Charles Rogers ordered to pay Lions $8.5 million

By NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • October 9, 2008 Former wide receiver Charles Rogers owes the Lions reportedly about $8.5 million because violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy put him in default of his contract, an arbitrator has ruled. Now the Lions must go though the legal process of collecting from Rogers, who has been out of pro football since the Lions cut him before the 2006 season. The Lions will receive salary cap credit for whatever they actually collect. But after the Lions originally filed their grievance in 2005, seeking more than $10 million, Rogers said: “It’s going to be kind of hard to get 10.” He laughed and added: “We’ll see, man.” Chief operating officer Tom Lewand did not respond to messages. The Lions released the following statement: “On September 24, an arbitrator ruled... [read full story]