JULY 25: The linebacker’s frustrations notwithstanding, Campbell said (via Woodyard) negotiations are taking place. Describing Anzalone as a player the Lions need, the fifth-year HC said no animosity exists on the team’s side.
JULY 22: Alex Anzalone wants to stick in Detroit long-term, but it’s uncertain if the Lions feel the same way. Speaking with reporters today, the impending free agent linebacker acknowledged that he’s upset by the lack of progress regarding an extension.
“I’m disappointed, I’ll just say that. I’m disappointed,” Anzalone said today (via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard).
The veteran is entering the final season of a three-year, $18.75MM contract he signed back in 2023. After having a career year during his first season in Detroit, Anzalone took it to another level during the first two seasons of his extension, averaging 127 tackles and more than two sacks per year.
Anzalone suffered a broken arm last season that limited him to 10 games and only 63 stops, his lowest total since joining the Lions. Still, the linebacker has been considered a defensive leader throughout the organization’s turnaround, leaving the player confused about Detroit’s apparent refusal to engage in contract talks.
“For sure. This is a weird situation and wasn’t on my end or my agent’s end,” Anzalone said.
The 30-year-old isn’t practicing with the squad while he nurses a hamstring injury. Coach Dan Campbell refused the notion that Anzalone was engaging in a hold-in, and Woodyard writes that the player could eventually take the practice field without an extension. Of course, if the linebacker has his way, he’ll spend the rest of his career with the Lions.
“I put so much into my time here and being a four-time captain and my teammates and the city and just living here,” Anzalone said. “You could list all the reasons, but it’s just important to me. I feel like I love this place, and I want that opportunity.”
While Anzalone has played both middle linebacker and weakside linebacker during his time in Detroit, he’s currently penciled in as the starting WLB. The team is already lacking some depth at the position, as Malcolm Rodriguez isn’t expected to see the field until midseason as he works his way back from a torn ACL.
Wrong side of 30 for Fabio. This is football.
A lot of the best linebackers in recent years have been 30+, while young super athletes have been picked apart.
Ridiculous comment, padam.
He’s also just not all that good
And your just not all that smart because you don’t know what your talking about. That dude is the motor of that defense.
Stick to speaking on baseball, jjvot.
Anzalone is a guy who always seems to make impact plays and has great instincts. He really seems like the heart and soul of that defense whenever you watch Detroit play.
Still, they can’t pay everybody.
At the same time, when you’re trying to be a legitimate Superbowl contender like they’re clearly trying to be, team chemistry and locker room makeup is extremely important. You really don’t want to mess with it and risk losing an important leader.
Well those important leaders need to be humble and more realistic when it comes to their wants for more money as it comes to building a Super Bowl winning roster. Can’t have all the money and all the players too, doesn’t work out that way. You can’t pay one guy just to keep him happy. It’s like feeding seagulls at the beach…they all come running.
You have no clue what he’s asking for, if anything. Sounds more like Detroit is just gonna let him walk because of his age, which would be really really dumb.
Well, I’m willing to bet it’s more than the 3-year, $18.75 million deal he’s playing on now.
I’m with notimportant, here. I doubt that Anzalone wants a big contract. If he does, then by all means, turn him loose. However, you can’t let guys like this go without replacing them. You may be able to replicate his quality of play, but it takes time to develop ownership of that scheme and locker room to keep everyone level and working as a unit. Detroit lost both of its very high profile coordinators last year, after rumors that they might have left the year before ended up falling short. Part of the reason for that, on Detroit’s end, was to help ease a smooth transition into new leadership to remain consistent.
A similar approach should be applied here with the roster-Anzalone should be allowed to at least help transition new leadership into his role. Rodriguez missed time last year, and I don’t think that he filled Anzalone’s shoes completely in terms of leadership because the defense looked noticeably different for the rest of the year after Anzalone went down (other injuries, of course, played into that as well). As for the injury itself…not to minimize it, but it was a broken arm, not an Achilles tear or an ACL tear. It shouldn’t affect his mobility.
The Lions might as well at least engage in talks with Anzalone. He still offers value and they don’t have a surefire replacement that’s obvious at this time. Rodriguez will also be out for part of the season at least, so they’re going to have to rely on Anzalone to play well this year, too. They may as well offer a short term deal so as to not make him a lame duck, at least. I would be surprised if Holmes didn’t have an offer planned, but he should open up talks soon to avoid have this hanging over the season when it starts.
Zero time pro bowl, zero time 2nd team all pro, zero time 1st team all pro. If anyone should be disappointed, it is the Lions.
If watch Anzalone on the field, you know that he does his job. He’s not there to be a superstar, he’s there to lead the defense. I certainly wouldn’t say that he’s been a disappointment, just because he hasn’t received recognition. He’s certainly been paid like a superstar, so there’s not much for Detroit to dislike money-wise.
I doubt that he is angling for a significant raise, it seems like he just wants to continue playing there-which is definitely something Detroit can use, especially in light of Rodriguez’s health making that group even thinner.
Macbeth do you not think good role players are a thing?
Oops, I meant to say “He’s certainly NOT been paid like a superstar” above. Sorry, just saw that.
Macbeth, I don’t think you have watched this team to understand his value. Anzalone is incredibly valuable to this team and a leader. There’s only so many guys that can be considered “pro bowlers” but this dude truly is the heart & soul of that defense.
Heart and soul? Hardly.
This guy is a replacement level player.
Role players are good, but paying this guy what he is likely expecting in a contract would be foolish for the Lions to do. Off ball LBs are not worth paying huge money or event tier 2 money at the position.
Some of you really need to stop speaking on football and sit down already.