Detroit Lions: The end of the Michael Roberts saga

For former Detroit Lions tight end Michael0 Roberts, the handwriting on the wall didn’t change when the trade to New England unraveled.

The Detroit Lions have put an exclamation point on their disappointing relationship with former tight end Michael Roberts.

One of the oldest axioms in sports is, ‘it’s better to be lucky than good’. In this particular case, I’m actually speaking about myself and not the Lions. I was prepared to take an in-depth look at the Michael Roberts trade to New England and try to see who won it. Instead, fate stepped in and gave us some plain answers.

However, it didn’t stop me from doing some mental gymnastics about the whole situation.

Let’s start with the fact that Michael Roberts career isn’t necessarily over despite failing the Patriots physical. Just because he failed this one doesn’t mean he can’t bounce back, get right and find another opportunity in the league.

It also shouldn’t be overlooked that even though he never became the player that Lions general manager Bob Quinn envisioned him to be in Detroit, he’s young and talented and still might land on his feet. Maybe.

When the trade initially took place, the question that many in the media asked was why the trade to New England was happening. Now let me preface that by saying that they were looking for deeper answers than the Lions just being ready to part ways with Roberts.

Because when a player is traded to another team, then sent back because the trade fell through, then subsequently released before he can even get on the plane back to Detroit, it sends a resounding message; Michael Roberts had no chance of making the Lions roster this year.

I think many of us felt like it was going to be a big uphill battle for Roberts, but weren’t expecting his release to happen, if it did, until the roster cut downs before the season. If for no other reason than promoting healthy competition at the tight end position.