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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions To Sign Vaughn Martin

March 13th, 2014 at 9:07am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions have agreed to a contract with free agent defensive lineman Vaughn Martin, according to agent Chad Speck (via Twitter). Terms of the deal aren’t yet known.

Martin, 27, signed a two-year, $4MM deal with the Dolphins last March, but underwent surgery for a sports hernia and was released by the team early in the 2013 season. Before signing with Miami, the London, Ontario native spent four seasons with the Chargers, starting 27 total games for the team in 2011 and 2012. For his career, the former fourth-round pick has 79 tackles and three sacks.

Given his relatively poor Pro Football Focus grades and his 2013 health issues, Martin likely won’t be a significant investment for the Lions, but it could turn into a nice depth signing for the team’s defensive line.

FA Visits: Woodley, Munnerlyn, Browner

March 13th, 2014 at 7:25am CST by Luke Adams

Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen were out to dinner with edge defenders LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck Wednesday night with the Raiders, and things are moving in the right direction with both players, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). Here’s more from around the NFL on free agent visits:

  • While it sounds as if Woodley’s meeting with the Raiders went well, the ex-Steeler is on his way to Tennessee to meet with the Titans today, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
  • Panthers free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn visited the Vikings last night and also has appointments planned with the Jets and Buccaneers, tweets Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • After reaching an agreement yesterday with ex-Buc Darrelle Revis, the Patriots will host another free agent cornerback for a visit today, according to Mark Ockerbloom of Fox 25 Boston, who tweets that Brandon Browner will meet with the team.
  • Defensive lineman Anthony Spencer is visiting the Redskins, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
  • The Panthers brought free agent defensive back Roman Harper in for a visit, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
  • Free agent linebacker Darryl Sharpton is meeting with the Titans today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Lions are hosting free agent safety James Ihedigbo for a visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who notes (via Twitter) that Ihedigbo has a history with new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

Extra Points: Phillips, Lions, Tate, Ducasse

March 12th, 2014 at 10:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent defensive end Shaun Phillips tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter) that as much as he wants to return to the Broncos, he knows it’s not in the cards with the signing of DeMarcus Ware. “It’s definitely not mutual now just because they found a baller and we play the same position. DeMarcus (Ware) is a baller. He’s a great player and a great pick-up for them. More than likely I won’t be back there. You never know, but more than likely I will not be there.,” the veteran said. More from around the NFL…

  • The Lions officially signed unrestricted free agent Kevin Ogletree and exclusive rights free agents Kris Durham, Julian Stanford, and Matt Veldman, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
  • Golden Tate took to KJR Sports Radio in Seattle to discuss free agency and his decision not to return to the Seahawks (via Todd Dybas of the Tacoma News Tribune on Twitter). He spoke fondly of his time with Seattle, but also mentioned that the team “didn’t reward (him) enough.” He said that he gave the team an opportunity to offer a lesser contract, but the team didn’t bite. He also mentioned the 49ers interest, but claimed he “couldn’t do that to Seattle right after winning.” Tate signed with the Lions earlier today.
  • Free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who is meeting with the Vikings today, also has visits scheduled with the Jets and Buccaneers, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
  • Free agent offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse is expected to visit with the Vikings next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Ducasse started off his Jets career as a skilled athlete with little polish, but he was able to round out his game over time.
  • Antoine Bethea told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that the interest between himself and the Colts “wasn’t mutual.” Before he signed with the 49ers, he says that he got some contact from the Packers, Chiefs, and Lions.
  • Cornerback Chris Cook will visit the 49ers tomorrow, a source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (on Twitter).

WR Rumors: Sanders, Edelman, Tate

March 12th, 2014 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and defensive lineman Ziggy Hood are in town visiting the Jaguars, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida-Times Union. However, Sanders has other visits scheduled this week, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter) adds that the Jets are still a possibility.

  • Sanders is set to visit with the Buccaneers following his visit with the Jaguars today, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. 
  • The Ravens remain quite interested in free agent wide receiver Julian Edelman, tweets La Canfora. Meanwhile, the Patriots want him back and other teams are also in the mix.
  • Golden Tate said the Jaguars, Jets, and the incumbent Seahawks were also interested in his services, tweets Mike Rothstein of ESPN. The former Seattle receiver landed with the Lions earlier today.

Lions To Sign Golden Tate

March 12th, 2014 at 2:58pm CST by Zachary Links

2:58pm: Tate has now confirmed to Anderson that he has accepted the Lions’ offer (Twitter link). According to Tate, it’s a five-year deal worth $31MM, with $13.25MM in guaranteed money.

2:42pm: Tate tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter) that he hasn’t agreed to anything yet, though it still sounds like the two sides will complete a deal.

2:35pm: The Lions have signed Golden Tate to a five-year deal, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (on Twitter). Michelle Beisner of NFL Network reported earlier today that the wide receiver was in Detroit for a visit.

The former Seahawks notable is coming off of his most productive season ever in which he hauled in 64 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns. Shortly after Seattle’s Super Bowl win, Tate said in an interview that he badly wanted to stay with the Seahawks and would even be able to take a discount to make that happen. In the week after, however, he backtracked from the notion that he would take less money to stay with Seattle.

With Tate in the mix, the Lions hope that they can have a solid receiving weapon to take attention away from star Calvin Johnson. The club has had some success using Nate Burleson in that role, but nothing has kept clubs from double-teaming Megatron.

NFC North Rumors: Tate, Neal, Haralson,

March 12th, 2014 at 2:32pm CST by Zachary Links

A quick look at the NFC North..

  • Golden Tate is visiting with the Lions today, according to Michelle Beisner of NFL Network (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter). The former Seahawks notable is coming off of his most productive season ever in which he hauled in 64 catches for 898 yards and five touchdowns.
  • The Bears could target Packers free agent defensive end Mike Neal, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears already added Lamarr Houston at the other bookend. Neal appeared in all 16 games last season for Green Bay last season and made ten starts.
  • The Packers are expected to consider free agent pass rusher Parys Haralson, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter).

Lions Sign Joique Bell

March 12th, 2014 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY, 12:10pm: Bell has officially re-signed with the Lions, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).

TUESDAY, 11:43am: The Lions and running back Joique Bell have agreed to a two-year, $7MM extension, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter). The restricted free agent gets $4.3MM guaranteed in the pact. As Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) notes, the deal is a two-year extension tacked on to the one-year restricted free agent tender.

Bell, 27, said back in January that he hoped to bypass the restricted free agency process and negotiate a long-term contract that would keep him in Detroit. The undrafted running back was one of the team’s most dynamic offensive weapons in 2013, racking up nearly 1,200 combined rushing and receiving yards to go along with eight touchdowns. While Bell was only a part-time player, playing behind starter Reggie Bush, he ranked as the NFL’s ninth-best running back, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Last season, Bell proved that he is one of the league’s best No. 2 running backs and with this deal, the Lions will continue to have him in place for the next three years in that role.

Five Teams In Mix For Brandon Pettigrew?

March 12th, 2014 at 9:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Giants, Jets, Texans, and Raiders are among the potential landing spots for free agent tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who could also return to the Lions, says Mike Silver of the NFL Network (Twitter link). It’s not clear whether Pettigrew has any visits lined up yet, but it seems that those five clubs have expressed some level of interest in the 29-year-old.

Pettigrew, who had 71 receptions in 2010 and 83 in 2011, is perhaps the top tight end on the unrestricted free agent market, with Dennis Pitta having re-signed with the Ravens and Jimmy Graham designated as the Saints’ franchise player.

As for Pettigrew’s potential suitors, all of them will likely lose one of their top two tight ends in free agency this offseason. The Giants saw Brandon Myers sign with the Bucs, the Texans released Owen Daniels, and the Jets and Raiders may end up parting ways with UFAs Kellen Winslow and Jeron Mastrud, respectively.

FA Rumors: Broncos, Allen, LaFell, Redskins

March 12th, 2014 at 9:17am CST by Luke Adams

According to a Denver Post report, the Broncos are considering free agent linebackers Jon Beason and Daryl Smith. However, the report surfaced yesterday before word broke that the team had agreed to sign Aqib Talib and scheduled a visit with DeMarcus Ware, so it’s not clear whether Denver still has interest. The team certainly does seem to be going all-in to try to take advantage of Peyton Manning‘s final years though.

Here are several more Wednesday morning free agency updates:

NFC Rumors: Allen, Rams, Tillman, Costa

March 11th, 2014 at 9:40pm CST by Zachary Links

With the Broncos shifting their focus to DeMarcus Ware, Vikings free agent defensive end Jared Allen is talking with the Bears and Seahawks, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). More out of the NFC..

  • Contrary to some reports, free agent defensive end Antonio Smith is not making a free agent visit to the Rams, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  • The Rams decided not to make a tender offer to cornerback Quinton Pointer, an exclusive rights free agent, Thomas tweets.
  • Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) would not be surprised to see the Panthers work to get in the game for free agent cornerback Charles Tillman. There was a lot of talk about Tillman reuniting with former coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay, but that’s probably off the table now that the Buccaneers have agreed to sign Alterraun Verner.
  • Former Cowboys veteran center Phil Costa visited the Lions today and will meet with the Patriots on Monday, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Football Post. Costa, a 6-foot-3, 302-pounder from Maryland who has started 20 of 26 career games, started no games last season after the Cowboys drafted center Travis Frederick in the first round. For what it’s worth, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter) hears that the Pats visit took place yesterday.
  • The Buccaneers were pursuing offensive tackle Rodger Saffold last weekend, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Had they signed him, he would have played left tackle in Tampa. Instead, Saffold is Oakland bound.
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