The Lions have announced the releases of running back Kevin Jones and defensive end Kalimba Edwards.
"As I've said all along, we will always make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our entire football team," coach Rod Marinelli said in a statement this afternoon. "As the off-season has evolved from our postseason roster evaluation to the combine to the free agency period, we feel we've made several moves to improve our team.
"With the off-season program beginning next week and with our draft preparation intensifying, we decided this was the right time to make these two roster moves. While there are always a number of factors that go into this type of decision, we do believe these moves bring clarity to our roster and also eliminate some uncertainty heading into the draft that would have otherwise existed.
"We sincerely appreciate the contributions that Kevin and Kalimba have made to our football team and we wish them the very best. We appreciate their hard work and professionalism during their time with the Lions."
President Matt Millen called Jones this morning and told him of the Lions' plans to let him go, two sources told the Free Press. The Lions gave Jones two reasons: the salary cap and injuries.
Jones, a first-round pick in 2004, was scheduled to make a base salary of $2.37 million this season. He is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, after coming back from a serious foot injury last year.
The first source said there was a possibility Jones could come back at a reduced salary.
The second source said Jones was in the Detroit area a couple of weeks ago. He returned to Arizona to rehab, was scheduled to return to Detroit late this week and was shocked by the news today. The Lions' off-season conditioning program starts Monday.
Edwards said after the season he expected to be gone one way or another. He never developed into the pass rusher the Lions hoped he would become.
"I told you all at the beginning of the season what the deal was if I didn't produce, if you all remember my statements," Edwards said Dec. 31. "If I would have made the plays, I'd still be here. I told you if I didn't make the plays, I wasn't going to be here."
Edwards, a second-round pick in 2002, signed a five-year, $20-million contract with the Lions in '06. He hoped Marinelli, a defensive line guru, would turn him into one of the NFL's top pass rushers. He talked about double-digit sacks.
But he had only three sacks each of the past two seasons. He opened this season as the starting right defensive end, missed four games because of injuries and ended up inactive for the last four games. He didn't even travel for the last two road games.
He said he wasn't bitter, though.
"We men, man," Edwards said Dec. 31. "Ain't no hostility. You sign a contract. If you produce, you keep that contract. If you don't, you don't. Me and Rod, we men. …
"When he told me what was up, I said, 'I understand,' because that was the deal between us. It was unsaid. It was unwritten. But we knew what the deal was."