CLOSE 15 top-level 2019 free agents who may fit position of need and scheme to draw interest from GM Bob Quinn, coach Matt Patricia and the Detroit Lions
Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press CONNECT11TWEET11LinkedIn11COMMENT11EMAIL11MORE11The Detroit Lions said goodbye to one of their defensive stalwarts and one of the NFL's leading ironmen on Friday, releasing veteran safety Glover Quin in an expected move that frees up $6
25 million in cap space. Quin started all 96 games in his six seasons with the Lions and was one of the team's premier defensive players before having a down season in 2018
"We thank Glover for his countless contributions to the Detroit Lions during his six seasons with our team," the Lions said in a news release
"Since joining the organization in 2013, Glover exemplified everything it means to be a true professional in this league — as both a competitor on the field and a leading voice in the community
Coach Patricia and I have the utmost respect for him as a man and player, and we wish him nothing but the very best in the future
"The Lions also released wide receiver Bruce Ellington and linebacker Nicholas Grigsby on Friday
Lions safety Glover Quin warms up prior to the game against the Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov
6, 2017. (Photo11: Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports)Quin was scheduled to make $5.25 million in base salary in 2019, had a $500,000 roster bonus due the fifth day of the league year and a cap hit of nearly $8 million
The Lions, with Quin's release, would stand about $40 million under next year's projected salary cap
Quin did not have an interception this season for the first time since 2011, when he was with the Houston Texans, and he ceded playing time to rookie Tracy Walker late in the year
He did not immediately return a message Friday from the Free Press, but said goodbye to Detroit in a post on his Instagram account: "They say all good things come to an end!! Thank you Detroit!! It's been real!!" View this post on InstagramThey say all good things come to an end!! Thank you Detroit!! Its been real!! #ThankYouA post shared by Glover Quin Jr (@gloverquin) on Feb 15, 2019 at 10:33am PST In late December, Quin, 33, acknowledged his time with the Lions — and perhaps in the NFL — might be coming to an end, and he took time to savor his last days
"I walked out on the field (before our home finale and) I was just like, … 'Wow, I've played on this field a lot of times,'" Quin said the day after Christmas
"Went out, went through my normal routine. I'm a routine guy. Stick to my routine, let the pieces fall where they may
I mean, probably I had a flight going home right after the game, so I didn't get to spend as much time after the game as I probably would have wanted, just in case
But it was cool. The game was cool."Quin signed a five-year, $23 million free-agent contract with the Lions in 2013, and immediately made an impact on defense
Glover Quin takes the field for a preseason game at Ford Field on Aug. 17, 2018. (Photo11: Gregory Shamus, Getty Images)He led the NFL with seven interceptions and earned second-team All-Pro honors in his second season in Detroit, signed a two-year contract extension in the summer of 2017, and helped transform a middling Lions secondary into one of the strongest units on the team
"I would say (the defensive backs room is) definitely different from the first day I walked in," Quin said in December
"And I would say, I do feel like I've had a lot to do with it, but we've had some great guys throughout the years
When I first got here, being a part of trying to do something different. We had Rashean Mathis, who was very instrumental in helping that
Next year we brought in James Ihedigbo, some veteran guys that we were able to kind of do some things different, change some things up
So I definitely wouldn't say it was me by myself, but we've definitely had some guys to take part in changing the culture and the standard
So I can definitely see a huge difference in my six years here." Glover Quin on Nov
14, 2018, with a picture of he and Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald in his locker
(Photo11: Dave Birkett Detroit Free Press)Quin served as the Lions' players association representative for his first five years in Detroit and, after spending most of last spring at home with his family in Texas, took a mentoring role with Walker during the season
A third-round pick out of Louisiana-Lafayette, Walker had 21 tackles and one interception in 16 games as a backup
He played about a quarter of the Lions' defensive snaps, and is the favorite to replace Quin in the starting lineup in 2019 alongside Quandre Diggs, though the team could address the position in the draft or free agency
Quin, who ranks third among active players with 148 consecutive starts, behind Philip Rivers (208) and Brandon Carr (176), has said he planned to spend time with his family this offseason before deciding whether to play in 2019
"It's always a family discussion," Quin said. "See how it goes, see what happens."Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress
com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter
Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!CLOSE Detroit Lions cut safety Glover Quin on Friday, Feb
15, 2019. Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett breaks down what it means, discusses NFL draft
Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press CONNECT11TWEET11LinkedIn11COMMENT11EMAIL11MORE11
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