Star Players looking for new long-term deals with Detroit Lions - NFL News Update
The 2011 season for the Detroit Lions ended on Saturday night as they lost out to National Football Conference (NFC) South champions, the New Orleans Saints, 45-28, and now the management will look to consolidate tying down their best players to long term
contracts.
Detroit Lions’ wide receiver, Calvin Johnson, will be entering the final year of his contract with the Lions in the 2012 regular season and if the franchise wishes to continue their march to become an elite team, his retention will be the key to achieving
that goal.
Johnson ended the 2011 season with the highest number of receiving yards and the second highest number of touchdowns scored as his combination with young quarterback, Matthew Stafford, was superb throughout the season and received the highest number of votes
to make the Associated Press’s All-Pro roster for 2011.
The wide receiver had a brilliant game in Detroit’s first playoff appearance since 1999, even though they lost to Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
Johnson made two touchdowns for 211 receiving yards and was on fire throughout the game.
When asked by reporters if he would like a new long term deal, Johnson did not look in the mood to discuss contracts and dismissed the question right away saying:
"I'm not even going to talk about that right now. I'm about to go home."
Kicker, Jason Hanson, is also in line to have his contract renewed and hopes that even at 41 he can still contribute to the franchise in a major way.
"I hopefully showed them that I'm not as old as my hair, And, that I can still do it. If they want me, I'll be ready."
Most importantly however, the Lions’ management will have to secure the signature on a new long-term deal with coach, Jim Schwartz.
The Lions this year were much improved from their previous incarnations, ending the regular season with a 10-6 record and second in the NFC North division.
Under coach, Jim Schwartz, the Lions have become a team that will be taken very seriously next season.
Just two years ago the franchise went 0-16 for the first time in history but those dark days have been left well behind, with Schwartz’s philosophy turning around the franchise’s fortunes completely.
"It's a lot easier to see the needs that we have, but I don't think it changes your philosophy," Schwartz said. "We have a lot less needs than we have in the past."
Before everything else, the Lions must first secure the spine of the team to long-term contracts and improve the roster further in the drafts as this team has the potential to improve and many of their star players are still young and will only get better
with age and experience.
Quarterback, Matthew Stafford, showed that he has what it takes to become one of the best QB’s in history, thus, providing him with targets of Johnson's calibre should be the Lions top priority.
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