ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -The Detroit Lions have begun to purge players that were part of the NFL’s first 0-16 team.
High-priced cornerback Leigh Bodden was one of six players released by the Lions on Monday.
The other players being let go are, wide receiver Mike Furrey, guard Edwin Mulitalo, safety Dwight Smith, tight end Dan Campbell and offensive tackle Jon Dunn.
Acquiring Bodden was the Lions’ biggest move last winter. They traded standout defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to the Cleveland Browns for Bodden and a third-round pick. Bodden had a lackluster season while Rogers earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl.
Bodden signed a $27 million, four-year contract extension with the Lions before the season. The deal won’t kick in because Bodden won’t be on the roster next month when he was due to collect a $8.6 million bonus. He intercepted one pass for the Lions last season after he had 11 interceptions in Cleveland the previous three years, including six in 2007.
yards and six touchdowns in 2006 with the Lions after he started 11 games as a defensive back in 2005 with the St. Louis Rams.
Mulitalo started 11 games last season and 15 the year before in Detroit. He has started 128 games since making his NFL debut with the Baltimore Ravens in 1999.
Smith didn’t have an interception in seven starts and three games as a backup last year, failing to provide the type of production former coach Rod Marinelli was hoping for from him and other players he reunited with from his years as a Tampa Bay assistant. Smith was a solid starter for Minnesota, New Orleans and the Buccaneers before signing last season with the Lions.
Injuries limited Campbell to just three games the past two seasons after starting 23 games during the 2005-06 seasons in Detroit and playing regularly for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.
Detroit will have more decisions to make with its roster, including whether to cut or keep quarterback Daunte Culpepper. He signed a two-year deal during last season, as he did previously in Miami and Oakland while struggling to regain his Pro Bowl form he had with the Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions will have plenty of chances to revamp their roster this offseason, including on Feb. 27 when they can sign free agents and trade for players. Two months later they have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
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