Welcome to the 4th Edition of the Detroit Lions Roundtable. The topic this week dealt with which players currently on the Lions are worth keeping and which ones should be traded or released at all costs?
Four of our top Lions writers played the role of GM and tackled the question this week. They were each asked to select two to keep, and two to kick. (Why stop at two? Hey we don't want things getting too out of hand here.)
Introducing...
This is a difficult question because of the sorry state of the team; it is difficult to say that there are only two players I’d like to get rid of. However, I will try to consider salary cap ramifications and other indicators to make my selections.
The two players I would definitely keep on the team are RB Kevin Smith and WR Calvin Johnson.
Kevin Smith – This guy hasn’t put up stellar numbers, but if you look closer, it has more to do with the supporting cast on the offensive line, combined with a lackluster commitment to running the ball. When he gets the ball a decent amount in a game, he makes a noticeable impact.
Last week against the Jags, he had a career-high 23 carries, and delivered to the tune of 96-yards and a touchdown. He also made a very nice 27-yard reception on the Lion’s first scoring drive.
Despite the overall team performance and record, he is putting together a very nice rookie season and showing explosion at the RB position that Detroit hasn’t seen since #20 left town. I think that given some time and through building a better core around him, he could be one of the NFL’s top tier running backs for years to come.
Calvin Johnson
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about 1 month ago
just as a side note...if you click single page, part of my section is cut off. Please click page 5 to read my picks =)
about 1 month ago
Did you guys un-invite me to the round table?
from about 1 month ago
no sir. Sorry for not including you Ja Tonio. I'll be sure to get you in for next time.
about 1 month ago
Any who, I'd say keep Ernie Sims and Calvin Johnson. This would give the Lions a defensive future, as well as an offensive future. The extra weight that they could drop would be.....well....the rest of the roster. The purpose of a franchise is to gather proven winners, or hungry competitors. The Lions roster consist of few, but they make little difference in games. So I'd say clean house. After all, this is what so called fans have been asking for, so let's give it to them. That way, we can blame the next ten years of the Lions being a simply sorry sucking (original text replaced due to it being too profane) football team on those fans.
from about 1 month ago
Ja Tonio,
You're my boy, but we can't clean that much house and even if we did, I'm pretty sure i'd kill myself slowly if they let Kevin Smith go. I've watched this guy since his freshman year in college and he is the real deal. Let's go ahead and keep our future at RB safe and sound, but you are right, a whole lot of people would have to go.
about 1 month ago
Thanks Keith. I love my Lions and I relish the opportunity to discuss their triumphs and failures with you guys. I only wish we could talk about more triumph.
from about 1 month ago
Triumph will come to those who remain steadfast in the face of danger! We're in that stage now, and we'll get through it.
from about 1 month ago
Its going to feel really great when the Lions finally get there one day. All those years of misery will have been worth it.
I wasn't there for the Red Wings worst years (well I was, but I don't remember them) but when they won that cup in 1997 it was amazing. That will be nothing compared to what will happen in Detroit if the Lions win a Superbowl.
And it will happen one day.
about 1 month ago
hey, we hit rock bottom, we cant get worse right?
about 1 month ago
A winning season and a playoff birth will be great for the Lions, the city of Detroit, and the sports world. I know without struggle there can be no progress. I only wonder when will it come for the Lions faithful. Detroit has caught the sports bug with the other three major sports clubs being contenders for their respective trophy's. I hope the Lions join in soon. At the least, I'd like to see them in the playoffs before I die.
about 1 month ago
All the Lions need is good clean slate, which they have the chance to do this offseason. The whole roster needs a good cleaning out, the coaching staff needs to start looking in the classifieds, and we have no permanent GM. This offseason is like starting from scratch. this offseson is going to be more exciting to watch than ACTUALLY WATCHING the Lions play.
about 1 month ago
so bascially, nothing has changed. (sorry, had to throw that in there)
about 1 month ago
I agree with everybody here except for Joe, If we have to keep Jason Hanson, I would keep Calvin over Kevin.
But, all in all, great job guys!
from about 1 month ago
I give Joe credit for thinking of the kicker where no one else did. Hanson will finish his career as one of the top kickers in NFL history, if not THE top. I agree that Calvin Johnson is more important than Kevin Jones though, at least at this point in their careers and the offensive scheme the Lions run.
from about 1 month ago