What if the Lions Passed on #1 Overall?

[Keith]

I first brought up this question of the Lions 'passing' on the #1 pick in this thread, and the notion is not a completely crazy one. In fact, if you're keeping up with the news of the economy the last eight months or so, especially in Michigan with the auto industry, the thought that Detroit and the Ford family gives this serious consideration is not totally bonkers.

As much hullabaloo as you'd think this would cause on draft day, apparently the league accepts this as a possibility. From a recent mlive.com article:

I had been under the assumption that the league would frown on a team passing its pick - basically thumbing its nose at the draft process - and that penalties might be possible from the Commissioner's office. That's not the case.

"If a club passes during the draft, it gives up its pick at that point and can re-enter at any point to make its selection,'' said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

I then wondered if Detroit skipped down to No. 5, whether that pick would be considered the real No. 1 pick (because he was taken by Detroit) or the No. 5 choice.

"To use your example,'' Aiello wrote in an e-mail, "if a player is selected 5th, he is the 5th pick. There is no other way to view it.''

And no potential fines or sanctions coming from Commissioner Roger Goodell?

"It has never been an issue,'' Aiello wrote. "There is no penalty for passing, other than losing a higher pick.'' ...