--Kicker Jason Hanson isn't going anywhere. Hanson is set to be an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27. But if the Lions can't sign him to a long-term deal by Feb. 19, the deadline to use franchise tags, they will designate him their franchise player to effectively keep him off the market. "Frequently, a deadline kind of moves things along, and the franchise deadline's coming up next week," general manager Martin Mayhew said Thursday. "I think we'll get something done prior to that. If we don't, then we'll franchise Jason." The franchise tag would come with a one-year offer for $2,483,000, the average salary of the five highest-paid kickers in 2008. The Lions would have the right to match any offer Hanson receives. If they declined to match an offer, they would receive two first-round draft picks.
--Mayhew said the Lions also were trying to re-sign guard Stephen Peterman and fullback Moran Norris. New offensive line coach George Yarno coached Peterman for two years at Louisiana State. "I talked to Coach Yarno, and he said he'd like me to come back," Peterman said today. "So we'll just kind of see what happens."
--Defensive tackle Shaun Cody is also set to become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27, but the Lions have not contacted his agent. "My agent says we're awaiting a call, but we haven't heard anything from them at this particular moment in time," Cody said. Defensive tackle Chuck Darby was not on the list. Asked if the Lions had informed him he would be released, his agent, Brian Levy, said in an e-mail: "Not at this time."
--The Lions officially released six players Monday: cornerback Leigh Bodden, tight end Dan Campbell, offensive tackle Jon Dunn, wide receiver Mike Furrey, guard Edwin Mulitalo and safety Dwight Smith. Bodden was due an $8.6 million roster bonus, and Mayhew said 100% of his release was because of the salary cap.
--The Lions have discarded their black jerseys, chief operating officer Tom Lewand confirmed. They used their throwbacks in 2008 as part of their 75th anniversary celebration, and the throwbacks will continue to be their third uniform. The black jerseys were introduced under former president Matt Millen in 2005.
--Lions safety Daniel Bullocks is part of a lawsuit filed by jailed NFL quarterback Michael Vick, according to the Newport News Daily Press in Virginia. Vick is suing a former financial advisor for mismanaging his money. Bullocks owns 25 percent of her firm.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's probably the biggest personnel decision that we have to make this off-season is the quarterback position." -- GM Martin Mayhew, on the ongoing discussions regarding Daunte Culpepper ($2.5 million) and Jon Kitna ($500,000), who have upcoming roster bonuses.
