Don't Ban Antonio... Yet

Joe Smith's impressive debut has Lions' fans giddy about BC's running game. With 138 yards on 16 carries, 26 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns in his debut as a starter, you can see why. But don't cast Antonio Warren loose just yet.

Has Warren been good this season? No.

Is Warren irreplaceable? No.

But here's why the Lions should keep him, at least for now. This is the same running back that ripped off 160 yards against the Argonauts in the 2004 Grey Cup. He's also the same guy that churned out nearly 2200 yards in combined yardage last season. And despite his well-publicized whiff against the Riders two weeks ago, he rarely misses a block. You just don't cut a guy like that after 1 impressive performance by his backup.

Remember Willie Hurst? How about Eddie Linscomb? Well, I do. Both cracked the 100 yard plateau for the Lions when each had a chance to start in the past few seasons. It was the only time either accomplished the feat. One performance does not a career make.

Joe Smith may prove to be the best back of the bunch. But even he knows that teams will be better prepared for him after seeing him tear up the Stampeders. Even though Smith made a heck of a touchdown catch in traffic against Calgary, Warren is still a more dangerous weapon in the passing game. Choosing Smith means choosing to alter the offense. Is that something the receiver-depleted Lions are prepared to do after one big game? And given Aaron Lockett's injury issues in the past, keeping a reliable returner in Warren sounds like a pretty good idea. Especially given Smith's fumble trouble on kickoff returns this season.

By turfing veteran corner Sam Young four games into the season, Wally Buono has already shown that he subscribes to the "What Have You Done for Me Lately?" theory. But patience is a virtue and until he gathers more evidence, he'd be best to exercise it with Warren.