Dave Rayner To Sign 1-Year Deal With Detroit Lions

The battle for the starting kicker job during training camp is officially on. In one corner you have the veteran, Jason Hanson, who is returning from an injury last season. In the other corner you have last season's replacement for Hanson, Dave Rayner, who decided on Tuesday to re-sign with the Lions.

Rayner won't be able to officially re-sign until Friday evening, but he has agreed to a one-year deal with the team. He received interest from the St. Louis Rams and some other teams, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, but no offers were better than the chance to compete with Hanson in Detroit.

"That’s kind of what I’ve heard," Rayner said about battling with Hanson for the kicking job. "Obviously, he’s got a lot of years behind him but at the same time I feel pretty confident in my abilities and where I’m at physically, and may the best man win, I guess, is what it’s going to come down to."

This will definitely be an interesting battle to watch. The best news is that the Lions will wind up with a very good kicker no matter who wins the competition, so this position is set going forward.