I mentioned it in passing yesterday, but I'm feeling more and more like it warrants its own post. I guess that's because it looks today like the Lions are actually serious about this "let's just take whoever's cheaper" business.

The Lions have been negotiating with both Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry and Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford. Tom Kowalski of mlive.com reports that they've already got a deal with Curry in the bag, but have yet to reach an agreement with Stafford.

He says it's not just a negotiatic tactic, either. The Lions have identified a player they want, but might not take him, because the other guy is giving them a discount. Writes Kowalski:

The Lions already have come to terms on a deal with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, but the Lions are waiting to see if their No. 1 target -- Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford -- will agree to a contract prior the start of the draft at 4 p.m. Saturday.

According to a league source, the Lions expect Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, to see if he can get a better deal with another team a slot or two lower than the Lions. Remember, last year Condon got a better contract for quarterback Matt Ryan ($34.75 million guaranteed), who was the third overall pick, than tackle Jake Long received as the first pick ($30 million guaranteed).

Stafford's negotiating to see if he can get a better deal with another team? Wait a second. Teams still draft players, right? As opposed to players drafting teams? That's still how it works, yes?

I don't know. I guess that's irrelevant. What I want to focus on is that the Lions might be settling for a player they don't want as badly as they want another player, because that first player comes a little cheaper.

That's crazy. That's foolish. That's the stuff 0-16 is made of. That is, dare I say, Millen-esque.

Don't get me wrong. I do understand the importance of frugality in the NFL. There's a salary cap, you've gotta squeeze everyone under it, you pinch pennies where you can ... I get it. Managing money is key.

But you just went 0-16, gentlemen. That's a pretty clear sign that the players you have are not very good at playing football, and you need players who are better at playing football. You need to take the guy you think is best. You take the guy who you think helps the Detroit Lions the most.

You are not the New England Patriots. You do not have a roster with just a couple of holes to be plugged, here and there. Your roster is a hole.

This isn't about my opinions on Curry, Stafford, or Jason Smith. I don't care who they like best. My opinion doesn't matter. Take Greg Paulus if you think he's the best option; I don't care. I won't criticize any choice, so long as it's made for the right reasons. If they think Curry gets them to respectability faster, fine, take Curry. If they think Stafford gets them to respectability faster, then take Stafford.

Whoever they take is going to be overpaid. That's just the way it works in the NFL today.

But you've still got to take the best player. And do you know why, Lions? It's because you suck, and you have to get better. If you don't get better, you will continue to suck. Do you like sucking? Do you like fans with paper bags over their heads? Do you like making the Detroit auto industry look well-run and innovative by comparison?

Take the best player. Make a football decision here. Do not let the embarrassment continue.