In a somewhat odd move, the Lions today signed running back Artose Pinner to a contract. Pinner played last year for the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. In 2006, he played for the Minnesota Vikings. He played for the Detroit Lions in the 2003 - 2005 seasons.

I find this move very strange. Pinner didn’t do anything the last two seasons (except for his career day against the Lions in 2006). For the most part, he was also ineffective as a Detroit Lion. How many chances are we going to give this guy? Five pretty average to sub-par seasons and now we want him on the roster again?

What this tells me is that the Lions are still not sold on Tatum Bell and/or Brian Calhoun. Calhoun has struggled to stay healthy and Bell disappeared off the depth charts last season. This doesn’t have anything to do with Kevin Smith. He will make the roster and will be starting by October, if not sooner.

The one advantage the Pinner might bring to the mix is that as a backup running back during his previous stint with the Lions, he was active on special teams. Bell and Calhoun have not contributed in this manner, though if he is healthy, Calhoun might be able to.

Still, a strange move and another case of the Lions giving a retread another try. If nothing else, perhaps the cries of “Toooooooossee” will ring through Ford Field once again.

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For months leading right up to the draft, there were a lot of rumors swirling that the Lions wanted to trade Roy Williams. Millen and Marinelli steadfastly denied they were looking to trade Roy Williams but said they would listen to any and all offers on any player.

I never really believed the Lions were serious about trading Williams - certainly not for a single first round pick that Dallas was supposedly dangling in front of the Lions. The way the Lions drafted this past weekend should be a good indication that they weren’t serious. If they had moved Williams, they would have had to replace him, likely in the draft. We had too many other needs to have to concentrate on another wideout. Yes, we drafted Kenneth Moore, but he will be given a shot to win the punt and kick return spot.

There was no logic to trading Williams this year. Yes, he could maybe walk next year, but so what? Trading him would have been a salary cap hit and then we would have had a spot to fill. Having Williams and Johnson at the wide receiver spots this year should pay dividends. They have a chance to be one of the top pairs in the NFL. That is, provided Detroit throws the ball enough this year.

Also, since Williams could leave next year, in the true NFL fashion, he should have a gang buster year in order to set himself up for a huge payday. Why not take advantage of that and use him to spark the offense this upcoming season.

As much as I wanted to believe the Lions wouldn’t trade Williams, it was hard to be sure with Matt Millen at the helm, but I have to give him credit. I think he did pretty well this year in the draft and not moving Roy Williams was absolutely the right choice.