With former Lions offensive tackle George Foster signing a deal to play for the Browns, the last links to the ill-fated Dre Bly trade are finally and irrevocably gone from the Lions franchise. One of the highest-profile free-agent signings of the Matt Millen era, Bly was traded to the Denver Broncos in March 2007 for Foster and running back Tatum Bell. A former first-round pick of the Broncos, Foster had fallen out of favor with the franchise, and wouldn't fare much better with the Lions. He continued a penchant for false-start penalties in his two seasons in Detroit, benched and released once in each campaign. After nine starts in 15 games in 2007, Foster was jettisoned after the Lions drafted Gosder Cherilus, then brought back for last season, starting three of the four games in which he played. He was released again after the Lions signed former Redskins (and U-M and Clawson) tackle Jon Jansen on June 1. Sadly, Foster was the better acquisition of the two players in the trade. Pedestrian statistically in five appearances in 2007 (44 rushes, 182 yards, 1 TD), Bell was best known for his now-infamous luggage-snatching incident in training camp last year, stealing the bags of Rudi Johnson, the player signed to replace him. Bell ended up back with the Broncos last season, but is currently out of the NFL. For the record, Bly had seven interceptions and 134 tackles in his two seasons in Denver, and was cut the roster purge by the Broncos' new coaching staff because of the $6.8 million he was due in salary this season. He's on a one-year contract with the 49ers. — MATTHEW B. MOWERY

Rudi Johnson did two things last year I still find hard to believe: He had his bags stolen by Tatum Bell and he got paid for 16 weeks of NFL football.

On Wednesday, the free-agent running back dropped by Sirius NFL Radio's “The Sirius Blitz” show. Host Adam Schein asked him how close the Lions are to turning things around.

“Years away,” said Johnson, who ran for 237 yards in 14 games last season. “Definitely. I would say years away from being a competitive team in the NFL. So I wish them the best of luck.”

Asked to elaborate, if it was the players, the mindset or the mess Matt Millen created that has the Lions in such a hole, Johnson said, “Everything you just said.”

“When you get that far off there's not just one thing that plays a part in it,” Johnson said. “If you go 0-16 it's not just the players, it's not just the coaches, it's not just the organization. It's everything from top to bottom. It's not just one thing, it's everything.

“Everything you just named are all the things that are wrong with the team, with the organization. So you know there are a lot of things that need to be fixed for them to be successful and get to winning football games. Like I said, I wish them the best of luck but sometimes people got to move on and that's what the situation is, but they're definitely a long shot away from being competitive and winning football games.”

The Tatum Bell-Rudi Johnson bag-stealing story is bound to peter out eventually. In Detroit, it's already being overshadowed by mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's plea deal and resignation. Bell will get another job eventually, though it wouldn't surprise me at all if he spent the rest of this season on the sidelines. Johnson, too, will get over his missing money and pilfered Perry Ellis boxers.

The Lions still are refusing to show anyone surveillance video of the incident and likely will keep that under wraps unless someone in the Allen Park Police Department gets the novel idea to investigate a theft. There's tragedy in that decision, though, either in the organization's decision not to pursue charges (a player had money and clothes stolen out of their locker room, after all) or the team's failure to come to the defense of an ex-player wrongly accused of something that could affect his ability to get another job (think someone wants a thief in the locker room?). Which one depends on your point of view.

I understand the Lions have heard different versions of the same story from different people, probably don't want to alienate Johnson, and certainly, like most of us who have talked to both sides, can't say definitively what happened.

But as improbable as Bell's story sounds, especially since the bags belonged to the man brought in to replace him, his description of events (where he took the bags from, the time of day, etc.) and the fact the bags had no identifying marks on the outside (according to Johnson) make it believable. One organizational higher-up even said today he thinks there is some truth to Bell's version.

Unless there's more to report in terms of a police investigation or I finally get in touch with Victor DeGrate, the ex-Lion who Bell said he was grabbing the bags for, this will be my final words on Gucci-gate. But if I'm Bell's agent and Bell's story is true, I'd be on the Lions to release the tape and clear my client's name. It won't end all dispute, but if he wasn't rifling through the bag or looking suspiciously around the locker room and darting to his car, it would at least support his version of events.

Just got off the phone with Tatum Bell. He said there was nothing sinister about taking Rudi Johnson's bags out of the locker room Monday, that he was trying to do a friend a favor and had nothing to do with Johnson's missing money, clothes or credit cards. His story:

Bell got a phone call from Lions director of pro personnel Sheldon White after practice Monday saying the Lions had agreed to terms with Johnson and he was going to be released. He returned to the team's Allen Park practice facility to collect his belongings and grabbed two bags by a row of computers in the Lions' locker room that he thought belonged to defensive end Victor DeGrate. Bell and DeGrate attended the same high school (DeSoto in Texas) and college (Oklahoma State), and DeGrate lived with Bell for a period of time this summer.

Bell said DeGrate asked him to pick up his "backpack and grab (his) stuff" after DeGrate was released Saturday. He saw the bags sitting on the floor, by no one's locker, assumed they were DeGrate's and, after texting DeGrate but getting no reply, took them outside to the trunk of his car. Later, he dropped the bags off at a female friend of DeGrate's and returned home.

The Lions called the next day to say they caught Bell on camera taking two bags out of the locker room. Bell said he told the Lions the bags were DeGrate's. When they told him the bags were in fact Johnson's, Bell said he contacted DeGrate, who contacted the female, who returned the bags Tuesday afternoon.

Bell said he didn't know who emptied Johnson's bag of about $200 and the assorted clothing, but it wasn't him.

"I don't want to say it was her," Bell said of the DeGrate's friend. "But it was somebody that was over there at the house. I didn't go in the house. I don't know what was going on over there, I didn't even pay attention. I was doing a friend a favor and at the time I thought it was his bag. Everybody in the league got a Gucci backpack and a Louis backpack and a Zendi backpack. I'm like, 'Dang, I made a mistake. I messed up.'"

Bell said he offered to pay for the missing items, had a short conversation with an angry Johnson, and after hearing from various friends around the league wants to clear his name that's been wrongly soiled.

"Today comes and teams (are) calling, whoever's calling, and the Lions (are) saying I'm a thief and so that's going out to other teams, Tatum Bell's a thief so you don't want him in your locker room," Bell said. "I think it's unfair for the Lions not even to listen to me. They know I'm loyal. All the BS I went through last year with (Mike) Martz and not playing and I still went out there and practiced every day and still was a good teammate, kept everybody's spirits up. I wasn't never dogging nobody, nothing. I didn't burn no bridges last year and for them to throw me under the bus and just believe Rudi because that's who they (signed) ...

"Basically, it just seems like you got released and you're mad, you took the bags. That's a bunch of BS. I hate that it went down like that, but that's how it went down. And that's the whole story."

We should have a story up on our website from earlier today about former Lions running back Tatum Bell allegedly stealing two Gucci bags, cash and credit cards from his replacement Rudi Johnson.

Johnson said he saw surveillance tape of the incident and spoke to Bell Tuesday after he got his bags back with nothing in them. Along with about $200 in cash and the credit cards, Johnson was missing an assortment of boxer shorts, socks and undershirts. The bags were taken from the Lions locker room and returned by a female acquaintance of Bell's.

"If anybody's got some Perry Ellis boxers for sale, you know where they came from," Johnson said.

Johnson said he won't press charges. —"I'll handle it," he said. "I don't need anybody else" — and Lt. Mark Koller of the Allen Park Police Department said there would be no investigation unless Johnson files a complaint.

I've left messages for Bell's agent and tried a cell phone number that I talked to Bell on earlier this summer that's no longer in service. He told the Free Press that it was a misunderstanding and that he was picking bags up for ex-teammate Victor DeGrate, who also was released last week.

You can take that story for what it's worth — no verification yet from DeGrate, who went to the same high school and college as Bell, or his agent — but Johnson said he isn't buying whatever tale Bell told him. He said it was some "real shyster, conniving stuff" and that Bell looked "suspect" on video.

"He tried to make up some excuses," Johnson said. "He tried to blame it on somebody else. Something that didn't make no sense so I wasn't really trying to entertain something that didn't make any sense. But he knows where I stand."

The Lions made a good move signing Rudi Johnson to a one-year contract, a deal that became official earlier today.

Johnson is a clear upgrade over Tatum Bell as the No. 2 runner in Detroit's backfield, and if his balky hamstring holds up (and there's no reason it shouldn't on a one-year contract) he's a welcome insurance policy for rookie Kevin Smith.

This isn't Adrian Peterson we're talking about, but it's not a broken-down Shaun Alexander, either. Johnson had three straight 1,300-plus yard seasons from 2004-06, and at 28 (29 in October) still has a couple productive years left. Remember, he hardly played his first two seasons in the league behind Corey Dillon, and last year he logged about half a season's work (170 carries) splitting time with Kenny Watson.

I'm in the camp that doesn't believe Johnson will challenge Smith for the starting job. Smith had a good camp, has excellent vision and cutting ability, and his so-so preseason stats were more a product of the offensive line than anything he didn't do. But rookie running backs have a tendency to wear down over the course of a 16-game season, and the more Johnson can spell Smith the better.

I wouldn't expect Johnson to be long in Detroit, either. He's no longer a 350-carry back — if he was, the Bengals wouldn't have cut him — but he'll want a chance to start next year and with the dearth of quality runners should get it somewhere. Still, coaches weren't comfortable heading into the season with Bell an injury away from the feature role. They made a low-cost, low-risk move that should yield minor dividends.

Jason Hanson kicked a few field goals each of the last two days in practice and should be back for this weekend's third preseason game against Cleveland. Hanson pulled his left hip flexor booting a 50-yard field goal in the exhibition opener and sat out Sunday's win over Cincinnati. He said he thought he was headed for a multi-week absence when the injury first happened.

"It wasn't just an oh-that's-sore, it definitely pulled and I was like, 'Oh no,'" Hanson said. "But I've been getting good care and taking care of it so that's what'll happen. I kicked some field goals and that's a good step, but I need to make sure."

Hanson said he hasn't attempted any kickoffs yet and probably will leave those duties to Dave Rayner against the Browns.

A few other quick notes from today:

• Receivers Devale Ellis and Brandon Middleton were back practicing Wednesday in their bid for the fifth receiver spot. Tight end Dan Campbell did some light running, but he's still bothered by his hamstring. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Campbell will not play Saturday, but receiver Shaun McDonald and safety Daniel Bullocks should get 15 to 20 snaps each. For Bullocks, it'll be his first live action since tearing his ACL in the third preseason game last year. "They need the work, too," Marinelli said.

• I'll have a longer breakdown on some of the position battles yet to be decided, probably next week, but there appear to be spots up in the air at linebacker, defensive back, offensive line, receiver, running back and on the defensive line. Marinelli wouldn't rule out keeping four running backs Tuesday, which may be possible if the Lions decide against keeping a fifth receiver. As I told you yesterday, Kevin Smith is No. 1 on the depth chart, Aveion Cason has a job wrapped up, and Tatum Bell and Artose Pinner are both deserving of spots. "What I don't want to do is keep a guy for a depth number when maybe there's a better player at another position at the very end," Marinelli said. "I'm looking to get the best 53 players. Maybe not the most talented, but the best guys to help us win. ... It might be a guy who can really do something special in special teams."

• Don't read anything in Bell not playing on special teams. As a rule, Marinelli said he prefers to keep his top two backs out of the special-teams mix. Both Pinner and Cason can have significant roles on special teams.

• Great quote from Smith today on receiver Calvin Johnson. This will appear in a story sometime before the season, but I had to share. "He's like Jordan," Smith said. "He can fly." There's so many layers to those six words, and they're all true.

I left it out of my earlier blog, but I talked to Tatum Bell this afternoon for a story for Wednesday's paper. Bell's been kind of reclusive this camp, turning down most interview requests, but he finally spoke for a few minutes about his battle for the No. 1 running-back job.

He said he thinks he's "had a solid camp" and believes he'll win the starting job when everything shakes out. Rookie third-round pick Kevin Smith started Sunday's game against Cincinnati after Bell got the nod in the opener against the Giants.

"I just feel like I got to stay consistent in practice and I feel like practice will be the ultimate factor," Bell said. "I know games, you got to play in the game, but grind it out, pop a big run and be consistent in practice and keep taking care of the ball and no (missed assignments) and I think I should be the starter. That's how I feel."

Bell has carried 12 times this preseason for 17 yards, a not-so-impressive 1.4-yard-per-carry average. "I ain't did nothing in the preseason," he said.

Smith has 13 carries for 31 yards, nothing to write home about but he appears to have more juice in his cuts. He was listed No. 1 on the depth chart Tuesday for the first time this year.

No starting running back has been named yet, either for Saturday's third preseason game or beyond. And while I think Smith will eventually get the nod, it'd be a mistake to cut Bell. He's the second best runner on the team, has had success in a zone-blocking system before (two years ago he topped 1,000 yards in Denver), and with a bona fide commitment to the run the Lions can't rely solely on a rookie.

Either way, Bell, who fell out of favor with former offensive coordinator Mike Martz through no reason of his own, said he's content he's been given a fair opportunity in camp — something he didn't get from Martz.

"I don't think nothing's predetermined," he said. "I think whoever the starter ends up being, he'll work for it and I'm going to give my props. Ain't going to be nobody throwing nobody under the bus over here on my side."

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• Rookie running back Kevin Smith took the first three snaps in most team periods Sunday morning and appears to have passed Tatum Bell for the No. 1 job. Lions coach Rod Marinelli wouldn't say as much after practice, but Smith and rookie fullback Jerome Felton could be your starters next week against Cincinnati. "We're just rotating guys in," Marinelli said. Pressed on the issue, Marinelli said angrily, "If you want to read something into it, read it. That's on you."

• Bell declined to talk after practice, as he has much of the preseason, and Smith said, "Don't know" when asked about any depth chart changes. "I don't get caught up in that," he said.

• It should be noted that Smith took first-team reps Saturday, too, but most of the media was in the press room when practice started — Marinelli was available before the workout — and weren't ushered onto the field until after practice ended.

• Jon Bradley, who had been No. 1 at fullback, sat Sunday with what Marinelli termed a bothersome shoulder. Receiver Calvin Johnson also sat out Sunday's practice with a leg bruise. Johnson dressed for practice, while Bradley did not. "It's just a bruise so I was just being on it," Marinelli said of Johnson, who was hampered last year by a bad back.

• Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto has decided he will call plays from the coaches box this year. Colletto said last week he was going to alternate between the field and box this preseason to determine where he'd spend his gamedays. He spent Thursday's win over the Giants on the field and said "that experiment ended real fast." "I thought I'd try it, get on TV one time, that's it," Colletto said. "It's a zoo down there. It's too hard to think and they don't need me ragging on them, the coaches don't need me ragging on them. I'm going up there."

• Rookies Gosder Cherilus and Jordon Dizon have a chance to join Smith and Felton in the starting lineup, but for now they remain second- and third-string, respectively. Marinelli praised Cherilus for his performance at right tackle against the Giants, despite drawing three penalties. "Gos played pretty well," he said. "He knocked some people off the ball now." Dizon still isn't locked in on defense, but he's a playmaker. In Sunday's morning practice, which was without pads because the Lions are down on healthy bodies, Dizon deflected two passes over the middle with two good reads.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

A couple housekeeping items first. Ernie Sims took part in Wednesday's walk-through, but as expected Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Sims will not play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Giants. Cory Redding, Edwin Mulitalo and Langston Moore are out as well, but linebacker Buster Davis has been cleared to play. Jon Kitna will take about 10 snaps with the first-team offense then give way to Dan Orlovsky and Drew Stanton for a 1 1/2 quarters each. Other starters may play slightly more, but expect rookies Gosder Cherilus, Kevin Smith, Jordon Dizon, Cliff Avril and the rest to log significant playing time. "I'm going to get a lot of work in with those guys," Marinelli said.

Now, whether the Lions win or not is of little concern. Instead, here's three things I'll be looking for and coaches will have a better handle on after the game:

• Stanton and Orlovsky. One (Stanton) has never taken an NFL snap, the other (Orlovsky) hasn't taken one in three years. Truthfully, the Lions don't know what they have in either quarterback and need to find out in order to plot their future. Both will get plenty of reps this preseason and both have had their moments in camp, but there's nothing like when the lights come on for real.

• The running game. Running the football has been the focus of training camp and Marinelli insists it will be the backbone of the team this year. The commitment is there, but is the personnel? Smith will get plenty of work behind Tatum Bell, but the bigger question is the offensive line. Is Cherilus ready to start at right tackle? Can either Frank Davis or Jonathan Scott be a serviceable backup? And will the line give Kitna any time to throw? Don't expect answers Thursday, but maybe a nudge one way or another.

• Dizon. The rookie linebacker has drawn praise across the organization for his play-making ability. He always seems to be around the ball, but as with Stanton and Orlovsky you can only tell so much from two-a-day practices. Dizon's physical skills are apparent, he just needs to master the mental side of the game. He'll play exclusively middle linebacker against the Giants, and coaches need to discern soon whether he'll stay there this year. If Dizon proves he can handle the defensive calls and adjustments, there's no reason to move him. If he can't, the Lions would be wise to make use of his talents by getting him on the field elsewhere.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• I'm writing about Kevin Smith in tomorrow's notebook, but a few thoughts on the rookie running back before I punch out for the night. Smith, a third-round pick out of Central Florida, took all the first-team reps in a two-minute drill at the end of afternoon practice. Lions coach Rod Marinelli said the staff was simply being conscious of Tatum Bell's work, as it is with a number of veterans during camp. Still, Smith caught the first two passes of the drill then carried on a draw. There's no reason to think he won't start the majority of the season as a rookie.

• Incidentally, no one knew much about Smith's hands coming out of college, when he caught just 55 career passes. But Smith insists he can catch. "I wouldn't be surprised sooner or later in my career if I'm at the slot position," Smith said. "No, I'm serious. Running post routes. If Reggie Bush can do it, I can do it."

• The scouting report on Smith as a runner hasn't changed much. He doesn't have top-end speed, but he's going to be productive in the NFL as long as he stays healthy because of his excellent vision and quick feet. I think he'll be a touchdown machine in time, too. In goal-line work, he always seems to slither through a hole for positive yardage.

• Bell is No. 1 on the depth chart for now, and Smith said he knows his role. "I'm the guy in the preseason game who comes in when all the vets got their reps and I try to show out," he said. "I go in and try to get 100 yards. I'm going to try to go in there and do what I got to do. I ain't going to play with them."

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practices at Allen Park with a few notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• It's only two days in, but the most impressive player in camp so far is cornerback Leigh Bodden. When Bodden intercepted a deep pass in Friday's morning session, staying with receiver Brandon Middleton on an out-and-up route, safety Dwight Smith barked, "That's our money man."

• I know I've said this before, but the additions of Bodden, Smith and Brian Kelly make the secondary much, much better (and that's without even considering a potentially healthy Daniel Bullocks, who remains on the PUP list). I stand by my prediction that if the Lions are able to generate a consistent pass rush they'll be a top-half-of-the-NFL defense this year.

• By my count, the defense made five interceptions in the morning session, including one each by linebackers Paris Lenon and Buster Davis.

• Linebacker Gilbert Gardner took some No. 1 reps at weak-side linebacker with Ernie Sims still being careful with his surgically-repaired shoulder. Unless Takeo Spikes signs, there should be roster space for both Gardner and Buster Davis, who's had a good first two days.

• Rookie Kevin Smith is catching the ball well coming out of the backfield. Tatum Bell's a solid pass protector, which might give him the edge in the running-back competition to start, but Smith is primed for a very productive season.

With for-now starters George Foster and Tatum Bell not in attendance, rookies Gosder Cherilus and Kevin Smith took most of the first-team reps at right tackle and running back, respectively, during Thursday's OTA workout. Foster and Bell were No. 1 on the depth chart during last week's minicamp, and while jobs won't change hands between now and July, many believe it's just a matter of time before Foster and Bell fall to second string. Cherilus, the Lions' No. 1 pick, is a natural right tackle with big paws and a bigger mean streak, and Smith has been as impressive as any rookie in digesting the playbook.

"He's looking good," defensive tackle Cory Redding said of Cherilus. "Strong, got a good attitude, short fuse. I like that. He's a rookie but he's shown flashes of greatness, it's just right now he's in that learning curve."

Lions coach Rod Marinelli said attendance at Thursday's workout was abnormal. Along with Foster and Bell, receiver Roy Williams, linebacker Ernie Sims and tackle Jonathan Scott were among the no-shows and tailback Brian Calhoun spent part of the afternoon riding a stationary bike. OTAs, as always, are voluntary but highly encouraged, and the Lions have had good turnout so far. In fact, attendance was perfect at the first OTA open to the media earlier this month.

"We had a couple guys miss today and I know where they're at," Marinelli said. "I'll leave it at that. I put all of my attention on the men that are here, every ounce of energy that I got for the guys that are here and trying to get as much work as we can do."