Thursday Notes: Lions Promote Cedric Sanders, Will Release Leigh Bodden

by Sean Yuille on Feb 5, 2009 5:36 AM EST in Notes Comment 19 comments

The Lions are going to release cornerback Leigh Bodden, who has only been with the team for one season. Bodden is set to receive an $8.6-million roster bonus in March, so this appears to be the main reason why he is going to be released. The Lions don't want to pay that much money to Bodden simply because it is a lot of money and Bodden underperformed in 2008. He was traded to the Lions in exchange for Shaun Rogers and a third-round pick but never lived up to the hype. That's not completely Bodden's fault, but this move really isn't all that surprising.
The Lions promoted Cedric Saunders to Vice President of Football Operations, according to FOXSports.com. Saunders came to Detroit with Rod Marinelli in 2006 as the team's Assistant to the Head Coach/Football Operations. In 2007, Saunders was promoted to Director of Football Operations, which was the position he held before being promoted again.

I am definitely underwhelmed by this move since it means another person that contributed to an 0-16 season is getting rewarded for his work. The fact that Saunders will now have more involvement in personnel evaluation worries me. He was close to Marinelli, and I'm sure he had some say in bringing in so many ex-Buccaneers. Those moves proved to be pretty dumb in hindsight, but let's hope he can prove me wrong and show that my assessment is way off.

(By the way, this promotion doesn't appear to have any effect on the hiring of James "Shack" Harris, as the FOXSports.com article mentions that Harris is expected to be hired later this week.)
Apparently Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon got their panties in a bunch over what WDIV put in its scroller while Matt Millen was on the air during Super Bowl coverage. I can't even believe people are making such a big deal out of it. It's not like WDIV wrote that Millen was a low life piece of trash. They simply pointed out that he was an awful GM and asked for viewers' reaction to him being an analyst. (To answer their question, yes, his time in Detroit hurts his credibility as an analyst. I will never take anything he says about football seriously.)
There has been quite a bit discussion recently about the possibility of the Lions changing their logo/uniforms by 2010, and that prompted Matt Zelley of zellydesigns.com to come up with a new look of his own for the team. Below is the image he posted in a FanPost about the possibility of a new logo (click to enlarge).

Although I am not necessarily in favor of the Lions making any drastic changes to their logo, I would be 100% in favor of a change if it was to the above logo. Matt Zelley's design takes elements from the current logo and basically modernizes it. I'm not sold on the uniform (I still would rather have Honolulu Blue), but the logo is a great start for sure.

Poll

Would you like to see the Lions change their logo to the design posted above?

Yes, that logo would be a cool change

256 votes

No, I would prefer a different design if the Lions were going to change their logo

47 votes

No, I don't want the Lions to change their logo at all

116 votes

419 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

The logo is cool.

The uniform is butt ugly. I’d keep the Honolulu Blue and Silver as the main colors as well. Don’t want to go completely overboard on the change.

I has a blog.

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Feb 5, 2009 8:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Nice plug Matt:)
Sean, I think just the opposite as you. I like the jersey but I think the logo is almost arena/CFL looking. It’s not that I don’t like it it’s just too cartoonish.
I like bodden and I’m sure he’ll catch on elsewhere. Probably be the next McHugh. No way we can pay the guy nine mill though.

by Scotty G on Feb 5, 2009 8:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

The logo reminds of some pokemon character, I’m half expecting lightning to come out of its eyes.

by Lostincali on Feb 5, 2009 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they both suck

but if i had to choose one, it’d be the uniform. that logo looks EXACTLY like an arena football team like Scotty G said. I completely agree. This would be a mistake. Too cartoonish and wouldn’t be taken seriously.

by giggy09 on Feb 5, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

logo!!

That logo was pretty sweet. I want the lions to keep the honululu blue as well but I wouldnt mind a stripe down the side or something to jazz them up a bit.

by hate2lovelions on Feb 5, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I like Logo

I like the logo very much…BUT…it reminds me of a logo you would find on a CFL team. A CFL team in Detroit. I like how you guys are prepping us for a Detroit Lions CFL team. One more season like we have had, they can give Detroit to Canada. I do like the logo though…good work.

by mgersz on Feb 5, 2009 8:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Throwing baby out with bathwater

"I am definitely underwhelmed by this move since it means another person that contributed to an 0-16 season is getting rewarded for his work. "

You can’ t hold the underlings responsible for the boss’ decisions. Cleaning house of Lions brass, as Mitch Albom also keeps demanding, is irresponsible and unfair. Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water! These execs are experienced football professionals. They know what Millen did wrong. But they reacted like any of us would, and should, they just said ‘Yes sir, we’ll do our best’ and tried to make the bad ideas and picks work. Don’t throw them out for that!

by birdseed on Feb 5, 2009 8:52 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

New uni's and logo??

Are you guys nuts?? DON’T CHANGE A THING!!! I love the honolulu blue and the classic blue lion. I don’t want them to change at all. Thankfully they got rid of those black uniforms – they looked stupid. I would even perfer the plain throwback uni’s the Lions wear for a full time uniform. Teams are always changing………..lets keep things the way they are (at least in terms of uniforms – not on the field obviously).

by NYCLionsfan on Feb 5, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree 100%!

by DrewsLions on Feb 5, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

It wouldn’t bother me at all if they didn’t change anything about their appearance.

I see the Carolina Panthers zipping around the field and wonder why can’t the Lions look like that. It’d be great to see some Honolulu Blue and Silver dominating a game. If we change our uniform we’re just admitting defeat in a way.

by birdseed on Feb 6, 2009 8:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Logo

That logo is hot! I would definitely be in favor of that. The uniforms, not so much.

Can’t we just rengotiate with Bodden instead of cutting him outright?

As long as Cedric Saunders doesn’t affect Shack Harris’ hiring.

by explosivo2k2 on Feb 5, 2009 10:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That uniform screams "Arena Ball"

They should stick with a more classic look like the Giants or Bears. And they gotta keep the Honolulu blue. Keep it simple.

It’s bad enough that they finished 0-16, but if they change to these Arena Ball/NFL Europe style uni’s, I’ll become a Chicago fan for sure.

The logo idea is weak too. If anything, just reshape the original lion silhouette.

by Mr.MaDonno on Feb 5, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bring back the silver numbers

Bring back the silver numbers on the home Honolulu blue jerseys. I don’t mind if they are outlined with white and black. Also again… keep it simple, please.

by Mr.MaDonno on Feb 5, 2009 12:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Old unis

Instead of modernizing with a new logo and new uni let’s go back to the 90s with the honolulu blue and silver. get rid of the millen black outline! this is the NFC North. it’s all about old school (except for those hideous vikings unis)

by wumanchu01 on Feb 5, 2009 1:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

New Lions logo

I think in general the Lion needs an upgrade or overhaul. I like Zelley’s design, keeping the traditional look of the Lion and bringing him into the future.

I took a different route and went with the pop art style, similar to what many other teams have done. Whatever the case the logo needs more teeth. You can’t gum an opponent to death, can you? :)

We are starting a thread highlighing new logo designs over at the site. Feel free to join up and talk with some other Lions fans.

GO LIONS!

detroitslions.com

www.detroitslions.com

For the fans, by the fans.

by detroitslion on Feb 5, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Is this a Lion or a porcupine?

Not trying to be mean, but let’s not get too radical. I say, if it ain’t broke…

by DrewsLions on Feb 5, 2009 7:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't be surprised at all if...

Bodden were cut and resigned for less.

by TonyDC on Feb 5, 2009 9:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why should I care?

The Lion Uniform isn’t the problem!!! The uniformity of being a losing, pitiful team is what needs to change. Go to the exact design they had the last season they won a playoff game. Leave it at that, and work on the important stuff, like defense and a runnibg game.

by dylan415 on Feb 5, 2009 10:34 PM EST reply actions 0 recs