"It's Your Dime" Episode 53 - Smörgåsbord of news

Has the cooler weather of late whetted your appetite for NFC North football talk? Then you have come to the right place. Training camp is getting underway in the "Black and Blue Division," and we're here to tell you all about it. 

 

At long last, someone in the Detroit Lions' front office has arisen from his winter hibernation and begun a spring cleaning. Two Lions players have been released in the past two days: cornerback Aaron Berry yesterday, after his second run-in with police, and offensive tackle Johnny Culbreath, who was arrested for marijuana possession six months ago. Running back Mikel Leshoure and defensive tackle Nick Fairley remain very much on the team, however. What message does this send to the Lions players?

 

Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy has come out and expressed his support for a plan that would reduce the number of NFL preseason games to two while leaving the 16-game regular season intact. Is there any chance of this actually happening, and if so, what would it mean for the fortunes of marginal and borderline players who need every bit of playing time they can get?

 

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has come out and said he will not be squeeze his team for more money, even though he is technically underpaid at the going market rates, and that he intends to play out his contract before renegotiating. If there is any player in the league who has the leverage to force a pay raise, it's Rodgers. Will other players follow his example?