Warrick Hoping for Another Shot at NFL

When talking about front-office futility, Matt Millen sets the pace. Mercifully for Lions fans, he's been relieved of his duties as the team's president and general manager, but his legacy lives on. His infatuation with using high-round draft picks on wide receivers might have been his biggest weakness, although that's certainly up for debate.

Charles Rogers and Mike Williams are on the list of first-round wide receiver busts, but a name that's often overlooked -- and one that we can't blame on Millen -- is Peter Warrick, who the Bengals selected with the fourth-overall pick in 2001.

He had five unspectacular years in Cincy, another in Seattle, and has been out of the league since 2005. And now he's looking for another chance. In the meantime, he's playing for the Bloomington Extreme of the Indoor Football League.

"I feel like I'm this close to Chicago, to where [the Bears] want to come down and see me or maybe somebody else will hear what I'm doing," said Warrick, who turned 32 Friday. "I just need an opportunity to peek my head in the door with a team. Once I peek my head in the door, I'm going to be able to stay. That's just how I feel."

For now, Warrick makes $200 a week ($250 if the Extreme win) which is slightly less than the $10 million he pulled down during his NFL career. But he says he's loves playing football even if it's not on the biggest stage.

The NFL is all about second chances -- see Pacman Jones and Michael Vick for the most recent examples -- and there is always a need for quality players. He says the knee that kept him out of the CFL is healthy, now all he needs is an opportunity. If it doesn't come immediately, there's always the UFL. Hey, if it's good enough for Adam Archuleta* ...

* Speculation