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imported_izlez · 09-01-2006, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Why Charles RogersWhy Charles Rogers never got that final chance
Charles Rogers is probably history but that's only because Rogers' own history kept repeating itself.

Rogers, who was benched for poor practice habits by former head coach Steve Mariucci last sesaon, still didn't get the message when he reported for off-season workouts under new coach Rod Marinelli. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz bristled at Rogers' lack of effort or enthusiasm. Rogers was completely in the doghouse and destined to be cut when he turned it around in the final weeks of the off-season workouts.

Seeing that the light might be flickering on for Rogers, the coaching staff was eager to see him start training camp. They talked him up and encouraged him, but they were quickly disappointed when Rogers reverted to his old ways.

That's when Shaun Bodiford and Glenn Martinez appeared to be on the verge of taking his job. They were given reps with the No. 1 offense while Rogers was relegated to the third team. Occassionally, the coaches would throw him some sugar, but he never responded to it so he was sent back to the third team.

Last week, though, the coaches appeared to be ready to give him one more chance. With Bodiford and Martinez not showing anything special at receiver -- and an $8 million salary cap hit looming over the next two years -- the Lions wanted to see if they could get Rogers to respond one final time.

Even Rogers believed he was going to be given a chance, he sounded very confident and positive when talking to reporters all week. But when he didn't see any action in the first half, Rogers knew the gig was up.

Apparently, the coaches were so turned off by Rogers' lack of effort when he returned to practice from his knee injury that they finally decided it was hopeless. Marinelli, who is already forced to put up with the antics of Mike Williams (because of a strangling contract situation), wasn't going to tolerate another underachieving prima donna.

The decision was made before Rogers even suited up for Thursday's game -- he was history.
never got that final chance[/b]

Looks like Rogers is really gonna be cut. Whatever, I never thought he was any good

imported_Spiderman34 · 09-01-2006, 08:11 AM

Unreal, he's losing his job to one of two undrafted free agents, Martinez or Bodiford.

I would like to congradulate Millen on another of his top 5 busts.

And you know if Marinelli had his way he would get rid of Williams too.

drkcldrsn · 09-01-2006, 08:27 AM

September 01, 2006

Bob Wojnowski

Lions should stop teasing and part with Rogers already

DETROIT -- The Lions' preseason ended mercifully Thursday night. So, apparently, did Charles Rogers' hopes of staying.

If it was a message, it was a nasty one, and it couldn't be any more clear. Rogers barely played in the Lions' 20-13 loss to Buffalo, and that should effectively end whatever charade the team was playing.

New coach Rod Marinelli has no use for Rogers, so how about both sides cut the act, cut their losses and part ways? The Lions should make official what now appears obvious and release Rogers, the one-time star from Michigan State. My guess is, that's their plan when the roster is set Saturday.

Hard to believe

Rogers isn't even guessing anymore. He figures it's over, and although he admitted some bitterness, he couldn't muster the passion to be angry about it.

"It'd be hard for me to believe I'm still here, with what just happened," he said. "I think my days are numbered. Their minds are already made up. That's the game they choose to play, so all you can do is bye-bye."

If it is bye-bye -- and really, why wouldn't it be? -- the final line is a sad one, even a shocking one. One second-half drive. One catch. Three yards.

It's pathetic and painful to watch the Lions waste another high pick but Marinelli and offensive coordinator Mike Martz are barely interested in seeing what Rogers can do in a game, so what's the point? By now, we were supposed to know if the second overall pick in 2003 could catch an occasional pass. Instead, we know virtually nothing, which is all we need to know.

No real chance

Rogers didn't play a single snap in the first half. When the Lions went to a four-receiver set, Rogers and Mike Williams stood side by side on the sideline, watching and wasting. Marinelli had indicated Rogers would play extensively, but that turned out to be a ridiculous tease. Williams played more, but didn't have a reception.

Marinelli isn't bending, which seems stubborn, to be honest. But Rogers doesn't fit Marinelli's tough-guy mold and isn't changing, either.

Only the Lions could sit here, a week before the opener, and not know if they can get anything out of two top-10 picks. Williams is safe from being cut primarily because of his contract. Rogers is safe from nothing, and his fate seems unavoidable. In a farewell gesture, he gave his jersey to a kid after the game.

"I feel a little bit bitter," Rogers said. "Going into your last preseason game, I thought I was gonna play a little more. I was fooled."

Oh, there are enough fools to go around. Most of the blame falls on Rogers, who failed two drug tests and, unfortunately, never had a spark after two season-ending injuries. But I don't completely absolve Marinelli. His job is to motivate talented players, and with these receivers, he has failed.

The Lions don't want Rogers, and he sounds ready to move on. Neither side has given the other any choice but one: End it already.

GOLIONS1180 · 09-01-2006, 08:30 AM

it's such bull****. Play the ****ing guy. My god.

im already sick of these coaches.

drkcldrsn · 09-01-2006, 08:32 AM

Lions: Ready or not?

Rogers, Williams see limited playing time

Mike O'Hara / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- If the message hadn't been made clear by the time the Lions finished the exhibition season in Thursday night's game against the Buffalo Bills, coach Rod Marinelli hammered it home in his postgame news conference.

He wants a tough team, with tough players. No others need apply.

For entertainment value, the game didn't offer much. The Bills won, 20-13, at Ford Field before a small crowd that arrived late, left early and didn't miss much when it was gone.

It was the Lions' third straight loss and made their exhibition record 1-3 -- nothing that would give them any momentum going into the regular-season opener against Seattle on Sept. 10.

It was a typical last exhibition game -- a snoozer, with the emphasis on keeping players healthy.

Marinelli's postgame speech was the most memorable moment. Marinelli made his point when the questioning persisted on the future of two young wide receivers, Mike Williams and Charles Rogers.

They have been scrutinized heavily since the start of training camp, and limited playing time against the Bills did not enhance either's chance to be on the final 53-player roster when the final cuts are made Saturday afternoon.

Marinelli has emphasized repeatedly that he wants disciplined, dedicated players.

He pounded his fist on the lectern as he answered questions near the end of the news conference.

"Are you dying to be a great player?" he said. "Do you claw the wall every day? Do you understand what that means? Every day, you claw the wall. 'I want to be the best player in America.'

"I want 53 men like that, who live and die for football, who are here all day, absorb information. That's what I look for. I've been consistent with what I said.

"The first day I was here, I stated that."

Where that puts Rogers, or any other player, can't be stated for certain, but all signs indicate Rogers has reached the end after his fourth training camp with the Lions. Williams is more secure.

Rogers, drafted second overall by the Lions in 2003 out of Michigan State, was philosophical as spoke in the locker room. Marinelli brought to Detroit the "pound the rock" motto he promoted as the defensive line coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Coach is always talking about pound the rock," Rogers said. "I was the rock that got pounded."

Rogers, in particular, is in jeopardy of being cut. He played only one series and caught one pass for a 3-yard gain in the third quarter. Williams went in for the first time on the next series and played the rest of the half without catching a pass.

There were other issues facing the Lions on Thursday, as many regulars rested or played sparingly. The running game was somewhat effective, with rookie Brian Calhoun gaining 58 yards.

Eddie Drummond strengthened his chance to contribute more at wide receiver, in addition to his return duties. He had five catches for 39 yards and scored Detroit's only touchdown on a 7-yard pass from Josh McCown in the second quarter.

And McCown, with his most extensive playing time of the exhibition season, might have won the backup quarterback job. Starter Jon Kitna was held out as a precaution against injury. McCown and Dan Orlovsky each played a half.

McCown completed 11 of 14 passes for 96 yards. Orlovsky completed 9 of 14 for 73 yards, all in the second half.

The biggest negative came on the opening possession. Buffalo drove 85 yards on 13 plays for its first touchdown -- a 1-yard run by Willis McGahee. Slow starts are an old problem for the Lions, and the Bills' scoring drive was not a good sign.

The Bills scored one other touchdown. Craig Nall, the Bills' third-string quarterback, hit Andre Davis with a 70-yard pass midway through the fourth quarter.

The Lions got their other scores from a reliable source. Kicker Jason Hanson, beginning his 15th season, made field goals of 45 and 36 yards. Rian Lindell kicked field goals of 21 and 35 yards for the Bills.

Two areas where the Lions' defense fell down: ot holding the Bills early, and not stopping their passing game. J.P. Losman, Craig Nall and Kelly Holcomb combined to complete 16 of 20 passes for 242 yards. Their combined passer rating was 114.6.