NFL

Chargers beat writer Kevin Acee reports that he’s heard Combine buzz that Antonio Cromartie could be shipped to the Lions “soon.” San Diego Chargers had been looking for a running back in return, but the Lions don’t have a good one to offer. Thus, he’s likely to command a mid-round draft pick as compensation. The fit in Detroit is good because DC Gunther Cunningham uses lots of press coverage, an area in which Cromartie can excel. He doesn’t tackle well enough to succeed in heavy zone systems.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Green Bay: Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed Sunday that Jermichael Finley will move into the starting lineup in 2010. Donald Lee will block and play special teams. “Yes, (Finley) is (the starter),” McCarthy confirmed. “What’s exciting about him, he gets better every week.” As an every-down tight end, Finley’s snap count will increase dramatically. He finished 2009 with a bang, catching 38 passes for 416 yards and four touchdowns in Green Bay Packer’s final seven regular season games.

New York: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Thomas Jones will not restructure his contract, and he’s expected to be released within a week. The reports of a Jones-Jets divorce have been rolling in once a day, with Schefter’s as the most definitive. The New York Jets don’t want to pay a total of $6 million for a running back on the decline, yet Jones has earned his bonus. Due to hit free agency on March 5, Jones will draw more interest than fellow aging backs LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook.

2010 NFL Draft: Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen (toe surgery) refuted NFL Network’s Charley Casserly’s report that he won’t be ready for a full workout before April’s draft.

Casserly said the potential first-rounder won’t be ready until the summer, but Clausen expects to be fully ready for his pro day on April 9 in South Bend. “That is what I am shooting for (to do everything at his pro day) and that is what the doctor told me,” said Clausen, who was very poised at Saturday’s interview session. He remains a likely top-15 pick.

2010 NFL Draft: Three sources familiar with the situation tell Yahoo’s Jason Cole that Dez Bryant’s behavior in college was “consistently irresponsible.” “I wouldn’t draft that kid unless I had someone to wake him up in the morning to get to meetings, someone to wake him up for practice and someone to wake him up for games,” one source said. Another source stressed that Bryant wasn’t just late to meetings, practice, or warmups. He was often late to actual games. Yet another characterized Bryant as “just goofy.” It’s possible that teams are spreading bad info about Bryant in hopes of spurring a draft-day slide.