Detroit Lions Move Closer to Shaun Rogers Reunion

A familiar face could find its way back to Motown.

Last year, rumors —started by then-Lion Shaun Smith—indicated that Shaun Rogers was interested in playing for his former team. Maybe it was his friendship with Shaun Smith, who was cut soon after. Perhaps Detroit has better cooking and nightlife. Whatever the reason, it didn't matter.

It didn't happen.

Coach Mangini smoothed things over with the hulking former Pro Bowl tackle.

That was then. This is now.

Terry Pluto, of The Cleveland Plain Dealer brings up some interesting points about the matter. To summarize his stance, Rogers does a lot of things well, but is not as effective as Ahtyba Rubin.

When Rogers was injured this season, the Cleveland Browns' run defense improved. Furthermore, Rubin is seven years younger and around six million dollars cheaper.

If you're Cleveland...you are looking to unload.

May I suggest a destination?

Coming off an injury, officially on the wrong side of 30, and stinking of laziness, Rogers isn't worth a lot as a tradable commodity. Cleveland would do well to get whatever it could.

A couple of mid round picks should just about fit the bill.

An even more palatable scenario for Detroit involves the impending labor agreement. If 2010 is an uncapped year, cash-strapped teams will be able to cut large amounts of payroll with little or no penalty.

Perhaps Cleveland's new boss, Mike Holmgren, can't find any takers. Rogers then could be signed by Detroit as a free agent—with a decent pay cut.

No one is suggesting that a 30-year-old Rogers is a better defensive tackle for Detroit than Gerald McCoy or Ndamukong Suh. Although Rogers is bigger and more experienced than either of those men, the long-term viability of the two prospects is much better. 

However, signing or trading for Rogers gives Detroit flexibility—something the front office strove for prior to the 2009 NFL Draft.

With Rogers in the fold, the Lions would not be forced to stay at No. 2 and draft whichever tackle they prefer. Certainly they could, and pair Rogers with Suh/McCoy while rotating Sammie Lee Hill off the bench. In that scenario, a former weakness of the Lions is suddenly a strength, much like the transformation of the linebacking corps in 2009.

Another even better scenario entails the Lions signing Rogers and trading out of No. 2. With the defensive tackle position filled, the Lions could go with defensive end, defensive back, running back, or offensive line prospects. A mid round pick could then be used on a defensive tackle to further solidify the position.

Or, wonder of wonders, things could change before April.

Remember at this time last year, Michael Johnson was a "consensus" No. 1 pick along with Michael Oher. It seemed silly that Rey Maualuga wouldn't be the first linebacker off the board. Last January, draftniks would have laughed at the prospect of a top-10 team passing on one of those three.

What if, by April, suddenly a name surges up draftboards—a name like Haden, Bulaga, or Spiller. What if, in April, passing on that prospect at No. 1 is just as ludicrous as the idea of passing on Suh or McCoy now.

The flexibility allowed by acquiring a player like Rogers would be valuable no matter how the matter is parsed. The only way this deal becomes sour would be a overpaying for the 30-year-old's services.

So, as many Lions fans salivated at the possibility of Shaun Rogers coming back to Detroit last year, and as many cringed at the notion, let the salivating and cringing begin anew.

This year, the possibility is that much more realistic. 

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.