Latest news with #DanCampbell
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Lions LB Alex Anzalone ‘disappointed' with contract talks
July 22 - Detroit Lions linebacker and team captain Alex Anzalone is at training camp this week, but he's frustrated with how his contract negotiations with the front office are going. Anzalone has reached the final season of his three-year, $18.75 million deal signed in 2023 but believes he is underpaid relative to other linebackers around the league. "I want to retire a Lion. I want that opportunity," Anzalone told reporters Tuesday. "That's how I feel." Anzalone is working through a hamstring injury and has yet to practice at camp. Asked if he believes he will return to the practice field without a new deal, he said he had "no clue." That follows coach Dan Campbell telling reporters Sunday that he did not believe Anzalone was conducting a "hold-in," in which he reports to camp but sits out of team activities. Anzalone, 30, followed Campbell from the New Orleans Saints to the Lions in 2021 and instantly became a starting inside linebacker for Detroit. In 57 games (all starts) with the franchise, he has amassed 395 tackles (22 for loss), 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. "I'm disappointed, I'll just say that. I'm disappointed," Anzalone said. --Field Level Media
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Alex Anzalone ‘disappointed' over contract, Lions get physical: Training camp news and notes
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Tuesday's practice was an eventful one for the Detroit Lions. Things got physical, requiring Dan Campbell to intervene. There was a surprise appearance from a player who's been absent. All this, and we're still days away from pads going on. Here are the latest observations from Lions training camp. Advertisement For the first time since the end of last season, Anzalone spoke to local media, voicing his frustrations over his contract situation. 'I'm disappointed. I'll just say that,' Anzalone said. 'I'm disappointed.' Anzalone told reporters he wants to retire a Lion, and expressed to the front office long ago. While Anzalone deferred specific questions about the details of their discussions to Campbell and Brad Holmes, he made it clear he wants a new contract. Anzalone is entering the final year of a three-year, $18.75 million dollar contract. He's currently the 35th-highest paid linebacker in the NFL. He believes he's underpaid, relative to what others make. When asked why, Anzalone said, 'I mean, it's just kind of obvious, I think. Production, play, the market. Yeah.' The play he's offered the Lions has been closer to top-15 the past two seasons. He's an excellent coverage linebacker, especially in man. He's a high-IQ player, wearing the green dot and directing traffic around him. The Lions finished top-5 in run defense in back-to-back seasons. Not to mention he's a four-time team captain. Anzalone's value to the team is immense. He's the voice of reason, a calming veteran leader and a reliable player the coaching staff trusts. However, it's unclear if there's a long-term fit between the two sides. Anzalone will turn 31 in September. The team has several young players making top-of-market money with more to come — including 2023 first-round LB Jack Campbell. If Anzalone wants to be paid like a top-10 or top-15 linebacker, he might have to look elsewhere to get it. While Anzalone didn't go out of his way to categorize this as a hold-in, citing a hamstring injury suffered during his conditioning test, it feels as close to one as you can get without saying it. Anzalone thought about it and said not reporting to camp wouldn't be the best scenario for him or the team. At the same time, he made it clear what he wants. If you know Anzalone, he's always been pro-player, understanding the business angle of the league that employs him. He wants to finish his career here and be treated like a core player, but retaining him might come at the expense of a younger player needing an extension soon. Advertisement This is the first time the Lions have had to deal with a situation like this under Campbell and Holmes, but Anzalone said he hopes to return to practice before the season begins. Until then, we're in a bit of a holding pattern. 'I feel like I've done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here,' Anzalone said, 'And I'm just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.' Lions LB and team captain Alex Anzalone says he believes he's underpaid relative to other LBs in the league. Wants the opportunity to retire a Lion. Shared this with the front office long ago and is disappointed with how things have unfolded, entering the final year of his deal. — Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) July 22, 2025 I don't think I've ever seen Campbell kick a player out for being too physical in a practice. It's odd even typing that sentence. But that's what happened Tuesday. There were several physical hits delivered by the defense in team periods. Brian Branch had a pair vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tim Patrick. Ahmed Hassanein and Mason Miller got into it. Netane Muti and Keith Cooper did, too. At one point, after second-year DB Morice Norris laid out rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa, Campbell stopped practice to tell his team they weren't allowed to tackle until Friday when the pads go on. It was emphasized for all to hear. Roughly 20 minutes later, Norris did it again — delivering a hit to Dominic Lovett. After the play, Campbell pointed at Norris, then to the sideline. His day was done right then and there. Campbell had some words for his team shortly after practice concluded, and while we were too far to hear any details, you have to think he wasn't pleased with how physical they were. It was Day 3 and the team was still in shorts. It's a bit of a balancing act for a coach like Campbell who preaches physicality, but there's a time and a place for everything. This wasn't the time to be lowering shoulders and laying out receivers. Given the injuries to the team last season, it's easy to see why Campbell wasn't having it today. He was visibly frustrated. Advertisement As for Norris, it's a learning moment. When the head coach tells you to lay off, you have to do it. Kerby Joseph immediately ran to catch up to Norris as he exited stage left, offering some words of encouragement. Good leadership from Joseph. I caught a portion of the WR-DB one-on-ones in the middle of practice. It featured Goff as the all-time QB, throwing to the starting receivers vs. the top group of DBs. Here's how it unfolded: Considering how hard this drill is for defensive backs, I was really impressed with the Lions' secondary. They have the potential to be the best in football if health permits. Right up there with the Ravens. • DT Brodric Martin left practice early with a foot injury and did not return. The Lions have an off day on Wednesday and Campbell doesn't speak again until Friday. We'll learn more about the severity then. Any missed time would be yet another setback for a player who needs to impress this training camp. • RB Sione Vaki is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss a few days, per Campbell. The second-year back left practice early on Monday and did not return. • Lions DT Roy Lopez sat out practice and is expected to miss a few days. He took a cleat to the foot during Monday's practice. • Reed returned to practice after missing Monday. Unclear why he was absent. • Campbell offered some timelines for players recovering from lengthy injuries. CB/gunner Khalil Dorsey (broken leg) could be back by the end of training camp. DT Mekhi Wingo (meniscus) could return in September. Miles Frazier (knee) will be out until September or October. LB Malcolm Rodriguez (torn ACL) will be out until October. • The Lions spent a good portion of practice working on their third-down/short-yardage packages. That situational focus during camp has been invaluable during the season. I'd say the offense did well to convert, but the defense held its own. Advertisement • In past years, I can't remember the Lions working starting skill players in with the reserves. It's been the norm this year, though. You'll look up and see LaPorta with TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy. Or Williams. Or Gibbs in the backfield. I wonder if they're doing it to get a better look at their backup QBs. Last year, the reserve receivers were, uh, not great. It was hard to fully evaluate Hooker as a result, even though he had his own struggles. Hooker, in particular, has a strong early rapport with TeSlaa and Lovett, but working in some starters could help the staff get a better look. • Another day, another play that featured Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together. Last year, those two appeared on the same play just 10 times, per TruMedia — three run plays (totaling 11 yards — all by Montgomery) and seven pass plays (5-of-7 for 68 yards). You always have to wonder how much teams will preach what they're practicing, but one thing that's clear is that Gibbs is lining up in the slot quite a bit. Seems like an effort to get their best playmakers on the field together. • It feels like the DBs are blitzing more than they have in the past, from all angles. One of Kelvin Sheppard's mentors, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, is known for dialing up the perfect blitz at the perfect time. Not that Aaron Glenn didn't blitz — the Lions had one of the NFL's highest-blitz rates under his watch — but that often felt out of necessity. With more talent at his disposal than Glenn had when he started, Sheppard could take advantage, dive into his past inspirations and make this defense his own. Curious to see how it shakes out. • Arnold has been great the first three days of practice. His WR-DB interception was one of the best plays I've seen out of that drill since I've been on the beat, and it came vs. St. Brown. My colleague Nolan Bianchi asked if I could recall Arnold allowing a completion during an 11-on-11 period so far. I couldn't think of one. The only one that comes to mind is a 7-on-7 completion to Brock Wright during Monday's practice, with Arnold trailing close behind coverage. He punched the ball out for a forced fumble right after it was caught. That's what you want. I said it earlier, but if Arnold takes the leap, this could be the best secondary in football. I don't think that's a stretch or hyperbole. • Second-year offensive lineman Giovanni Manu said he's dropped about 20-25 pounds this offseason. He looks like he could play tight end in a pinch. The coaching staff has him focusing at left tackle after cross-training him at guard a bit last year. He spent the offseason working with Taylor Decker in Arizona and praised the veteran for taking him under his wing. Not many veterans would do that for a player who could replace them down the road. Says a lot about Decker. • I spotted rookies Ahmed Hassanein and Isaac TeSlaa getting coached up by their position coaches, Kacy Rodgers and Scottie Montgomery, at various points in practice after mistakes. Rodgers offered tips. Montgomery drilled a point of emphasis home. Those moments will only help them in the long run. Each player was receptive and went right back to work without issue or attitude. • UDFA DL Keith Cooper earned some love from Campbell, as the Lions look for interior pressure without Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo for the time being. A player to keep an eye on. (Top photo of Alex Anzalone: Junfu Han / USA Today)
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025
Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025 originally appeared on The Spun. Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions still have another hurdle to clear in 2025. The Lions continued their franchise turnaround by going 15-2 with the NFL's top scoring offense last year, but their most triumphant season in franchise history ended in a second-round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. Detroit has still never played in a Super Bowl. Advertisement Campbell wants to end that drought and avenge last season's swift playoff exit with a title run. "We're out to finish what we started," Campbell said Monday, per Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein. "We're going to close out some of these debts." The league took notice of Detroit's success and ransacked Campbell's coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn landed head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively. Advertisement Former Denver Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton replaces Johnson, and the Lions promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to fill Glenn's former job. DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 25: Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on from the sideline during a regular season Thanksgiving Day NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions on November 25, 2021 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is confident in Morton and Sheppard handling their new roles. "It's not like we're going from Ben and AG to some coaches that don't know anything," St. Brown said. "Don't act like we're bringing in a scrub. These coaches know ball." Those changes could still jeopardize Detroit's status as a legitimate championship contender in 2025. The Lions lost another vital piece when Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow retired. Advertisement Amid much change, Campbell returns for his fifth season as head coach. Their record has improved each year, but the next step is competing for the Lombardi Trophy. "We're going to do what we do here from Dan more than anybody else — he's the top of the brain trust," wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said. "Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. If it is, the complacency will kill you." Campbell's new staff won't get an easy adjustment period, as the Lions open the regular season with NFC North clashes against the Green Bay Packers and Johnson's Bears before facing the Baltimore Ravens on the road. Advertisement Related: NFL Legend Puts Jerry Jones On Blast For Questionable Behavior Dan Campbell Sends Warning To Rest Of NFL Entering 2025 first appeared on The Spun on Jul 22, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions LB Alex Anzalone 'disappointed' about contract, says practice absence not holdout
For the first time under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes, the Detroit Lions have a contract dispute spilling out into the open. Linebacker Alex Anzalone acknowledged on Day 3 of training camp that he's unhappy with his current contract and frustrated the team has done nothing yet to redo his deal. Advertisement "I'm disappointed, I'll just say that," Anzalone said. "I'm disappointed." Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) talks to media members after practice during training camp at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Anzalone is due to make $6 million in base salary this fall, with another $100,000 available in per-game roster bonuses, in the final year of a three-year, $18.75 million extension he signed with the team in 2023. He did not take part in the Lions' formal workout program this offseason in part for contractual reasons but was active on social media posting workout videos and reposting comments by fans illustrating his worth. MORE LIONS NEWS: Detroit Lions' Graham Glasgow 'so much more happy' after position change A four-time team captain, Anzalone has been one of the Lions' best defensive players since he signed as one of Holmes and Campbell's first free agents in 2021. He played on two straight one-year deals in 2021-22, setting career-highs in tackles both seasons, and set another career-high with 129 tackles after signing his long-term extension in 2023. Advertisement Last year, Anzalone missed seven games with a broken forearm and the Lions defense struggled in his absence. He returned to play a key role in the team's division-clinching Week 18 win over the Minnesota Vikings and started two weeks later in the Lions' playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. Asked if he feels like he's underpaid, Anzalone said bluntly, "Yeah." Asked why he feels that way, he said, 'I mean, it's kind of obvious, I think. Production, play, the market." Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) signals a Minnesota Vikings false start during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. According to Anzalone is tied for the 34th-highest paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL, on an average-per-year basis, and is the second-highest-paid linebacker on the Lions. The Lions signed Derrick Barnes to a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason. Advertisement Anzalone said he was happy when the Lions re-signed his good friend, who missed most of last season with a torn MCL. Asked if Barnes' deal gave him a baseline to shoot for in his next deal, he said, "You got to ask Dan and Brad." "He was in a, it seemed like a crappy situation just coming off a knee injury and they took care of him and just seeing one of your best friends in that situation take care of his wife and his baby boy, it's cool to see," Anzalone said. Anzalone declined to characterize the dialogue he's had with the team about a new deal but expressed frustration that his situation has lingered into the summer. "This is a weird situation," he said. "And I didn't – it wasn't on my end or my agent's end, none of it." Advertisement The Lions have taken a proactive approach to re-signing most of their core players. Last year, they signed 2021 draft picks Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Alim McNeill to long-term extensions and gave new contracts to veterans Jared Goff, Taylor Decker and David Montgomery with one or more years left on their deals. In April, the Lions signed Kerby Joseph to a new contract that made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL, and Holmes has indicated the team is looking to re-sign 2022-23 draft picks Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell and possibly Jameson Williams rather than splurge on outside free agents. With so many players to pay – if the Lions give Campbell a deal near the top of the market, they will be the only NFL team with two linebackers averaging $8 million or more per season – and Anzalone entering his Age 31 season, re-signing Anzalone seems to be well down the Lions' priority list. Anzalone acknowledged he considered a training-camp holdout, like Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, before reporting with other veterans last week. Advertisement "It's all relative, right, as far as financial situations," he said. "But I'm in a situation where I thought about it and it's for my own personal goals and what I want for the team. I just didn't think it was the best scenario." He said he won't skip games for contractual reasons and insisted he is not taking part in practice now because he injured his hamstring during the Lions' conditioning test. Lions coach Dan Campbell first said Anzalone had a hamstring injury Monday, one day after saying he "crushed" his conditioning test. Asked how he hopes his contract dispute ends, Anzalone said, "I want to retire a Lion. I want that opportunity. That's how I feel." Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@ Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Alex Anzalone contract update: Lions LB frustrated about current deal
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Anzalone not holding out but wants 'to be rewarded' for his Lions contributions
There was a familiar sight at Detroit Lions training camp. Linebacker and defensive captain Alex Anzalone and his trademark blond locks were out on the practice field on Tuesday. 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'
