superpunk
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The Lions refused to say anything about Mike Williams and his shaky future with the team, but they really didn't have to because actions speak louder than words. Head coach Rod Marinelli wanted to see what kind of commitment Williams was willing to make to being in shape, playing football and being part of the team.
Marinelli got his answer Tuesday. Williams was a no-show for the team's first Organized Team Activity, a decision that will likely result in Williams being cut at some point before the start of the regular season. At this point, it's too late for Williams to have second thoughts or even try to make amends. Clearly, Marinelli can't trust Williams and there's no way Marinelli is going to preach one thing to his team and also have Williams on the roster.
Don't look for Williams to get broomed immediately, though. The Lions will continue to try to trade him -- and they've had a few calls -- but the Lions have to find a deal that is good enough to offset the huge salary cap hit the team will take this season ($5.7 million). If the Lions wait until after June 1, they'll absorb only a $1.9 million hit this season with the remaining balance hitting the cap next year.
By the way, after Charlie Sanders was voted into the Hall of Fame in early February, Williams had his No. 88 yanked away from him. The Lions say it's because, while the numbers aren't officially retired, they don't give out the numbers of players who are in the Hall of Fame. That's true, but if Roy Williams was wearing No. 88, would the Lions have pulled it? Or would they have just said that after Roy Williams retires, no one will wear No. 88 again?
According to the team roster, Mike Williams is now wearing No. 81. It's almost a certainty, though, that Mike Williams will never actually wear that number during a Lions football game
http://blog.mlive.com/lionsinsider/
Marinelli got his answer Tuesday. Williams was a no-show for the team's first Organized Team Activity, a decision that will likely result in Williams being cut at some point before the start of the regular season. At this point, it's too late for Williams to have second thoughts or even try to make amends. Clearly, Marinelli can't trust Williams and there's no way Marinelli is going to preach one thing to his team and also have Williams on the roster.
Don't look for Williams to get broomed immediately, though. The Lions will continue to try to trade him -- and they've had a few calls -- but the Lions have to find a deal that is good enough to offset the huge salary cap hit the team will take this season ($5.7 million). If the Lions wait until after June 1, they'll absorb only a $1.9 million hit this season with the remaining balance hitting the cap next year.
By the way, after Charlie Sanders was voted into the Hall of Fame in early February, Williams had his No. 88 yanked away from him. The Lions say it's because, while the numbers aren't officially retired, they don't give out the numbers of players who are in the Hall of Fame. That's true, but if Roy Williams was wearing No. 88, would the Lions have pulled it? Or would they have just said that after Roy Williams retires, no one will wear No. 88 again?
According to the team roster, Mike Williams is now wearing No. 81. It's almost a certainty, though, that Mike Williams will never actually wear that number during a Lions football game
http://blog.mlive.com/lionsinsider/
