To get their roster down to 75 players, the Lions released 5 members of the team today.  Center Carroll Madison, defensive end Claude Harriott, linebacker Tyrone Pruitt, defensive back Stephen Howell, and kicker Dave Rayner were the 5 let go.

The most notable of the 5 players released is Dave Rayner.  With him being let go, we now know that Jason Hanson is ready to come back and be the full time kicker again.  That is great news for both Hanson and the Lions, and Rayner will benefit from being released in the first round of cuts.  This gives him an extra few days to get things in order as teams will likely show interest in signing him since he played well while on the Lions.