Two last quick things before I call it a day. First, the Lions announced moments ago they fined center Dominic Raiola $7,500 for "inappropriate conduct directed toward fans" when he was spotted flipping off fans after the Lions' loss to Minnesota. I haven't talked to Raiola, but being the competitor and good solider he is (don't think for a minute he's happy with the direction the offense has gone under Jim Colletto, but you didn't see he complaining like Roy Williams) I can't imagine he's happy with the team's decision.

Still, the Lions may have saved him money. The image-conscious NFL probably would have fined Raiola for the incident, but I doubt the league will now that the team has handled discipline internally.

Second, the Lions released this statement from coach Rod Marinelli on the release of Brian Kelly: "Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out. Based on our current defensive lineup, Brian would have been relegated to a situational cornerback and a special teams player and that would not have been in anyone’s best interest. My respect for Brian is as strong as ever. He’s always been the consummate pro."

Truer words have never been spoken. Kelly was supposed to be an upgrade for the secondary, but his skills have eroded to the point where he wasn't a fit even on the league's 31st-ranked defense. He might catch on somewhere else, but he struggles in man coverage and is no more than a situational player at this point in his fine career.