Lions Would Like Charles Rogers to Send Them a Check for $8.5M, Please

You think Charles Rogers has been sitting around watching the Lions bumble their way to 0-4, wondering where it all went wrong? The second-overall pick in the 2003 draft lasted two seasons, 15 games, 36 receptions and four measly touchdowns before Detroit decided he was a bust (roughly 24 months after every other team in the league!), and in the three years since he was released, Rogers has been out of football (save the occasional failed comeback attempt).

But, hey, sometimes draft picks don't work out. At least Rogers has that $14.2 million signing bonus to live on while he plots his next career move ... or not.

Bad news, Chuck, you might want to get moving on scanning the want ads: the Lions want $8.5 million of that bonus back, and after three years, an arbitrator agrees.

When [Rogers] was suspended by the NFL for substance abuse in 2005 -- his third strike under the league's policy -- the Lions argued that he triggered a clause that put him in default of his contract. At the time, the club was seeking $10.2 million -- a pro-rated portion of Rogers' bonus money.

The Lions now must go through a few routine legal procedures before they can demand the repayment obligation and take action to collect. The Lions will get $8.5 million added to their salary cap next season, but only if they physically collect the money.

One problem: Rogers might not have all the dough. He claimed that "it's going to be hard to get $10 million" back in 2005, when the team originally filed the grievance. Unless he won the lottery, or, more likely, invested wisely -- even in the face of the subprime mortgage crisis -- the organization might have a tough time recouping its losses.

My suggestion: sue Matt Millen for "cause." I mean, it was his brilliant plan to draft Rogers in the first place. Plus, he's been blamed for everything else that's gone wrong in Detroit. No harm in adding this to the list, I'd think.