the draft. In doing so, the thinking is, the team would move veteran Jeff Backus, who signed a lucrative extension last season, to the right tackle spot and install Thomas at left tackle. The Lions still might take Thomas, but tackle is no longer a need position. Adding Foster means the Lions can take the best available player at No. 2, which might be Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson.Mike Martz is one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL, and it's scary to think what he could cook up with receivers Roy Williams and the rookie Johnson and a healthy Jones and Bell coming out of the backfield. QB Jon Kitna would have plenty of time to get the ball to his playmakers with his blindside being protected by Backus and his front-side by Foster.The fact Detroit got the better of this deal does not mean Denver did not get a good football player. Bly is a good football player, but he is not a "great" one.With the tragic loss of starting corner Darrent Williams this offseason, Denver clearly had a void to fill. The question is, at what cost? Sure, Bly has been to two Pro Bowls in his career and won a Super Bowl with the Rams, but he is still undersized, not very physical and has questionable durability. He gives up a lot of big plays and will clearly be the man under attack playing opposite of the league's best corners in Champ Bailey.Both teams filled holes with this move. However, Detroit got the best of it. The Lions were able to get two starters and a draft pick for a player they had no intention of keeping. It has not been said often, but Millen is 1-0 to start the 2007 offseason.</div>
I agree that he won it. They needed a RB, Bell has proven he can start. They needed a lot of O-line help.. Foster isn't bad. And they got a pick. They took a hit to their secondary, but got enough back.
