Alex Anzalone not holding out but wants 'to be rewarded' for his Lions contributions
Anzalone didn't participate in workouts, as he remains on the PUP list with a hamstring injury. He did meet with the local media shortly after practice, where Anzalone danced around the elephant in the room: his contract situation.
Anzalone skipped the voluntary spring sessions, which led to some consternation about a potential holdout for the veteran LB. With just one year left on his contract and no guaranteed money, Anzalone has dropped numerous social media hints that he wants a fresh contract that provides more security.
Anzalone insists he's not holding out, reiterating what head coach Dan Campbell stated before Sunday's practice that the notion of such a spirited player and integral leader was crazy talk. The thought did cross his mind, however, as related by Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network,
'I'm in a situation where I thought about it, and for my own personal goals and what I want for the team, I didn't think it was the best scenario (to not report). …We have a chance to win the Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it.'
Anzalone is under contract for a $6 million salary through 2025. None of that salary is guaranteed, nor is his $100,000 roster bonus. He's currently not in the top 30 of linebackers in compensation for the coming season.
'Production, play, the market. …I feel like I've done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here, and I'm just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard," Anzalone offered about his wages.
He did push back a bit on the speculation that he's not really hurt, but offered no timeline for when he'll be cleared for action off the PUP list.
More: Lions coach Dan Campbell: 'We're out to finish what we started'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
10 minutes ago
- USA Today
An early surprise surfaces as the Eagles' look to replace Britain Covey
It's too early to make real determinations about the Eagles' return game, but let's offer a few theories anyway. Who knew that a brief practice at Philadelphia Eagles camp could spark so much discussion? Let's be honest; we all knew that. In MLB news, the Philadelphia Phillies are near baseball's trade deadline, but no one in the City of Brotherly Love or Delaware Valley is ignoring what has gone on at the NovaCare Complex. Everything is on the discussion table from Jalen Hurts' decision to pack his Super Bowl ring away without wearing it to Jihaad Campbell's surprise workout during the first day of training camp practice to Jalen Carter's shoulder injury and everything in between. No topic of discussion is too significant or too minor, and that includes Philadelphia's quest to replace its former returner, Britain Covey. The first training camp session of the summer offered a surprise. It was less about who got reps and more about who didn't. Avery Williams gets zero return reps during the first day of Eagles training camp practice. As brief as the Eagles' first practice session was, it provided us with much to discuss. Much will change in a week or two, but that won't stop us from narrating every unexpected wrinkle. Guys are wearing shorts. No one is wearing pads. Physical contact and tackling are off the table, but there was still plenty to take away from Wednesday's session and chew on. Avery Williams, someone Philadelphia signed with the expectation he'd battle for a returner's role, didn't get any snaps when punt return reps were offered. Instead, according to Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski, reps were offered to Ainias Smith, Giles Jackson, Taylor Morin, Cooper DeJean, and Jahan Dotson. Kempski also admits to not watching the entire session, but anyone who has been paying attention must admit. Part of the reason Smith was drafted was to provide Philadelphia with another option as a punt returner. The Eagles quickly evacuated that plan last season. That has much to do with why Avery Williams is on the roster, so seeing him work more specifically as part of the punt coverage does lead one to scratch one's head. It was only one day, and it's hard to imagine that Williams won't get his shot at some point. Better late than never, maybe. We'll see how things transpire as we progress. It does beg the question, though. If Philadelphia determines they have so many options that they like better at punt returner, how does Williams stand any shot at making the initial 53-man roster?
USA Today
10 minutes ago
- USA Today
A.J. Brown offers elite praise to another of the Eagles' wide receivers
Terrace Marshall turned a few heads at Eagles training camp, and he caught the eye of Philly's top wide receiver. The Philadelphia Eagles' first training camp practice was abbreviated. Everyone still found much to discuss, however. Select media members were allowed a 20-minute Q&A session with Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman. Players spoke with those same media members after the workout. A.J. Brown was up first. Need anything else to be stated? You may have heard. Brown is a big deal around town. He's a Super Bowl champion now, one who the cameras tend to follow. He's someone the national media can't stop talking about. Much of what Brown does catches the spotlight. Look at what he did for one author's book sales after he elected to read it on the sidelines during the most recent season. Be honest. Brown is why most of you know what Inner Excellence is, so imagine what he might do for the buzz of one of the newer faces at wide receiver. A.J. Brown offers an elite complement to Eagles newcomer Terrace Marshall Brown, Jordan Mailata, Saquon Barkley, and Jalen Hurts all spoke with the Philadelphia media on Wednesday. Their star left tackle, Mailata, had some kind words for Jalyx Hunt. Number 11 shared some of his own for one of the Eagles' new wide receivers. 'He's coming along quite well, honestly. Even in the spring, he was making a lot of catches. I know you guys didn't see it, but he's going to make the room very uncomfortable, and that's a great thing.' Marshall truly made a name for himself in his Eagles training camp debut. He indeed made things uncomfortable, particularly for Kelee Ringo, but as Brown states, this is indeed a good thing. Competition will only make this team better. Marshall hails from the LSU Tigers program. He spent his first three years with the Carolina Panthers before splitting time with the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders last season and now looks to reinvigorate his career in the City of Brotherly Love.
San Francisco Chronicle
10 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rookies helped 49ers get to Super Bowl six years ago. Can they do it again?
The last time so many important rookies were strewn across the SAP Performance Facility was 2019. Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw and Deebo Samuel were drafted that spring, mere months before they played crucial snaps for one of the youngest head coaches in the NFL. Kyle Shanahan often reflects on the first San Francisco 49ers team he led to the Super Bowl, assuredly backed by immediate-impact youngsters. If multiple rookies don't step into starting roles this season, it won't be due to a lack of opportunity. Shanahan has made clear the 49ers aim to rely on first-year guys in 2025, akin to 2019, if all goes according to plan. First-round defensive end Mykel Williams may not be an AP Defensive Rookie of the Year like Bosa. Nick Martin is probably not the next Greenlaw, as much as Niners general manager John Lynch wants him to be. And, well, Jordan Watkins isn't Deebo. And that's OK. Shanahan, along with the veterans tasked to mentor the newbies, intend to give them the grace to grow up. 'You can't really fathom putting yourself (as a rookie) on that same level as the type of guys that have been there and done it and earned it at the highest level,' linebacker and team captain Fred Warner said Wednesday, following the team's first training-camp practice. 'But at the end of the day, they are human beings. And we were all rookies once.' Warner was one of only a few core defensive players who were around to welcome defensive coordinator Robert Saleh back to Santa Clara, following the departures of six starters from the 49ers defense a season ago. Warner's weakside linebacker for the better part of five years, Greenlaw, being one of them. Martin, a third-rounder competing to replace Greenlaw, was among five defensive rookies who received team-period reps Wednesday. Of course, Williams was in the mix. Third-round nickel back Upton Stout worked in. And for the first time as 49ers, second-round defensive tackle Alfred Collins (calf) and fifth-round safety Marques Sigle (undisclosed) were full-go as well. 'There's a chance we could have six new guys starting,' Shanahan said of newcomers on the 49ers defense, including rookies. 'There's a chance we could have eight. Anytime you say that, that's different. That is a different team. That is a different side of the ball.' Bosa, Greenlaw and Samuel combined to start 36 games as rookies in 2019. Bosa had nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss. Greenlaw recorded 92 tackles with one interception. Samuel compiled 961 scrimmage yards with three receiving touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. Shanahan had no special formula for managing the 'ebbs and flows' of his rookie starters. It was sink or swim. But he afforded them time to sink first. A generational talent, Bosa didn't need much of a grace period. But Greenlaw made eight of his 11 starts in the back half of that season. And Samuel's two best performances, back-to-back games with eight catches and 100-plus receiving yards, came in Weeks 8 and 9. 'They aren't going to figure it out right away,' Shanahan said. 'You can't just bench them as soon as they make a mistake early. That does take reps. 'You hope as they get those reps, they're not catastrophic because we're all judged on wins and losses. But there's some ebbs and flows in it, and if you're made of the right stuff, you can overcome those mistakes.' As a high draft pick himself, Bosa — selected No. 2 overall in 2019 — can especially relate to the position Williams is in. San Francisco went 4-12 the year before drafting Bosa, who entered the league amid extremely high expectations. Williams was drafted at No. 11 overall after the 49ers missed the postseason for the first time in four years. Bosa's best advice: 'The only thing that makes you really feel good is going out there and contributing and playing good because then all those negative thoughts of whether you're going to pan out, kind of just go away. 'I think Mykel does a really good job of that. He doesn't seem stressed at all.' Shanahan was asked whether he would prioritize playing time for rookies, even if it cost the 49ers a game or two. Yes and no. He'll play the best player, which at an unusual number of spots could be a rookie in Year 9. 'Yeah but it's also, is there a better vet behind him?' Shanahan said. 'You're going to play the best player, whether he's young or not. We're in a situation where we have a lot of opportunities for young guys to be our best players. We haven't had that in a while, probably since '19.'
