Sorry, I'm chiming in a little late here on the news of the day, John Niyo's report that the Lions will be releasing cornerback Leigh Bodden next week, but I'm pulling double (triple?) duty up here in East Lansing with football signing day and a Michigan State basketball game to cover.

Anyway, Bodden seemed to be goner when team president Tom Lewand mentioned at a town-hall meeting last week that the Lions expected to be some $35 million under the salary cap when free agency opened later this month - they're $26-$28 million under right now. Bodden had a subpar season (one interception), was due an $8.6-million roster bonus and had some choice words for the since-departed coaching staff after the season, not exactly the confluence of events that leads to long-term stability.

Still, while his pending release – Monday is the first day teams can cut players – comes as no surprise, it does leave the Lions with one more hole to fill this offseason. Their current cornerback quartet of Keith Smith, Travis Fisher, Ramzee Robinson and Dexter Wynn frightens no one, and the truth of the matter is there isn't a must-have upgrade on the open market. Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha, the best corner in the NFL, will no doubt be franchised, and Houston's Dunta Robinson, the (distant) second-best corner available in free agency, is barely a year removed from a gruesome knee-and-hamstring injury and likely will re-sign with the Texans.

With all due respect to Buffalo's Jabari Greer, who returned both his interceptions for touchdowns last year, the only other true impact free-agent corner available is a man new Lions coach Jim Schwartz knows well – former Titan and Cowboy Pacman Jones. Jones is one of the best pure talents in the NFL, even if he's coming off a suspect season and is occasionally a suspect in the police blotter.

I'm not suggesting Schwartz and Jones will reunite in Detroit – the Lions are far more likely to sign ex-Titans Chris Carr, who I mentioned in my blog yesterday for his return prowess, or Eric King, a better cover corner than Carr who broke his forearm last season – but it's an intriguing possibility. Schwartz knows well how talented Jones is and he knows well how that sort of player can impact a game (both positively and negatively).

Jones may be a bit more of a free-lancer than the disciplined Schwartz likes on the field, but if the new Lions coach thinks he can control the sixth overall pick in the 2005 draft off it – and if owner William Clay Ford signs off – maybe adding Pacman is an option worth exploring.

One other note today, semi courtesy of FoxSports.com, Cedric Saunders will remain with the Lions despite rumors he was headed to Tampa Bay to join his good friend Raheem Morris. FoxSports reported that Saunders was promoted to vice-president of football operations, an elevation that actually took place in September when Matt Millen was fired. Saunders will, the website reported, have a more prominent role in personnel evaluation going forward. That's a good move as he's considered a bright up-and-comer.