SATURDAY, 5:03pm: The Lions have officially released Mays, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 4:04pm: After not playing in last night’s preseason game against Washington, safety Taylor Mays has asked the Lions for his release, and it appears the team will grant his request, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Mays will become an unrestricted free agent when Detroit makes the move official.
It’s already the second time this year that Mays has been released by an NFC North team — the veteran safety and special-teamer signed with the Vikings earlier in the year, and was cut by Minnesota back in June. Mays signed with the Lions less than a week later, so we’ll see if he finds a new job as quickly now that he’s becoming available again.
In five NFL seasons with the 49ers and Bengals, Mays has made 84 tackles, recorded one sack, and recovered a pair of fumbles. While his numbers aren’t exceptional, Mays is a solid contributor on special teams, and drew interest from multiple teams when he hit the market this offseason. Teams hit hard by secondary injuries this preseason could be potential suitors for Mays this time around.
A bad move by The Lions Imo
He’s a quitter, let him go.
Why ask to be let go?.
Tantrum maybe?
Moron!
Ouch
He just doesn’t have the flexibility to handle safety in the NFL. He’d moved to a dime linebacker role with the Bengals, and the Lions were pretty much set in that regard.