RUMOR: Roy Williams for Roy Williams swap after June 1?

FIVE LIONS MISS THURSDAY’S OTA SESSION
by Mike Florio

Buried in the bottom of a puff piece about rookie running back Kevin Smith and his “armor” for football season is a mention that five veteran members of the Detroit Lions didn’t show up on Thursday for a voluntary Organized Team Activity practice session.

Missing were receiver Roy Williams, linebacker Ernie Sims, running back Tatum Bell, running back Artose Pinner, and offensive tackle George Foster.

Coach Rod Marinelli only said that attendance was “good” and that he knew everyone’s whereabouts.

The most notable name on the list is Williams, who is entering the final year of his contract and who has been linked to trade rumors for much of the offseason. With the Cowboys possibly inclined to trade their own Roy Williams after June 1, could a Roy Williams for Roy Williams swap be in the offing?

Regardless, at a time when more and more teams are seeing nearly every player present for nearly every voluntary offseason practice, the absence of five recognizable names from Thursday’s session is cause for at least a mild eyebrow raising.