What don't you understand? The Lions obviously knew KJ was better or they wouldn't have traded UP to get him. I'll be objective here - Pinner is a guy with some ability. However, he is not a game-breaker like KJ. I know that, the Lions know, everyone looking at the draft in April knew that, and everyone on this board EXCEPT YOU knows that. Sure, Pinner hasn't bad too bad, but we all know that barring injury the job is KJ's for a reason - he's better. Pinner is not an NFL stud RB and will never be one. What do you see in this guy that no one - including his own team - does?
I think my post above addresses some of what you raise here. Pinner does have talent and could've been a high round draft choice. Its a total myth that he doesn't have talent.You're right that hes not a gamebreaker with great speed. Hes more in the mold of a C Mart, J Bettis, S Davis. That doesn't mean he still can't turn out to be a darn good football player.The Lions traded up to get KJ because they were unsure about Pinner and because their styles go well together- Pinner the bruiser, KJ the longshot threat. Many teams try this, and after a while it becomes clear who the better back is. Sometimes its the smaller quicker guy(Dunn over Duckett, Barber over Dayne); Sometimes its the bigger guy(Droughns over Griffin, S Davis over Skip Hicks).As for your 'well the Lions must know that KJ is better if they would draft him while they still had Pinner': Giants spent an early first round pick on Dayne when they had Barber, Ravens spent an early first rounder on Lewis when they had Priest Holmes, Jets spent a first rounder on Jordan while they had C Mart...I could go on and on. It doesn't mean as much as you think. Theres injuries in today's NFL, and having 2 good backs is a luxury that many teams try for. Recent super bowl teams such as TB, Carolina, NE, and Oak have had a RBBC, so perhaps thats what they were trying to emulate.