Taco John
08-10-2006, 09:28 PM
First-round receivers on the spot in Broncos-Lions game
LARRY LAGE
Associated Press
DETROIT - First-round picks usually get to relax during the preseason, especially in the first exhibitions when starters usually play a quarter or less.
That will not be the case for Detroit receivers Charles Rogers and Mike Williams or Denver wideout David Terrell on Friday night, when the Lions host the Broncos in the preseason opener for both teams.
Rogers, Williams and Terrell are competing for roles - and perhaps roster spots.
Despite being drafted high and paid millions, Rogers and Williams should get an opportunity to show what they can do against Denver because they're deep on the depth chart.
"They're going to get a chance," new Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "They'll get some good looks."
The Lions were the first team to take receivers in the first round three straight years since the NFL and AFL merged in 1967, and only Roy Williams has produced.
Rogers has just 36 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons. He played five games, catching three TDs, as a rookie before his season ended with a broken collarbone. The next season, he had the same injury after only one game.
The former Michigan State star was finally healthy last season, but was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and was left off the roster for two games after he was eligible to return.
In practice, Rogers gets few repetitions because he's not running routes with the first- or second-string receivers.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," he said. "That's part of adversity. It makes you show how bad you want it, and I want to be opposite Roy Williams."
Mike Williams, the 10th pick last year, was on the field for the first time in two years last season. After a court ruled in February 2004 that Maurice Clarett was eligible to play in the league, Williams hired an agent and tried to follow him. But an appeals court overturned the earlier ruling and upheld the NFL's right to bar players who had been out of high school less than three years.
Williams attempted to return to Southern California for his junior season, but the NCAA turned down his request.
Once he got to the NFL, Williams didn't make the most of his opportunity. He lost money for being late to meetings last season, was sent home early from a minicamp this spring and showed up a little overweight at training camp last month.
"Yeah, I was fined after being late a few times, but it was way overblown," Williams said. "I'm not going to dwell on what happened last year because the coaches here now weren't here last year."
Terrell was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the eighth pick overall in 2001 after he starred at Michigan. He had 34 receptions and four touchdowns as a rookie, but didn't stick with the Bears after scoring only once despite starting 15 games in 2004.
Terrell played in one game last year for the Broncos, but did not make a catch. To make the team this year, he might have to beat out former Lion David Kircus.
Both Terrell and Kircus should get plenty of playing time with Javon Walker recovering from knee surgeries and Rod Smith slowed by a hamstring injury.
Kircus was active for just seven games with the Lions during the 2003-04 seasons, and that only motivated him more to make it in the NFL.
"It made me more eager to get back out there to prove myself," he said. "Nothing was handed to me, nothing was given to me on a silver platter. I had no $10 million signing bonus. When I do make it in the league, and I'm going to, I want to know it was because I worked hard and I earned it and not because it was given to me."
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15246269.htm
LARRY LAGE
Associated Press
DETROIT - First-round picks usually get to relax during the preseason, especially in the first exhibitions when starters usually play a quarter or less.
That will not be the case for Detroit receivers Charles Rogers and Mike Williams or Denver wideout David Terrell on Friday night, when the Lions host the Broncos in the preseason opener for both teams.
Rogers, Williams and Terrell are competing for roles - and perhaps roster spots.
Despite being drafted high and paid millions, Rogers and Williams should get an opportunity to show what they can do against Denver because they're deep on the depth chart.
"They're going to get a chance," new Lions coach Rod Marinelli said. "They'll get some good looks."
The Lions were the first team to take receivers in the first round three straight years since the NFL and AFL merged in 1967, and only Roy Williams has produced.
Rogers has just 36 catches for 440 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons. He played five games, catching three TDs, as a rookie before his season ended with a broken collarbone. The next season, he had the same injury after only one game.
The former Michigan State star was finally healthy last season, but was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and was left off the roster for two games after he was eligible to return.
In practice, Rogers gets few repetitions because he's not running routes with the first- or second-string receivers.
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish," he said. "That's part of adversity. It makes you show how bad you want it, and I want to be opposite Roy Williams."
Mike Williams, the 10th pick last year, was on the field for the first time in two years last season. After a court ruled in February 2004 that Maurice Clarett was eligible to play in the league, Williams hired an agent and tried to follow him. But an appeals court overturned the earlier ruling and upheld the NFL's right to bar players who had been out of high school less than three years.
Williams attempted to return to Southern California for his junior season, but the NCAA turned down his request.
Once he got to the NFL, Williams didn't make the most of his opportunity. He lost money for being late to meetings last season, was sent home early from a minicamp this spring and showed up a little overweight at training camp last month.
"Yeah, I was fined after being late a few times, but it was way overblown," Williams said. "I'm not going to dwell on what happened last year because the coaches here now weren't here last year."
Terrell was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the eighth pick overall in 2001 after he starred at Michigan. He had 34 receptions and four touchdowns as a rookie, but didn't stick with the Bears after scoring only once despite starting 15 games in 2004.
Terrell played in one game last year for the Broncos, but did not make a catch. To make the team this year, he might have to beat out former Lion David Kircus.
Both Terrell and Kircus should get plenty of playing time with Javon Walker recovering from knee surgeries and Rod Smith slowed by a hamstring injury.
Kircus was active for just seven games with the Lions during the 2003-04 seasons, and that only motivated him more to make it in the NFL.
"It made me more eager to get back out there to prove myself," he said. "Nothing was handed to me, nothing was given to me on a silver platter. I had no $10 million signing bonus. When I do make it in the league, and I'm going to, I want to know it was because I worked hard and I earned it and not because it was given to me."
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/15246269.htm