After eight seasons with the team, the Lions are releasing linebacker DeAndre Levy, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The veteran will be designated a June 1st cut, allowing the team to save some extra cap room for next season (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press on Twitter). The linebacker was set to make $5.75MM this upcoming season, and his cap hit accounted for $8.39MM. The organization saves around $1MM by making this move.
Levy joined the Lions as a third-round pick in 2009, and he quickly established himself as a reliable presence on the defensive side of the ball. The linebacker missed only seven regular season games through his first six years in the league, including a career-year in 2014 when he collected 151 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception, and one safety. Levy earned second-team All-Pro honors following the season, and he subsequently signed a four-year, $33.74MM extension with the Lions.
Detroit’s investment hasn’t paid off over the past two seasons. Levy has only appeared in six games (four starts) since inking the new deal, compiling 21 tackles. A report from earlier this month indicated that the team hadn’t approached the 29-year-old about a pay cut, but there were indications that Levy would still return to the Lions for the 2017 season.
The team will presumably be eyeing some reinforcement at linebacker following this move. The team is currently rostering four players at the position, including Thurston Armbrister, Tahir Whitehead, Antwione Williams, and Paul Worrilow.
come to green bay
No, we don’t need a someone who can’t stay on the field
So what do we do with #52?
Let him sit on your sidelines. We don’t care.
I bet Levy is the reason you guys pissed away the division. Again! #Kings of the North.
#52 was in the line up when your kittens couldn’t clinch against the PACK. Wouldn’t of mattered anyhow when the division is on the line and you get a chance to finish running the table with a lions beat down and a division crown #suit up!
Not suprising all you moron fans conviently forget that it took Staffords throwing hand to get mangled for you to barely scrape out the division.
Love it! Great fit! Strengh in numbers. Rememember when #53 couldnt stay healthy? Its football and guys get hurt!
Eagles probably giving him a call. He can join Bradham and his old coach if he takes a cut.
I’m very glad they are releasing Levy and I’m hoping this is going to lead to a signing of former Patriot linebacker Donte Hightower.
If pats can’t bring back Hightower for some reason we can sign him
Let him go. He’s too injury prone. Sitting back and collecting a paycheck while pacifying his injury. Buh bye!
Wow, not a lot of love for DeAndre Levy huh? Yeah I know he’s been injured and not “earning” his pay. I also don’t blame Detroit for cutting him. However, I did expect to see a little more fan sentiment for losing him. He was a heck of a player for 5 yrs. But even more than that, he was a heck of a person. He was the one there before and after practice, he volunteered of his own accord in the community, he strengthened his mind and body through travels around the world, he immersed himself and sympathized with less fortunate cultures, he gave up his possessions in favor of more frivolous living, he donated money to CTE research. He is seriously an amazing person and it’s tough for me to see him go. He brought playmaking and a lot more. Shame he’s had to deal with the string of injuries, which is why I’m not upset about the Lions decision, but I guarantee he will be sorely missed in Detroit.
Nice to hear these things about Levy…seems like a great guy and the kind of person you’d want on your team (provided he can stay healthy, lol).
Sorry to see him go, but the dude just couldn’t stay healthy.