Kowalski on WDFN: Spikes would've helped, but not a grave loss

by Philip Zaroo | MLive

Tuesday August 12, 2008, 8:38 AM

Yes, the Detroit Lions missed out on Takeo Spikes. And yes, head coach Rod Marinelli is none too pleased the team couldn't snag the free-agent linebacker.

But it's not necessarily because Spikes thought the Lions were worse off than the 49ers, according to MLive Lions Insider Tom Kowalski. It was because of two factors: the position he'd play (MLB with the 49ers vs. OLB with the Lions) and money, which Detroit is struggling with this year because of so many previous mistakes with high draft picks.

Still, the move would have been more for peace of mind for the coaching staff, Kowalski says, to take some of the pressure off of rookie Jordon Dizon's development.

"Here's how I think Marinelli viewed it," Killer says on WDFN's The Stoney and Wojo Show. "He wanted to bring Spikes in, put him and strong-side linebacker, and then all of his problems, in terms of worrying about Dizon would be solved.

"The reason I say that is because then he could've kept Paris Lenon and Dizon both in the middle. And then it would've been a seamless transition when Dizon is ready to take over as the starter."

Listen to whole interview to hear Killer talk about The Mike Lazzara Incident, which saw the Lions kick a fan out an open practice for harassing receiver Roy Williams:

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