A Shaun Rogers surprise in Cleveland

March 1, 2008 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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The Cincinnati Bengals are not very happy with the Detroit Lions right now. The two sides had a trade in place for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers but at the last moment the Lions pulled the deal off the table and shipped him to the Cleveland Browns, the Bengals division rival. The deal calls for the Browns to get Rogers while sending corner back Leigh Bodden and a 3rd round draft pick to the Lions. This is a very good deal for both sides in my opinion.

For the Browns, their off-season windfall continues, but at a risk. The Browns have now re-signed QB Derek Anderson, traded for DE Corey Williams and now added a mammoth sized DT. The risk is the team now has NO draft picks until the 4th round of the draft. The team felt they wouldn’t be able to get quality lineman thou in the 2nd or 3rd rounds of this caliber. “I knew there was going to be some sacrifice involved in trying to obtain a player we wanted, but in my mind, in our estimation, a legitimate veteran defensive lineman who’s still got a lot of upside potential seemed to be a good fit for us,” GM Phil Savage said.

The Browns aren’t done either they are entertaining wide receiver Donte Stallworth, defensive end / linebacker Travis LaBoy, linebacker Nick Griesen and trying to bring in linebacker Clark Haggans. This is a team looking to drastically upgrade their already talented base and make a strong playoff push.

The Lions well they didn’t want to pay Rogers and franchised him to make sure they got something in return. The franchise tag calls for 2 first-rounders if someone signs him, which usually winds up unlikely. The Lions had no choice but to trade him for less then that or they’d be stuck paying him quite a bit of money next year. Bodden is a talented player, but some in Cleveland felt he took a step back last year in his development, regardless he’ll be Detroit’s #1 corner next year.

I think its safe to say thou that Bengals management won’t be talking to the Lions front office anytime soon.

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