The Detroit Lions brought back a huge piece of their defense from last season by signing linebacker Stephen Tulloch to a five-year deal. This is according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
Tulloch became a priority this offseason for the Lions after accumulating 111 tackles last season and helped anchor down what was a relatively week linebacking corps in past seasons.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed however leading up to the signing Tulloch mentioned that he was seeking a long-term deal that would pay him no less than $6 million dollars a season. He also sought a contract that equaled Cleveland’s D’Qwell Jackson’s, who signed a five-year deal worth $42.5 million ($19 million in guarantees and bonuses) this offseason.
Lions GM Martin Mayhew may have forced Tulloch to blink first after scheduling a visit with Seattle Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne Tuesday. It’s still not clear if the Lions will continue to pursue Hawthorne however at this point it doesn’t seem likely.
A similar tactic was used last season on Tulloch when Mayhew brought in Nick Barnett from the Green Bay Packers.
Ref: Mlive.com, ESPN.com, Twitter
