The Detroit Lions have a GM that can...a guy that we've discussed here before.

On Monday, the Lions were in a grim situation.  After years of mismanagement by former GM Matt Millen, the last wobbly wheel was finally coming off the franchise.  The Lions hadn't won a game this season, their quarterback had a back injury that had him heading to injured reserve, their offense and defense had bottomed out, and one of their best players (a former Pro Bowler whose numbers had dropped the last couple of years who was schedule to become an unrestricted free agent) was allegedly making waves about wanting to be traded to a contender...but only to one in Texas.  In essence, a very similar (albeit certainly not identical) situation to what the Chiefs have been facing.

Then, after a week of publicly denying that his player was on the block or that he was shopping him around (despite numerous stories and rumors to the contrary), and after claiming that he'd only take a trade for the player if other teams started by offering a first-round draft pick, the new Lions' GM was able to unload his disgruntled, underachieving wide receiver for three draft picks, including a first rounder.  In one swift move, by exercising tact and savvy, the general manager of the Lions was able to squeeze an absolutely brilliant return out of a player that most questioned to be worthy of even a first round pick.  Whereas in Kansas City, the player who asked to be traded, who most people thought wasn't worthy of the second round pick the Kansas City GM asked for, went nowhere at the trade deadline and is now helping to cause an uncomfortable situation for his head coach.

Which leaves open the question...why can't our GM get the value he assesses a player at in trade like the Detroit Lions' GM can?