Detroit WRs article (1 Viewer)

[Bri]

Lions looking at bringing back Hakim

Monday, May 08, 2006

By Tom Kowalski

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions wrapped up a three-day rookie minicamp on Sunday, but the most significant issue involving personnel is the possible return of veteran wide receiver Az Hakim.

Hakim, who played with the Lions from 2002-04, visited with the team over the weekend. If he signs a contract, it could push former first-round draft picks Charles Rogers and Mike Williams even further down the depth chart. The Lions say no signing is imminent, but talks are continuing.

Officially, the Lions are saying that everybody is competing equally for all of the positions. Realistically, Roy Williams and Corey Bradford figure to be the starting wide receivers and Hazim, who flourished with Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz during their days with the St. Louis Rams, could step into the No. 3 position because he'd be the team's best slot receiver.

That leaves little room for Rogers and Mike Williams. The Lions would likely keep six receivers, but that final spot is reserved for Eddie Drummond because of his kick returning ability, leaving two open roster spots at receiver.

The person most likely to pressure Rogers or Mike Williams for one of those jobs is Scottie Vines, who outplayed them both and stayed ahead of them on the depth chart for most of last season. Despite the fact he had just one 100-yard receiving game, didn't score a touchdown and failed to make a single catch in two other games, the previous Lions coaching staff still believed Vines was a better option than Rogers or Mike Williams.

Another "x" factor in this situation is rookie third-round draft pick Brian Calhoun. Right now, he's listed as a running back, but he's expected to see a lot of time in the slot receiver position. If Martz likes what he sees from Calhoun in that spot, then the rookie will make it even more difficult for Rogers and/or Mike Williams to make the roster.

The reason is special teams. Backup players must be able to fill at least one role and, preferably, three or four on those units. Calhoun has already been penciled in as Drummond's backup on returns and Vines showed last year that he was solid on special teams.

That brings us to the running back position. Ideally, the Lions would like to keep five, with Kevin Jones and Shawn Bryson locks to make the team. It would also seem that Artose Pinner and fullback Cory Schlesinger are heavy favorites to make it, too. Calhoun would make No. 5.

The Lions, though, because of Calhoun's double-duty, might want to keep six running backs so if veterans such as Arlen Harris (who played for Martz in St. Louis) or backup fullback Will Matthews show some value on special teams, the Lions would have to cut their roster in other places, where they aren't getting any special teams help.

Rogers and Mike Williams, so far, have showed no value on special teams.

The Lions are also deep at linebacker and safety, two important positions when it comes to filling out special teams units. If the Lions have to add at one of those spots, they'll have to trim somewhere else.

If Rogers and Mike Williams are paying attention, they'll be watching that transactions list closely in the next couple of weeks. If Az Hakim lands on it by signing with the Lions, one or both of those former first-round picks might be on it themselves in a few months -- for an entirely different reason.

The Lions are still exploring the possibility of trading quarterback Joey Harrington to a team other than the Miami Dolphins, Harrington's team of choice at this point.

The Lions would make it a conditional pick and, if Harrington was unable to work out a new deal with his new club, that team would cut him and the Lions would not get any compensation.

Contrary to a published report that said the Lions had several calls on draft day concerning a possible trade for Rogers, team president Matt Millen said: "I didn't get one single phone call on Charles Rogers."

http://www.mlive.com/lions/stories/index.s...6480.xml&coll=1

 

[Foosball God]

Rogers may be gone, although his low salary makes it harder to cut him, but Mike Williams will be around at least one more year.

 

[Big Score]

Contrary to a published report that said the Lions had several calls on draft day concerning a possible trade for Rogers, team president Matt Millen said: "I didn't get one single phone call on Charles Rogers."

How the once mighty have fallen

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Rogers and Mike Williams, so far, have showed no value

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

[Bri]

Rogers and Mike Williams, so far, have showed no value

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

fixed

 

[Bri]

Bradford starting?

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Contrary to a published report that said the Lions had several calls on draft day concerning a possible trade for Rogers, team president Matt Millen said: "I didn't get one single phone call on Charles Rogers."

How the once mighty have fallen
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wonder if Millen expected to get any calls on Rogers. If so, then he's an even bigger idiot than previously assumed.Mike Williams, at this point, looks like a complete bust. Millen should have been fired so many times already....how does this guy keep his job?

 

[Big Score]

Bradford starting?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Surprised me as well

 

[Payne]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

 

[cstu]

Bradford starting?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Surprised me as well
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can see that, but really the battle to stay on the team will be between Rogers and Vines - a battle that I think Rogers will lose.

 

[cstu]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you like drug addicts on your team? The guy hasn't proven that he's willing to work hard and won't last long if he doesn't. It's not like he's shown much in 3 years other than the ability to get hurt on the field and high off of it.

 

[Kleck.]

I like the section on Calhoun.

 

[Maelstrom]

It's also written by Kowalski. Gimme a grain of salt. I don't think the WR is really rosy for Rogers and Williams, but they may not be as bad off as he says either. I think both have the talent to make the team, and even get slotted into a #2 or #3 role, although it's not gonna totally shock me if either gets cut. It really depends on their willingness to go out and take the job. I agree that Rogers has a harder job than Williams though.

 

[cstu]

It's also written by Kowalski.  Gimme a grain of salt.  I don't think the WR is really rosy for Rogers and Williams, but they may not be as bad off as he says either.  I think both have the talent to make the team, and even get slotted into a #2 or #3 role, although it's not gonna totally shock me if either gets cut.  It really depends on their willingness to go out and take the job.  I agree that Rogers has a harder job than Williams though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm confused by people being down on Mike Williams' rookie after having had a year off from football. He didn't work as hard as he should have before but unlike Rogers he's not involved with drugs and from what I've read he has been working hard during the offseason.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It's also written by Kowalski.  Gimme a grain of salt.  I don't think the WR is really rosy for Rogers and Williams, but they may not be as bad off as he says either.  I think both have the talent to make the team, and even get slotted into a #2 or #3 role, although it's not gonna totally shock me if either gets cut.  It really depends on their willingness to go out and take the job.  I agree that Rogers has a harder job than Williams though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm confused by people being down on Mike Williams' rookie after having had a year off from football. He didn't work as hard as he should have before but unlike Rogers he's not involved with drugs and from what I've read he has been working hard during the offseason.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And since he's not on the drug list he's less likely to be suspended or banned.

 

[Big Score]

It's also written by Kowalski.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not very familiar with this guy. Does he typically have an axe to grind?

 

[nightshift]

Contrary to a published report that said the Lions had several calls on draft day concerning a possible trade for Rogers, team president Matt Millen said: "I didn't get one single phone call on Charles Rogers." 

[SIZE=14pt]Hey Millen, it helps if ya plug the phone in, ya lame brain! [/SIZE]

 

[perry147]

It's also written by Kowalski.  Gimme a grain of salt.  I don't think the WR is really rosy for Rogers and Williams, but they may not be as bad off as he says either.  I think both have the talent to make the team, and even get slotted into a #2 or #3 role, although it's not gonna totally shock me if either gets cut.  It really depends on their willingness to go out and take the job.  I agree that Rogers has a harder job than Williams though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm confused by people being down on Mike Williams' rookie after having had a year off from football. He didn't work as hard as he should have before but unlike Rogers he's not involved with drugs and from what I've read he has been working hard during the offseason.
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mike Williams has a chance to be solid in Martz's Offense. Those people who are giving up on him are combining him with Charles Rogers I think.

 

[TwinTurbo]

I honestly think it's way too early to give up on Rogers or BMW. Especially BMW. They may not be first round material, but they are worthy of being on an NFL roster. And neither player was given the opportunity to really do much in the previous coaching regime. Yes part of it was the fault of the WRs, but the playcalling and offensive schemes flat out sucked. The QB was terrible as well.

There have got to be at least 10 other teams that would take a chance on either one of these guys. I don't see how the Lions could cut either one of them. Both still have trade value.

Let's see what Marinelli and Martz can get out of them before writing them off.

 

[Jous]

Detroit is a team in so much disarray right now it's unreal. Just a year or 2 ago they were supposed to be the "next" team of the future, after getting Harrington, Kevin Jones, Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Willaims and looking like they would have one of the great offenses for years and years.

Now that whole big offensive plan looks almost completely unraveled, and theyre left fumbling around for any WR's and have signed 10,000 QB's to compete for the job. It's sad, really.

 

[daanswr4]

Seriously, I love how everyone rips Millen for drafting all the wide receivers and offensive players. But a few years ago it was going to be Harrington, K Jones, R Williams and C Rogers and everybody thought they were going to be one of the greatest offenses in the league. Mike Williams may have been a bit of overkill in the big receiver department, but when they got him many people thought that he was a steal. He was one of Kiper's top few players available, and Rogers had been injured quite a bit already. It's pretty easy in retrospect to say Millen's a freggin idiot for drafting those people, but that's just not how it was at the time. Now I'm not saying he hasn't done some stupid stuff like not knowing certain rules about being able to talk to players, etc., but he really hasn't drafted that badly.

 

[tribecalledjeff]

Someone explain to me how we know that Mike Williams is a bust? There is NO WAY that he gets cut. None. He was a ROOKIE WR last year, people. Relax.

 

[perry147]

Someone explain to me how we know that Mike Williams is a bust?  There is NO WAY that he gets cut.  None.  He was a ROOKIE WR last year, people.  Relax.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

[Couch Potato]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The problem is that the "they" you are referring to was a column written by Rob Parker in the Detroit News; it was an opinion piece and not reporting of anything said by any member of the Lions' coaching staff or management. Parker has no evidence that Rogers will be given any prominent role. It's his own belief only, and where that comes from only he knows. Parker also stated that the Lions passed up offers to trade Rogers on draft day, and that has since been strongly refuted by Millen, who said they didn't receive even one phone call for him.

In the article Parker also said “The other ill-fated push to get Rogers to respond on the field was the staff’s decision to give Scottie Vines more playing time. If Vines was so great, as the Lions proclaimed, why isn’t he on the roster?” Well, no one ever proclaimed Vines was so great, but he certainly is still on the roster.

Please pretend you never read that Rob Parker article. You'll be better off.

 

[turkishkamel]

Contrary to a published report that said the Lions had several calls on draft day concerning a possible trade for Rogers, team president Matt Millen said: "I didn't get one single phone call on Charles Rogers."

How the once mighty have fallen

I wonder if Millen expected to get any calls on Rogers. If so, then he's an even bigger idiot than previously assumed.Mike Williams, at this point, looks like a complete bust. Millen should have been fired so many times already....how does this guy keep his job?

lets not forget that mike williams only played two years of college football and then sat out an entire year. it takes young WRs a while to learn the game. lets give mike williams AT LEAST one more year befoe calling him a bust. go back and look at the first year stats of WR who left school early.

 

[TommyGilmore]

Rogers will be cut and Williams will beat out Bradford.

Bank that!

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

Seriously, I love how everyone rips Millen for drafting all the wide receivers and offensive players. But a few years ago it was going to be Harrington, K Jones, R Williams and C Rogers and everybody thought they were going to be one of the greatest offenses in the league. Mike Williams may have been a bit of overkill in the big receiver department, but when they got him many people thought that he was a steal. He was one of Kiper's top few players available, and Rogers had been injured quite a bit already. It's pretty easy in retrospect to say Millen's a freggin idiot for drafting those people, but that's just not how it was at the time. Now I'm not saying he hasn't done some stupid stuff like not knowing certain rules about being able to talk to players, etc., but he really hasn't drafted that badly.

Prior to last year he'd just had some bad luck with highly touted recruits not panning out but last year he earned all of that criticism by selecting a third top ten pick on a WR when the team had much, much deeper needs than at WR. There were tons of top defensive talents that they could have taken there at that spot like one of the top corners or other guys like Thomas Davis or Derrick Johnson. If they thought the pick was too early for one of those guys and that BMW was too good of a value to pass up then they should have hit the phones and traded the pick. That decision to draft him with their other needs was asinine to say the least. They were the laughingstock of the entire draft last year after that move.

 

[turkishkamel]

Rogers will be cut and Williams will beat out Bradford.

Bank that!

i agree, i think its gonna take something crazy for rogers to be a part of this team come week 1. as talented as he is, something isnt right with him.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Word around town is that the Az Hakim comeback is not gonna happen

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

The problem is that the "they" you are referring to was a column written by Rob Parker in the Detroit News; it was an opinion piece and not reporting of anything said by any member of the Lions' coaching staff or management. Parker has no evidence that Rogers will be given any prominent role. It's his own belief only, and where that comes from only he knows. Parker also stated that the Lions passed up offers to trade Rogers on draft day, and that has since been strongly refuted by Millen, who said they didn't receive even one phone call for him.

In the article Parker also said “The other ill-fated push to get Rogers to respond on the field was the staff’s decision to give Scottie Vines more playing time. If Vines was so great, as the Lions proclaimed, why isn’t he on the roster?” Well, no one ever proclaimed Vines was so great, but he certainly is still on the roster.

Please pretend you never read that Rob Parker article. You'll be better off.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I honestly think it's way too early to give up on Rogers or BMW. Especially BMW. They may not be first round material, but they are worthy of being on an NFL roster.

If they can outplay the other guys competing for a roster spot, sure. I wouldn't automatically give them a roster spot without regard to whether they outplay Scotty Vines et al. Every roster spot needs to be earned.

 

[LHUCKS]

Bradford is underrated...he'll at least the be the #3...bank on it.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

The problem is that the "they" you are referring to was a column written by Rob Parker in the Detroit News; it was an opinion piece and not reporting of anything said by any member of the Lions' coaching staff or management. Parker has no evidence that Rogers will be given any prominent role. It's his own belief only, and where that comes from only he knows. Parker also stated that the Lions passed up offers to trade Rogers on draft day, and that has since been strongly refuted by Millen, who said they didn't receive even one phone call for him.

In the article Parker also said “The other ill-fated push to get Rogers to respond on the field was the staff’s decision to give Scottie Vines more playing time. If Vines was so great, as the Lions proclaimed, why isn’t he on the roster?” Well, no one ever proclaimed Vines was so great, but he certainly is still on the roster.

Please pretend you never read that Rob Parker article. You'll be better off.

Rob Parker is the worst reporter in Detroit.After Roy Will this situation is just a mess. Picking the WR#2 in detroit from a week to week basis this year will be like throwing darts. Mike Will, Chucky, Bradford, Vines. meh.

 

[nittanylion]

Bradford is underrated...he'll at least the be the #3...bank on it.

I agree, LHUCKS...and Bradford isn't the only one. Jabbar Gaffney, another former Texan, is going to be an interesting player to watch this summer in Eagles Training Camp......many people just don't realize how handicapped the QB and WR's were due to issues with the offensive scheme, play calling and offensive line in Houston, and that those issues masked the inherent talents of some of those players...

...I'm NOT saying Gaffney and Bradford are going to turn into anything even resembling T.O. and Harrison...EVER...

...but think Travis Taylor last year transitioning from the Ravens to the Vikings, and you have a player going into a new, and better situation (well, theoretically, until the wheels fell off in Minnesota), with some opportunity mixed in, and there's an opportunity for that player to experience a somewhat of a statistical upgrade...

Taylor finished 2005 with 50/604/4, and I'd say it's reasonable to assume that if CPep had stayed healthy he'd likely have finished around his 2002 #'s of 61/869/6, when he finished as WR23, which is a borderline #2 in a 12-Team, start 3 WR League. In the 6 games CPep played, plus a small part of a 7th, he was at 26/305/2...

Talent-wise, Bradford is probably in Taylor's area, but I think Gaffney is superior, and while Bradford is going to a pretty dismal situation in Detroit, I think the skill set he does posess works well with the Martz scheme, perhaps better than that of some of the incumbents, at least enough to tie down the #3 spot. Gaffney is going into a much better situation, and I think he's more talented than Taylor, and is going to have a legitimate opportunity to start opposite Reggie Brown. One of Gaffney's prime attributes is route running, and while it seems customary that there's a learning curve associated with transitioning to a WCO scheme, he should have a world of opportunity there to exhibit whether he has 'it' or not...

I'm NOT advocating rushing out and grabbing eithe player. Like I said: 'interesting to watch' situations for both these players as the training camp drama unfolds...

 

[KnowledgeReignsSupreme]

Bradford is underrated...he'll at least the be the #3...bank on it.

I agree, LHUCKS...and Bradford isn't the only one. Jabbar Gaffney, another former Texan, is going to be an interesting player to watch this summer in Eagles Training Camp...

IMO Gaffney >>>>>>>> Bradford.Bradford will be the #3 at best in Detroit. I think it should be Roy, Vines, Bradford/Williams as the 1-2-3.

 

[Donnybrook]

Martz optimistic in Motown By Clark Judge

I pulled out most of the interesting stuff here. I am not sure if the opinions expresssed (or lack thereof) on Charles Rogers are Martz's or Judge's.

On ROY:

If there was one guy he singled out it was wide receiver Roy Williams, the former first-round draft pick who could be one of the league's star performers -- if, that is, he can make it through a season without getting hurt.

"He's at an elite level in terms of his ability," said Martz, "but he has a lot of conditioning and getting in shape to do. The guy's got terrific potential."

On BMW:

He made an impression at recent workouts by showing up at 230 pounds, down from a high of 245, and has Martz thinking he can be the receiver the Lions envisioned when they made him the 10th choice in the 2005 draft.

"He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet. He blew me away with his quickness."

On the rest:

Then there's veteran Corey Bradford, last seen running routes for woebegone Houston, where he led the Texans in touchdown catches last season. Martz loves Bradford's speed and sees him as the team's No. 2 receiver.

Of course, you always have Scott Vines, who had 40 catches last year, and return specialist Eddie Drummond. But then what? Patience, people.

Martz mentions former Rams receiver Mike Furrey as assuming the role of an Az-Zahir Hakim or Shaun McDonald in St. Louis, and if that catches you by surprise, get in line. Furrey last year was converted from wide receiver to free safety and not only started for the Rams but led the team in interceptions.

There's also Glenn Martinez, and, no, I hadn't heard of him, either. He has one catch in his NFL career, yet Martz looks at him as someone who is "tall, fast, has good hands and can get in and out of cuts." In short, he's someone who should make this team.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Martz mentions former Rams receiver Mike Furrey as assuming the role of an Az-Zahir Hakim or Shaun McDonald in St. Louis, and if that catches you by surprise, get in line. Furrey last year was converted from wide receiver to free safety and not only started for the Rams but led the team in interceptions.

Doesn't really catch me by surprise. No one talks about Furrey, but I was very intrigued by his signing. Martz had him in St. Louis, played him at safety, and then brought him to Detroit. He sees something in Furrey and he's got a pretty good track record judging WRs. Plus Furrey has the stellar Arena career behind him.I expect Furrey to make the team and would not be surprised if he's as high as #3.

 

[perry147]

This is becoming a joke. Rogers must be an idiot. The guy has mad talent and could floursih under Martz. They just reported this past weekend he was going to get a lot of attention in this offense. Now there is talk of him being cut?

I have no idea what they are doing and obviously neither do they.

Roy, Bradford and Hakim? Come on.

Do you like drug addicts on your team? The guy hasn't proven that he's willing to work hard and won't last long if he doesn't. It's not like he's shown much in 3 years other than the ability to get hurt on the field and high off of it.

I remember there were rumors about Rogers smoking weed in college before he was drafted. Rogers might need a new start elsewhere if he is ever going to trun his career around.

 

[Brewtown]

This board has a lot of info, but there still is a lot of BS!

CBS SportsLine.com's Clark Judge reports Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was impressed with Mike Williams' quickness. "He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet."

Analysis: Williams has character issues, but he's still the favorite to open the regular season third on the depth chart. Should the team move Charles Rogers, Williams' stock would increase in drafts.

 

[Beaumont]

This board has a lot of info, but there still is a lot of BS!

CBS SportsLine.com's Clark Judge reports Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was impressed with Mike Williams' quickness. "He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet."

Analysis: Williams has character issues, but he's still the favorite to open the regular season third on the depth chart. Should the team move Charles Rogers, Williams' stock would increase in drafts.

Ah, the slow days of summer ...

 

[Bri]

This board has a lot of info, but there still is a lot of BS!

CBS SportsLine.com's Clark Judge reports Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was impressed with Mike Williams' quickness. "He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet."

Analysis: Williams has character issues, but he's still the favorite to open the regular season third on the depth chart. Should the team move Charles Rogers, Williams' stock would increase in drafts.

Ah, the slow days of summer ...

 

[Fiddles]

dont they also have kevin johnson or is he a FA?

 

[Bri]

dont they also have kevin johnson or is he a FA?

I forgot about him. NFL still has his player page listing the Lions. Not sure where he is now

 

[nittanylion]

This board has a lot of info, but there still is a lot of BS!

CBS SportsLine.com's Clark Judge reports Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was impressed with Mike Williams' quickness. "He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet."

Analysis: Williams has character issues, but he's still the favorite to open the regular season third on the depth chart. Should the team move Charles Rogers, Williams' stock would increase in drafts.

This article subtly implies that Charles Rogers is currently the #2, a statement whose validity is questionable, at best...If people want to believe the dreck they read at CBS Sportsline over the collective knowledge presented in these Forums, that's their decision...

...but come FF Season, it's also going to be their funeral. Good Luck.

 

[Donnybrook]

This article subtly implies that Charles Rogers is currently the #2, a statement whose validity is questionable, at best...

If people want to believe the dreck they read at CBS Sportsline over the collective knowledge presented in these Forums, that's their decision...

...but come FF Season, it's also going to be their funeral. Good Luck.

What article are you talking about? The one on CBS sportsline does not imply Rogers is the #2. In fact, it states "Martz loves Bradford's speed and sees him as the team's No. 2 receiver."

 

[nittanylion]

CBS SportsLine.com's Clark Judge reports Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz was impressed with Mike Williams' quickness. "He surprised me," Martz said. "He has way more ability than I thought he did. He has very quick feet."

Analysis: Williams has character issues, but he's still the favorite to open the regular season third on the depth chart. Should the team move Charles Rogers, Williams' stock would increase in drafts.

This one. Stating that BMW is 'favored to open the regular season third on the depth chart, and that his 'stock would increase in drafts' if Charles Rogers were to be released or traded. I guess one way to look at it is that the writer is inferring that Charles Rogers is competing with BMW for the #3 role, but it also sounds as if the writer is implying Rogers is ahead of Williams on the depth chart as #2. Either claim is debatable, at best. Interesting situation to keep an eye on, no doubt. Bradford doesn't strike me as a complete enough player to be a full time #2, but it's an interesting mix (BMW, Bradford, Vines and Furrey, et al...and Calhoun (?) that could be employed in tandem with Roy to create some interesting sets...now all they need to do is find a way for the likes of Kitna or McCown to consistently get them the ball...that's a tough task itself. Props to the Lions, though...looks like the new regime has the respect of some of the veterans who joined the team from successful franchises. If the team is going to move forward, it's going to have to start from the locker room and practice field, the foundation, as it were...good stuff to watch in July...