DETROIT LIONS DAILY UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2011

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Team announces first free agent transactions of new league year.

TRANSACTIONS

The Detroit Lions announced today the contract signings for the following players:

• Unrestricted Free Agents: WR Rashied Davis, LB Justin Durant, C Dylan Gandy, K Dave Rayner, QB Drew Stanton, and S John Wendling.
• Free Agents: CB Maurice Leggett and DT Quinn Pitcock.
• Restricted Free Agents: FB Jerome Felton and DT Andre Fluellen.
• Exclusive Rights Players: LB Korey Bosworth, LB Caleb Campbell, T Corey Hilliard, WR Stefan Logan, CB Prince Miller, LB Ashlee Palmer, S Randy Phillips, CB Paul Pratt.

In other roster moves, Detroit released LB Jordon Dizon and WR Bryant Johnson and placed T Jeff Backus and CB Alphonso Smith on the Active/Non-Football Injury list.

 

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STATEMENT FROM LIONS PRESIDENT TOM LEWAND

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“First and foremost, we are happy for our fans because all they ever wanted was for us to play football and, thankfully, that’s what we are getting ready to do. This agreement is a big win for NFL football and for all NFL fans because it helps secure the long-term health of our game.

 

“It is a fair deal for players and teams. We will be able to grow the game and appropriately share that growth with our players as partners. It is a deal that places a high priority on player safety and on the integrity of our game.

 

“Both sides worked extremely hard throughout this process. All involved are to be commended on getting a deal done in time to avoid any disruption to the 2011 regular season.

 

“I want to especially thank our player representative, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and all Lions players who conducted themselves so professionally over the past several months. We are excited to see them again beginning tomorrow.”

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LIONS HALL OF FAME TE CHARLIE SANDERS ON PASSING OF HALL OF FAME TE JOHN MACKEY

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“His loss is a tremendous loss, not only for the NFL and what he stood for, but it’s also a reminder of what this game is all about.

 

“Even after his career was over with, he remained a hero for a lot of other reasons than just playing football. The primary reason being some of the things that he brought to the forefront of football in terms of injuries and so forth.

 

"He was a tremendous ball player, and he was a great person and a role model too. When I came into the league as a rookie, he was the premier tight end of the NFL. He really set the standard for the prototype tight end.

 

“I didn’t have a hero or idolize anybody growing up, so he was the one player that I idolized and tried to copy more than anyone else throughout my career. I took pride in trying to get to the top where he was.

 

“He’s going to be sorely missed.”

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