If Shaun Rogers committed himself to getting and staying in shape -- from a conditioning standpoint -- there's no reason in the world that he couldn't be and stay a legitimate DT force in the NFL.

The problem is that even the marine sergeant type drill leader Marinelli can't get Rogers to improve his stamina.

Here's a link from the Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...

and an excerpt from that piece:

But in the six-game losing streak that eliminated the Lions from the playoffs, Rogers disappeared.

Marinelli gave Rogers a long leash last off-season because he was coming off knee and shoulder surgeries. The hope was that Rogers would be in the best physical shape possible so he could perform on Sundays. But Rogers, listed at 340 pounds, weighed at least 360 and didn’t sustain his level of play.

Rogers made an impact Dec. 23 against Kansas City, but that was after the Lions were already out of the race.

After a news conference Jan. 17, Marinelli said he expected every player under contract to report for the Lions’ off-season conditioning program, including Rogers. He acknowledged Rogers’ weight would be an issue.

"He was a good player for us for nine games," Marinelli said then. "But it’s the endurance all the way through the season, that’s what I’m looking for."

Now if an authoritarian style of coach can't get the big guy to up his endurance level, what makes anyone think that Wade Phillips' type of leadership will get Rogers to respond any differently?

Just my opinion, but I have a hard time pullin' for lazy people.  I'd rather see someone bustin' it and givin' that 100% each and every chance that they get... trying to take their respective game to the next level.

Can we count on someone like Shaun Rogers?

If we judge him solely on his NFL history, I'd have to say "no."

I am totally on board with us getting this guy to shore up our NT position... He would be a huge upgrade, and give us a dominant interior presense.
He is a premier inside pressure DT...This year, coming back from injuries overweight, and out of shape still put up 7 sacks, several pressures, 3 passes defensed, and an INT return for a TD.( That is more stats than Spears has produced in 4 years total).

I think we are in great position to deal with Detroit. They run a 4-3 defense, are in desperate need of a good LB ( Carpenter), could replace Rogers with a viable, reasonably priced vet like(Spears)....

I propose we offer Marcus Spears straight up for him, or add Carpenter and a 1st or 2nd to throw WR Roy Williams into the equation.

We could then put Ratliff out at DE, Tank would back him up. Canty, Rogers, and Ratliff would make for one of the best lines in the league.

We could then cut Ferguson, at 34 years old coming off injury and have him reunite with the Tuna..

His contract is fairly reasonable for a top tier DT like Rogers. There is no bonus money to worry about for now. We can always extend his contract and lessen the cap figure.

Either way, I'd rather pay 4-5 million a year to Rogers than give the same money to Ferguson, who is six years older than Rogers.

Get it done Jerry...I know Wade would be all for this trade, this is comparable to Jamaal Williams- type NT in SD. At 6'4" 340lbs....Nobody will be pushing this guy around.

I know there are some that will question his work ethic, but if you played for a perrenial losing team for 7 straight years...your motivation would be lost as well...We have one of the best strength and conditioning coaches around,(if he hasn't jumped ship to Miami yet..lol) and just the thought of playing for an elite team like Dallas, and coming home to Texas, just might be what this guy needs to turn the corner. All's I know, When this guy is healthy and in shape, there are no better DT in the league. This would be such a "huge" signing...in every sense of the word :-)~

My thoughts...

1. I don't like the idea of spending FA money on front-seven players this off-season.  I thought our front-seven was solid all year.  We certainly held our own against the run, while getting more pressure on the QB than we have since Charles Haley was lining up for us.  If we are going to re-sign Hamlin and possibly get MB3 locked up, we are not going to have the financial flexibility that we have had for the last few years.  We are going to have to be very careful about how we spend our money, addressing mainly need positions.

2. I just don't see Phillips style being able to motivating him when Rod Marinelli struggled to.  Tank, remember, has always played hard but he's had off-field issues.

3. Rodgers has never manned the middle of a 3-4 defense.  I agree that he's a beast, and when healthy and motivated he's one of the best in the league, but I don't know if he has the discipline to anchor the middle of our front and I'm not willing to spend several million dollards to find out if a career underachiever can learn a new position.

4. We know Tank will be back for at least one more year and Fergy's contract (although expensive) still has too much pro-rated signing bonus money (est. $2-3M) for us to release him this season and then turn around and pay market value for the services of Rodgers.