Out goes Bradford, in comes … Jerry Porter?

By Os Davis  |   Friday, September 29, 2006  |  Comments( 2 )

Detroit Lions
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Matt Millen's flailing again. After bringing aboard nine-year man Corey Bradford to work in Mike Martz' offensive scheme, Millen and the Detroit Lions announced today that the wide receiver had been cut to make way for tackle Blaine Saipaia.

"For those of you keeping score at home," as the man said, out are Charles Rogers (he of the $14.2 million signing bonus) and Bradford (with a four-year, $7.4 million contract). In are Az-Zahir Hakim (one year, undisclosed amount) and, clinging on by his fingernails, Mike Williams (five-year, $13.5 million deal). Last man standing appears to be Roy "Midas Guarantee" Williams (five years, undisclosed amount). Other members of the Mediocre Show On Turf include undrafted free agent Shaun Bodiford, special-teamer Eddie Drummond and Mike Furrey.

Within the mostly nonexistent passing game of Detroit, Bradford proved to be incorrect for the Martz "system," catching three in the first week. Bradford seemed to be unworthy of play in Marinelli's "system" as well, seeing little time and exactly zero receptions in the next two games. And now, he's gone at much fiscal expense and head scratching. Let the mutterings and grumblings along the lines of "what the f---" begin.

All right, it's not as though Bradford was to be the savior in Detroit (though some overenthusiastic and no doubt sun-fried tried to play him up as such this summer in hopes of explaining a $2 million signing bonus), and Saipaia isn't a terrible pickup. The silver-and-Honolulu blue has already managed to get Barry Stokes, Rex Tucker and Ross Verba banged up, and Saipaia is a veteran of Martz' St. Louis Rams teams.

But come on, now. This maneuver, coupled with Marinelli's attitude of "sit 'em if we don't like them in practice," shows that, though Marinelli, Martz and the gang may theoretically have a plan, the Lions' front office clearly does not.

Today, the dominant rumor is that Jerry Porter will be coming to play in Detroit. Clearly, this is just the overpaid attitude-laden wide receiver that the rebuilding/not rebuilding/perpetually rebuilding Lions need. With Williams apparently the only receiver on this squad that has built any sort of connection with Jon Kitna, Porter is certain to roll over and play beta dog.

If Porter is declared inactive by infamous lummox coach Art Shell, how long will he last with a drill sergeant-type who seems to care less about the score than his No. 1 receiver if you're tough in practice? If Porter is chuckling about Aaron Brooks, a reportedly competent QB with a nonexistent line, how will Kitna's play bring him back to his senses?

But overweighing all these concerns is the one thing that makes Porter and his baggage worthwhile: The WR is scheduled to pull down $6.45 million in 2007, thus a squandering of cash well worthy in the "mind" of Millen.

In the meantime, the Saipaia era begins...

Keep up with transaction after transaction from the Detroit Lions at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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