Coach Jim Schwartz offers little on Lions' desire to make some trades before cut deadline

Tom Kowalski By Tom Kowalski
on September 03, 2010 at 12:50 PM, updated September 03, 2010 at 6:41 PM
jim-schwartz-mug.JPGJim Schwartz
ALLEN PARK -- It's an interesting news conference when the speaker acknowledges in his first sentence that he plans to lie throughout the entire interview.

That's exactly what happened when Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz addressed the media Friday afternoon, just 30 hours before the deadline to cut the roster to 53 players.

"I don't know what use I'm going to be to you today because anything I say is probably going to be a lie,'' Schwartz said. "It seems pretty funny having a press conference before we do our cut-down and things like -- it's like doing one the night before the draft. Anything you say, there's an agenda to it.

"We have certain agendas with players. Some we're optimistic about and we'd like to find a way for them on the football team, while others, maybe, we're trying to find a spot for, whether it's trading or something else. It doesn't do a whole lot of good for us to speak as an organization before we've made those moves.''

That's why the Lions will hold their cards close to their vest -- and not release any information on cuts -- until the 6 p.m. Saturday deadline.

The Lions think they have some players, particularly at running back, receiver, defensive tackle and tackle, who might upgrade another team's roster.

"There will be more interest in some of our players, maybe from other teams claiming or wanting to maybe execute a trade,'' Schwartz said. "That's a good feeling to be in rather than sitting here saying, 'We're looking at the bottom of everybody else's roster, trying to find guys who will help us.'

"It's a little better feeling thinking somebody else might be evaluating the bottom of our roster.''

Other clubs in the league might be willing to deal low draft choices to Detroit because they might be too far down the pecking order on the waiver wire and won't get a shot at a player who the Lions put on waivers.

The recent trade of tackle Tyler Polumbus to Seattle is a good example. The Seahawks knew the Lions weren't keeping Polumbus, but they also knew that other teams would claim him on waivers and they might not get him. That's why the Seahawks thought it was worth dealing a conditional seventh-round pick (in 2011) to acquire him.

Conversely, the Lions aren't in the same position. Because they're No. 2 on the waiver claim list (based on last year's standings), they'll get a decent shot at the young players who gets released. It's also possible, though, that the Lions might want to trade draft picks to upgrade their holes at linebacker and cornerback.

While Schwartz said the cut-down date is the toughest day on the calendar for a head coach, it doesn't necessarily mean the end for the player.

"Kurt Warner was stocking grocery shelves and went from that to Pro Bowls and Super Bowls,'' Schwartz said. "Johnny Unitas was playing on the sandlot because the Steelers couldn't find use for him before the Colts did. There are a million examples of guys who have had to persevere to get a career started.''

Some, though, won't be Warner or Unitas or anything close. Schwartz, who talks man to man with almost every player who is released, said honesty is the best policy (except when it comes to news conferences).

"We try to be as honest as we can. It doesn't serve a purpose to keep a guy's hopes up (when) you feel opposite. It doesn't feel any good,'' Schwartz said. "It's a tough time for the player, but if you're honest, you don't have any regrets.''