Earlier today, the Lions re-signed center Dominic Raiola to a one-year contract. While the financial terms of the deal aren’t known, the 35-year-old is said to have gotten a “nice raise” out of the deal. Raiola has been a fixture on the Lions’ O-Line and has started every game in the last 12 seasons for the franchise with the exception of a handful of contests in 2008. More out of Detroit..
- The Lions were smart to re-sign Raiola to a new deal, opines ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. The Lions still need to fill holes at wide receiver, tight end, cornerback, and safety, so getting the center position out of the way gives them one less thing to worry about. The veteran is one of the few Detroit players left from the 0-16 season in 2008 and has been completely focused on trying to return to the playoffs. As an added bonus, if the Lions draft a center this year, the Lions can bring him along slowly and Raiola can help groom him for the future.
- Detroit will continue to pursue larger cornerbacks, new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin tells Justin Rogers of MLive.com. “As the league has changed, I think you have to try to get, if you can, a bigger cornerback,” Austin said, “a guy that can match up with the bigger receivers, a guy that has some physical toughness to him who’s not afraid to tackle, and a guy that has great ball skills.” However, Austin isn’t ruling out smaller corners with playmaking skills.
- The Lions will hire former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback and Broncos assistant Jim Bob Cooter to be their next QB coach, according to Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports (via Twitter).