/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68553461/1190727384.jpg.0.jpg)
Injured wide receiver Kenny Golladay held a video conference call with the media on Friday, and one of the subjects that came up was whether he would be part of the team next season. Golladay’s contract expires at the end of this season, and no news about a possible extension has appeared since games began in September. Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger told Pride of Detroit back in August that a new deal to keep Golladay in Detroit would likely run the team $80 million over five years with around $35-$40 million guaranteed.
The Detroit News’ Justin Rogers thinks that based on the contracts issued to wide receivers over the past few months, it could be a little more than that and cost between $18-$20 million per season. Dave Birkett with the Detroit Free Press also covered the video call and highlighted Golladay’s mention of loyalty:
“I want to be here, like the city, like what’s going on,” Golladay said in his first public comments since October.
Asked to explain why, Golladay said he feels loyalty to the team that drafted him.
“They believed in me,” he said. “And say, if a contract, if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, then I’ll go somewhere else and ball out and play. But like I say, I’m a loyal person and of course I want to be here. I started my career here.”
Though the former Pro Bowler would rather have a long-term deal in place, he acknowledged that the Lions need to find a new general manager before anything further happens. From MLive’s Ben Raven:
“Nothing can get done right now until the organization figures out which direction it wants to go,” Golladay said via Zoom on Friday. “I guess the conversation will come back up when that decision is made.
Lions WR Kenny Golladay says he wants to be in Detroit and his injury is not tied to contract.
— Michael Rothstein (@mikerothstein) December 18, 2020
Said he would rather get a deal done but if franchise tag comes there’s nothing he can do with it.
Golladay said he’s dealing with a muscle strain. It got retweaked and has lingered.
The Lions will not have Golladay on the gameday active roster against Tennessee this coming Sunday, and it is unclear if he will be able to return to the field before the end of the season. With some luck, we’ll get more Stafford to Golladay touchdown connections this season and hopefully many more next year. Now, on to the rest of today’s Notes:
- CBS Sports NFL Analyst Jonathan Jones has a wide-ranging list of 30 likely general manager candidates for teams (like the Lions) who need a new one for next year (hat tip to Justin Rogers for finding this).
- An interesting find by MLive’s Ben Raven:
future interviewee Scott Pioli talking about the Lions HC job a couple weeks ago (about 3:50 mark for Lions business) https://t.co/hmqHMPdv3e
— Benjamin Raven (@BenjaminSRaven) December 17, 2020
- A quick breakdown of a protection breakdown for the Lions against the Packers:
Packers bringing overload sim pressure. Late stem by DT to a zero tech helps slow Center's set to pressure. Nice up&under by DE turning shoulders of G. By threatening G in inside part of B gap then crossing face, DE creates run through lane for pressure in wide part of the B gap. pic.twitter.com/vRZb6qgm55
— Blitzology (@blitzologyblog) December 16, 2020
- Some Lions-affiliated folks doing charitable stuff during the holiday season. First up, we have Kelly Stafford’s visit to the Woodward Sports studio:
While I was here shooting for the Making the Cut segment for Sunday, Kelly Stafford just showed up @woodwardsports driving a U-Haul with $10,000 worth of toys for their #StuffaStudio campaign. Awesome! #Lions @FOX2News pic.twitter.com/OavGMUyVa3
— Ryan Ermanni (@RyanEFox2) December 17, 2020
The Adrian and Ashley Peterson Foundation teamed up with Downtown Boxing Gym in Detroit and Old Navy to get winter coats to kids:
On this cold, snowy day it warms our hearts to be able to provide warm winter coats for our students thanks to Adrian Peterson, future Hall of Fame running back for the Detroit Lions, his wife Ashley, the Adrian & Ashley Peterson Family Foundation, Old Navy and many others. pic.twitter.com/2IrfSNvnl7
— DowntownBoxingGym (@DBGDetroit) December 16, 2020
- Paging Alex Reno - former Lions second-round pick Teez Tabor visited the team once again owned by the Detroit Lions:
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) December 18, 2020