In other words, they let someone else sign one of the best players at their biggest position of need.

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The Lions didn't really persue him. He's 34 and he's not going to want to buy into all the hard work that Marinelli is going to be asking of players, in fact, they say Wilkinson may consider retirement rather than go through the training camp Marinelli is apparently going to put everyone through.

Forget a 1 yr stop gap, I'd rather get a young gun in the draft...that said LA would have been a helpful addition, even if he came in lazy.

The Lions actually pursued him pretty hard and we were one of his final choices along with Oakland, Dallas and SF.

But I think the ultimate reason why we didn't sign is because of fact that he is not a Marinelli kind of guy. Parcells had discpline problems with him last year, including a week long suspension. So I don't think he would've fit in with what Marinelli was looking for.

Edit: Here is an article that kinda touches on this subject.


Finally, Millen's greatest challenge might come from within the Lions organization. One of the reasons the Cowboys were shopping Allen two years ago was because Dallas head coach Bill Parcells didn't like his work ethic.

New Lions head coach Rod Marinelli is cut from the same cloth as Parcells and might resist bringing in a 34-year-old player who will want to skip some practices and not take part in the team's grueling workout regimen. Those conditions will have to be worked out and no one is sure yet just how far Marinelli will be willing to yield.

It's the same reason 33-year-old defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson is considering retirement rather than returning to the Lions this season. Still, the Lions are expected to open preliminary contract talks with Allen soon.
http://www.mlive.com/lions/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/114311224087840.xml&coll=1

Does anyone seriously question these NFL athletes who are getting paid millions upon millions of dollars who are going to bitch about having to practice too hard? "I'm going to forfeit a couple million dollars because I don't want to excercise hard for a month." Fuck them. Get them off this team and out of the league if their not willing to try hard enough to be successful.

Does anyone seriously question these NFL athletes who are getting paid millions upon millions of dollars who are going to bitch about having to practice too hard? "I'm going to forfeit a couple million dollars because I don't want to excercise hard for a month." Fuck them. Get them off this team and out of the league if their not willing to try hard enough to be successful.

So what is you're one of the greatest guards ever and a 10 time pro bowler in 12 seasons, should we kick you off the team for being lazy?

Does anyone seriously question these NFL athletes who are getting paid millions upon millions of dollars who are going to bitch about having to practice too hard? "I'm going to forfeit a couple million dollars because I don't want to excercise hard for a month." Fuck them. Get them off this team and out of the league if their not willing to try hard enough to be successful.

So what is you're one of the greatest guards ever and a 10 time pro bowler in 12 seasons, should we kick you off the team for being lazy?


Seriously, the guy has busted his ass his whole career and is now 34 years old with all kinds of aches and pains. Who can blame him for not wanting to go through a damn bootcamp.