INAGURAL LIONS/KEVIN VANDAM CHARITY FISHING TOURNAMENT SET FOR JUNE 12

Charity Fundraiser will be held at Kensington Metropark in Milford

Allen Park, Mich. - The Detroit Lions have announced the date for a new and exciting fundraiser for Detroit Lions Charities (DLC), the organization's philanthropic foundation. The Inaugural Detroit Lions/Kevin VanDam Charity Fishing Tournament will be held Tuesday, June 12, at Kensington Metropark on Kent Lake in Milford, Mich.

Kevin VanDam is one of the most recognized and accomplished outdoor athletes. He has won the Angler of the Year award seven times and is a four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion. The Lions and VanDam have partnered to create this unique fishing tournament to not only fish with your favorite Lions' player, but also have the opportunity to fish with professional anglers. All proceeds from the event will go to support both Detroit Lions Charities (DLC) and Kevin VanDam Charities.

"I grew up watching the Detroit Lions, so I'm a lifetime Lions fan. For me it's truly an honor and a privilege to be partnered with the Lions Organization," said VanDam.

The tournament will be added to the list of the Lions' major fundraisers that have helped DLC donate more than $6.2 million to charity since 1991. Lions' Head Coach Jim Schwartz will be fishing in the event and will be joined by current and former Lions' players, coaches and staff.

"It is with great excitement that we join in partnership with Kevin, who is not only the best angler in the world, but also a very loyal and dedicated Lions fan," said Schwartz. "The coaching staff as well as the players are looking forward to being involved with the tournament."

The event will take place on one of Michigan's nicer fisheries. Participants will enjoy great food and have the opportunity to bid on unique items through silent and live auctions. The competition concludes with a weigh-in and awards dinner.

The fishing tournament is open to the public with sponsorship levels available. For more information, please visit http://www.kevinvandam.com/ or contact Detroit Lions Community Affairs at 313-216-4173.

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LIONS SIGN WR CALVIN JOHNSON TO A NEW 8-YEAR CONTRACT

All-Pro receiver signed through 2019

Allen Park, Mich.— The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed WR Calvin Johnson to a new eight-year contract beginning with the 2012 season and extending through the 2019 season. No other contract terms were disclosed.

Through five NFL seasons, Johnson has established himself as one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL. The two-time Pro Bowler and 2011 All-Pro selection joined only five other players (Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Lance Alworth, Marvin Harrison and Larry Fitzgerald) in NFL history to register 45+ TD catches and 5,500+ receiving yards through their first five seasons.

Since the 2008 season, Johnson ranks first in the NFL with 45 receiving touchdowns, second in receiving yards (5,116) and third (tie) in the NFL with 49 receptions of 25+ yards. Including his 2007 rookie season, Johnson’s 49 touchdowns tie for second in the NFL over that five-year span.

Johnson’s career totals of 366 receptions for 5,872 yards and 49 touchdowns are the most by any Lions receiver through their first five seasons. He reached 5,000 career receiving yards (69 games) and 300 receptions (66 games) faster than any receiver in team history. Prior to Johnson’s arrival, no receiver in team history ever registered 1,000+ receiving yards and 12+ touchdowns in more than one season and he accomplished that three times (2008, 2010 and 2011) in his first five seasons.

As he has ascended to the upper echelon of NFL wide receivers, 2011 was his best and the most-prolific in Lions history as he helped lead the Lions back to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. He garnered career highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,681) and touchdowns (16). He broke the team’s single-season receiving touchdowns record that was held by E Cloyce Box (15, 1952) for the past 59 seasons. Johnson led the NFL with 1,681 receiving yards, and he had the highest (224 yards at Green Bay 1/1) and third-highest single-game (217 yards at Oakland 12/18) receiving tallies in the NFL.

His 1,681 yards are the second-most in team history and just five yards shy of the club record (WR Herman Moore, 1,686 in 1995). That tally is also the seventh-highest single-season tally in NFL history and most since Rams WR Torry Holt had 1,696 in 2003.

Only Johnson and Minnesota WR Randy Moss (2003) have ever registered 1,600+ receiving yards and 16+ receiving touchdowns in a season. Johnson is only the fourth player in NFL history to register 1,600 receiving yards and catch less than 100 passes in a season (Houston WR Charley Hennigan in 1961, San Diego WR Lance Alworth in 1965 and St. Louis WR Torry Holt in 2000). Only Hennigan (1,736) has registered more yards in a season with less than 100 catches receptions. He became the third player in NFL history with 95+ receptions, 1,600+ receiving yards and 15+ touchdowns in a season.

Johnson started 2011 by becoming the first player in NFL history with 2+ TD catches in the team’s first four games of the season.

Johnson’s stellar season extended into the playoffs as he broke Lions’ playoff records with 12 receptions for 211 yards and scoring 2 TDs at New Orleans (1/7/12). He is the third player in NFL history with 200+ receiving yards and 2 receiving TDs in a playoff game since the NFL-AFL merger. Johnson became the first player in NFL history to have 200 receiving yards in a playoff debut.

Including the Lions Wild Card game, Johnson had 36 catches, 771 yards and 6 TDs over the team’s final four games, including 3 200+-yard receiving games. Including his postseason totals (17 games), Johnson finished with 108 receptions for 1,892 yards (17.5 avg.) and 18 touchdowns. His season totals of 1,892 yards ranks fourth and his 18 touchdowns are tied for seventh in NFL history for combined totals in regular season and postseason games. Only Johnson and Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice (1,965 in 1995) have recorded 1,850+ yards while playing in 17 or less games (including postseason). Johnson is one of only 8 players to accumulate 110+ yards per game average (including postseason). However, only Johnson and Rice (115.6 in 1995) have registered 110+ yards per game while playing in at least 17 games. Both played 17 games in their respective seasons.

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LIONS RELEASE TE WILL HELLER

The Detroit Lions announced today that they have released TE Will Heller.

After joining the Lions prior to the 2009 season, Heller played in all 48 games and had 22 starts. He established career-highs in 2009 with 29 receptions, 296 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Heller finished the 2011 season with 6 receptions for 42 yards. He started in the team's NFC Wild Card game at New Orleans (1/7) and had a 10-yard touchdown reception on the team's opening drive.

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FORMER LION JOHN PANELLI DIES AT 85

“PEP” PLAYED TWO SEASONS WITH THE LIONS, ‘49 & ‘50

Allen Park, Mich. — One of the last two-way players in the NFL, John Panelli, died Friday, March 2 of a sudden illness in Royal Oak, Mich. He was 85.

Panelli was the 12th overall pick in the 1949 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions after leading Notre Dame to three-straight undefeated seasons (1946-1948). During his senior season, the 5-11, 190-pound back averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns, and he was voted Most Valuable Player of the 1949 East-West Shrine Game.

Lions Head Coach Bo McMillin was very familiar with Parnell’s talent. He had the challenge of trying to stop Panelli on the collegiate gridiron as head coach for Indiana University in 1947. Panelli had a great game with numerous long runs and McMillin took notice. As the Lions’ head coach in 1949, Panelli was his first draft pick, and Panelli received a record setting signing bonus and contract at the time.

Panelli played linebacker and running back for five NFL seasons (1949-53). During his first two years, Panelli registered 42 carries for 119 yards and 3 receptions for 22 yards on offense and 1 interception on defense for the Lions. He then went on to play for the Chicago Cardinals from 1951-53. Overall, he played 51 career games, recorded 55 carried for 157 yards, 4 receptions for 27 and 5 interceptions for 29 yards.

After his NFL career, Panelli started J.R. Panelli Equipment Company, a construction equipment dealership in Southfield, Mich.

Panelli stayed active in football as president of the Detroit Lions Alumni Association, and he was a founding member and president of the National Football League Alumni Association. The NFL Alumni Association worked with NFL franchise owners to create a fund for pre-1960s players who were not pensioned, many of whom were in financial difficulty.

Golf was a major passion for Panelli. He was past-president of the Birmingham Country Club, and with his partner Bud Stevens Panelli won the BCC invitational golf tournament an unprecedented 10 times. He was also active in celebrity Golf Tournament fundraisers including the NFL Alumni's "Super Bowl of Golf" and was active with the Saint Lewis Center - a charity for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities.

Panelli is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret; his sons, John, Andrew (Patricia) and Peter; daughter, Velma Krupnik (Steve); and his sisters, Angelina Lombardo and Anna Brockman; and grandchildren, Amanda Maurizi, and Juliana, John and Angelina Panelli.

Visitation will take place at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel), 32515 Woodward (between 13-14 Mile), Friday, March 9 from 2-8 p.m. Scripture service is at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, 32340 Pierce, Beverly Hills Saturday, March 10 at 11 a.m. Visitation at church begins at 10:30 a.m. View obituary and share memories at http://www.desmondfuneralhome.com/

Those wishing to make a commemorative donation may do so at www.stlouiscenter.org or mail to The Saint Louis Center, 16195 Old U.S. 12, Chelsea, MI 48118.

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