Just talked to a source close to the decision-making process in Detroit who said reports that Shaun Rogers has definitely played his last game as a Lion are "false."

ESPN's "First Take" reported this morning that the Lions will attempt to trade Rogers this offseason and, if no takers are found, will cut him before next year. While I wholeheartedly believe many in the organization want to be done with their talented but underachieving defensive tackle, I also believe — after talking with people in the know today — that it's too early in the offseason for any firm decisions to have been made.

Fact is, the Lions are still in the evaluation process right now, both of potential draft picks — coach Rod Marinelli and general manager Matt Millen spent the past few days at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., — and of this year's free-agent class. If they sign someone like San Francisco's Isaac Sopoaga or Green Bay's Corey Williams, cutting Rogers becomes more of a realistic possibility. If they strike out in the open market, would they really tempt fate and head into 2008 with a tackle rotation of Cory Redding, restricted free agent Langston Moore and second-year end/tackle Ikaika Alama-Francis?

Officially, the Lions are standing by Marinelli's comments from last week that everyone under contract is expected back next season. While that seems unlikely (both Kalimba Edwards and Shaun Cody could be headed for the chopping block, too), Rogers is too good and the Lions have too many holes to give him away for free.

Surely his situation won't be come to a head in the next days or even weeks. He's reportedly due a $1 million roster bonus at the start of free agency, but that's not a drop-dead decision date either. It's likely, in fact, we'll still be waiting for a resolution on draft day.