Handful of Lions considered trade bait - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Handful of Lions considered trade bait
By Jason Cole, Yahoo! Sports
3 hours, 58 minutes ago
Though in-season NFL trades are a rarity, four team executives talked to Yahoo! Sports about players they believe should be dealt prior to the deadline next Tuesday.
The executives agreed that the only teams that should really be cleaning house at this point are the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams. Even though the Houston Texans are 0-4, many observes believe they will rebound and play well. Furthermore, the Texans don’t have many players who should just be dumped, aside from running back Ahman Green.
“And I would only take Green if I was truly desperate,” one of the executive said. “Thank God I’m not in that situation.”
Here’s a list of the top 10 players who should be dealt.
Johnson was limited to 2 yards on 7 carries against the Panthers in Week 5.
(AP Photo/Rick Havner)
1. RB Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Comment: “By the time the Chiefs are good again, he’s going to be done. … I don’t understand why they gave him all the money and then they wouldn’t sign Jared Allen. If you’re rebuilding, you don’t do it with a running back who’s going to be burned.” Another executive said Johnson has a reputation around the league as being a “spoiled brat” and “not much of a leader.”
Best potential fits: He’s not a perfect fit in Philadelphia because of the style of the offense, but all of the executives said the Eagles could use him now that Brian Westbrook has broken ribs. Other teams that could use him would be the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints.
2. DE Dewayne White Detroit
Comment: “He isn’t a great player, but he’s a good one and he can help any rotation. Plus, you can move him inside from time to time. He probably won’t get more than five or six sacks, but that’s worth it if you’re the right team.” Said another exec: “Try finding a pass rusher at this point of the year.”
Best potential fits: Just about any team except the New York Giants, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.
3. WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals
Comment: “He’s going to be a free agent. He’s going to get paid. The Bengals won’t pay him, which is a joke because he’s one of the few guys on that team you could even begin to call a leader.” Said another executive: “He’d be perfect in Indianapolis, but it won’t happen.”
Best potential fits: Bucs, Jags, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills.
4. CB Patrick Surtain, Chiefs
Comment: “He’s hurt (shoulder injury) and he has declined, but it’s the same thing as pass rushers; you need cover guys. You can’t get enough of them.”
Best potential fits: Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens.
5. CB Brian Kelly, Lions
Comment: “Same as with Surtain, although Kelly has declined more and he has problems in straight man coverage … not a great player anymore, but they’ll get more for him than he’s really worth.”
Best potential fits: Cardinals, Packers, Saints and Ravens.
6. WR Roy Williams, Lions
Comment: “I think he’ll play harder for some other team.”
Best potential fits: Jags, Bucs, Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
7. DT Cory Redding, Lions
Comment: “If I’m the Lions, I clean house starting now. I don’t even wait for a new GM. This guy played hard for a contract and hasn’t done anything since. Again, I think it’s more about Detroit than the player, so I’d take a chance … if he’s motivated, he can rush the passer from the inside.”
Best potential fits: Colts, Eagles, Redskins and Broncos.
Will the Bengals part ways with Johnson, right, or Houshmandzadeh?
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
8. TE Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
Comment: “He’s a good guy in the locker room and he takes care of himself. Between the leadership and the fact that he might still be really good in two to three years, it would take a lot for me to deal him and I don’t think anybody is going to offer that much.”
Best potential fits: Jags, Bucs, Vikings and Titans.
9. WR Chad Johnson, Bengals
Comment: “I’m amazed how quiet he has been. Maybe that injury is worse than we thought. You know he wants out and he’s the most gifted receiver in the league. But the injury is an issue.”
Best potential fits: Pats, Cowboys, Vikings, Titans and Jags.
10. DE Antwan Odom, Texans
Comment: “They just signed him as a free agent (in the offseason), so I don’t think he’ll be available. But I think they realize he’s overrated. He’s purely a complementary player.”
Best potential fits: Pats, Jags and Colts.
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