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Dave Birkett

@davebirkett

Detroit Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. 4x Michigan Sportswriter of the Year.

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Latest posts by Dave Birkett @davebirkett

Checks out with 83 points, second most in NBA history. 1:08 left

11.03.2026 02:09 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Bam Adebayo has 81 points and the Heat are doing everything they can to get him more!!

11.03.2026 02:08 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Maxx Crosby situation reminded me of that Jerome Harrison-Ronnie Brown trade that wasn’t from 15 or so years ago.

11.03.2026 01:44 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thought Detroit Mercy was going to the dance for a minute there. So close

11.03.2026 01:07 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Wow

11.03.2026 00:13 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Rock Ya-Sin re-signs with Detroit Lions on one year deal in free agency Rock Ya-Sin, who filled in when injuries struck the Detroit Lions seconday in 2025, returns to the team on a one-year deal agreed to on Tuesday.

Rock Ya-Sin re-signs with Detroit Lions on one year deal in free agency www.freep.com/story/sports...

11.03.2026 00:07 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Malcolm Rodriguez re-signing with Lions, could be starter in 2026 Malcolm Rodriguez, 26, played as a rotational linebacker in his return from a torn ACL last season but could be a starter in 2026 for Detroit Lions.

Rodrigo running it back with the Lions in 2026 www.freep.com/story/sports... via @freep

10.03.2026 19:47 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Isiah Pacheco is Detroit Lions' Montgomery replacement in NFL free agency Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions in free agency as David Montgomery replacement behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco has injury history & his stats fell off.

It's a 1-year deal for new Lions RB Isiah Pacheco www.freep.com/story/sports...

10.03.2026 18:37 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Isiah Pacheco is Detroit Lions' Montgomery replacement in NFL free agency Isiah Pacheco joins Detroit Lions in free agency as David Montgomery replacement behind Jahmyr Gibbs. Pacheco has injury history & his stats fell off.

More on the Detroit Lions adding former Kansas City Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco to replace David Montgomery in NFL free agency www.freep.com/story/sports...

10.03.2026 17:23 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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Lions' Kalif Raymond agrees to Bears contract, reunites with Ben Johnson Kalif Raymond to Chicago Bears, joins Alex Anzalone, Amik Robertson and Roy Lopez as key departures for Detroit Lions so far in NFL free agency 2026.

Lions' Kalif Raymond agrees to Bears contract, reunites with Ben Johnson www.freep.com/story/sports...

10.03.2026 16:29 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 4

Quiet Day 2, relatively early ending on Day 3, all gonna get blown up by the time we get there

10.03.2026 13:58 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Detroit Mercy in the Horizon League final tonight. Watched some of the semifinal last night, be good to see them back in the tournament.

10.03.2026 13:56 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Different than QBs like Tua who still have g’td money and can sign minimum deals and the old team is on the hook for whatever they owed him minus the new contract. Decker don’t have any g’td money left so if he plays in 26 it’ll be for whatever the next team pays him

10.03.2026 13:23 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Nope. Lions don’t owe Decker any money. But Decker still counts against the cap from signing bonus prorations on his last extension. Had he retired before his release they would have been able to recoup the prorated portion for β€˜26-27.

10.03.2026 13:18 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

And players definitely are aware the Lions recoup SB prorations if you retire an no one wants to pay that money back.

10.03.2026 12:47 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think there’s a sliding scale for a lot of these guys whose bodies are beat up. It’s worth it to play one year at $16m, but not one at $8m - just making up money, not being specific to Decker. Or having 3 years and $60m left is different than 1 at $10m.

10.03.2026 12:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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From Alex Anzalone on IG

10.03.2026 12:21 πŸ‘ 42 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 3
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Detroit Lions offensive line depth chart: Penei Sewell to LT? Detroit Lions added 2 offensive linemen to start NFL free agency, but still could address the position in the NFL draft. A look at their depth chart.

Updated Detroit Lions depth chart at offensive line: Penei Sewell to LT? www.freep.com/story/sports...

10.03.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Don't blame Detroit Lions for not spending big on Tyler Linderbaum The Lions added 2 OL on Day 1 of free agency and lost 4 players, including 3 important defensive contributors, to other teams

A few thoughts on the first day of NFL free agency: Don't blame Detroit Lions for not spending big on Tyler Linderbaum; time to focus on defense www.freep.com/story/sports...

10.03.2026 11:49 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I think they’ll miss him. He was their most effective DT at times last year

10.03.2026 11:10 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Doubtful. He might retire.

10.03.2026 11:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Oversight of my part when I first filed. Story should’ve updated overnight.

10.03.2026 11:07 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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From Taylor Decker on IG. No love lost despite the contract situation

10.03.2026 01:01 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Lions nab 5th round compensatory pick, Brad Holmes eyes more for draft Lions GM Brad Holmes said last spring the NFL's compensatory pick formula is "always on the top of mind" in free agency.

Lions got a 5th round compensatory pick for losing Kevin Zeitler in FA last year (and a 3rd rounder they've already traded away). Here's what Brad Holmes said last year about playing the comp pick game www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 22:47 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Detroit Lions offensive line depth chart: Penei Sewell to LT? Detroit Lions added 2 offensive linemen to start NFL free agency, but still could address the position in the NFL draft. A look at their depth chart.

Taking a look at the Detroit Lions' current OL depth chart, it sets up for moving Penei Sewell to LT www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 22:04 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Lions were awarded a 5th-round compensatory pick, No. 181 - last of the round.

09.03.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Detroit Lions to sign Larry Borom, ex-Birmingham Brother Rice standout Larry Borom, who played high school football at Birmingham Brother Rice, started 11 games at right tackle for Dolphins in 2025 and now joins Lions.

Detroit Lions add another OL in free agency: Larry Borom, ex-Birmingham Brother Rice standout www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 20:07 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2
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New Lions C Cade Mays playing fullback as a rookie www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 18:30 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Detroit Lions add Panthers center Cade Mays on 3-year deal Cade Mays, who turns 27 in April, replaced Austin Corbett as Carolina Panthers center early last season. He joins Detroit Lions in NFL free agency.

Fun note about new Lions C Cade Mays: He made his first 2 NFL starts as a fullback in 2022. The Panthers cut him at the end of training camp 2 years later, he spent a minute on the Giants' practice squad and returned to CAR later in the season www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 18:17 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Detroit Lions solve C problem, add Panthers' Cade Mays on 3-year deal Cade Mays, who turns 27 in April, replaced Austin Corbett as Carolina Panthers center early last season. He joins Detroit Lions in NFL free agency.

And the big Lions so far today: The Lions have solved their center problem by adding the Panthers' Cade Mays on 3-year deal www.freep.com/story/sports...

09.03.2026 17:55 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0