Just want to get this on the record before anything happens to change my mind: The Lions should have traded Tatum Bell at Tuesday's deadline.

I know there wasn't a ton of interest in Detroit's now third-string running back, but part of that can be attributed to a lack of shopping/exposure by the Lions. Bell rushed for 1,000 yards in Denver last year and can be a productive back in this league if given the chance. He didn't get that in Detroit and never will. A free agent after the season, he'll sign for more money and more carries elsewhere.

Clearly, Bell, who carried 44 times for 182 yards in the season's first five games, is unhappy with his new role as basically a third-down back (Kevin Jones will make his first start of the season Sunday, and T.J. Duckett is No. 2 in the rotation). He's not the type to cause problems in the locker room, but weighing that risk (he and Jones did trade verbal spars during camp over who should be the starter) with the potential trade payoff (a fourth-round pick?) with the likelihood Jones gets injured again (not something I dismiss considering the severity of his foot injury), the right thing would have been to give Bell a fresh start elsewhere.

Running back is commodity position in the NFL, and the Lions are well stocked numbers-wise at the position. Had they moved Bell, Aveion Cason would have slid back into the rotation at No. 3. Bell is clearly the better runner, but Lions coach Rod Marinelli always talks about position flexibility and getting the most out of every player on your roster. Well, Cason contributes on special teams and Bell said he won't be playing anything other than tailback Sunday.

Jones has run hard since his return and gave the Lions a boost in the second half against Washington. But Bell is still averaging 4.1 yards per carry and did nothing to lose his job. The Lions erred by not getting more out of him — on the field or in a trade — when they had the opportunity.