Professor

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...603280350/1049

WR M. Williams Shows Up To Cond. Program Overweight


BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
ORLANDO -- About a week into the Lions' off-season conditioning program, Charles Rogers, Roy Williams and Mike Williams are learning life will be different with new coach Rod Marinelli.

"They're getting a better idea of what's going to be expected of them," president Matt Millen said Monday, chuckling. "I think that would be fair to say."

The receivers the Lions took in the top 10 of the last three drafts haven't been known for their work ethic. Marinelli and his staff will demand more of them and everyone else.

"They'll do the work," Millen said. "That's not the problem. The problem is learning to be consistent in the work, day in and day out at a high level. They won't be alone."

So far, the receivers have been fine. Asked if Mike Williams is overweight, Millen said: "Aren't we all? ... Am I concerned about it? Not right now. The approach right now is pretty good."

ROGERS UPDATE: It is unclear whether the new collective bargaining agreement will affect the Lions' grievance against Rogers. The Lions filed a grievance against him last year trying to recoup $10.184 million of his $14.4-million signing bonus because they said his drug suspension put him in default of his contract.

The labor agreement doesn't allow teams to put language in contracts like the language the Lions put in Rogers'. The players union contends that applies to contracts and grievances executed under the old agreement; the league likely will contend it doesn't.

Harold Henderson, chairman of the NFL management council, said it hadn't been determined. "We closed this deal in a hurry," he said. "It was done with a term sheet and not detailed CBA language. So that's one of the things that's an open question that's being resolved, how it works. ... It will probably be resolved in the discussions that are tying up all the loose ends of this thing."

NOTEBOOK: The Miami Herald reported the Dolphins had contacted agent David Dunn about quarterback Joey Harrington. Dunn declined to comment. Several other teams also are interested in Harrington. ...

The Lions were awarded a seventh-round (247th overall) compensatory pick in this year's draft, representing a net loss of one free agent in 2005. Compensatory picks are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.

juggalo6772

Mike Williams is allways over weight and charles rodgers is a drug addict you might as well stop wasteing money on them if they dont drasticly improve this year.

Professor

The lions are about as good as the browns at drafting, LOL

juggalo6772

sad thing is the browns are acctually better some of there busts HAD talent.

MickeyG

to bad the three can't get it together, the Lions could have had one of the best offenses ever.

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Professor

i don't know about ever

coldarmy20

unless he shows something incredible this year

i consider him a huge waste of a first round pick

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pumzy

maybe williams would do better in a city where there wasn't such an aura of first round failure, haha

coldarmy20

ha, im inclined to agree with you.

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drkhartley

Mel Kiper had Mike as the best player in the draft last year. Hes not good at his job.