Orlovsky will test market
February 24
Detroit News
"As expected, Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky plans to test the market as a free agent, beginning Friday.
Orlovsky, 25, started seven games last season for the Lions, replacing, first, Jon Kitna and, later, Daunte Culpepper when they were injured.
The Lions made a contract offer to Orlovsky in recent weeks, but the Lions' former fifth-round pick says he wants to look elsewhere to find a better opportunity to compete for a starting job. He completed 56 percent of his passes last year -- his fourth in the NFL -- for 1,616 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
"They made an offer, but I'm going to test the market and see what's out there for me," Orlovsky told the Associated Press Monday, adding that he'd been told by Lions officials he'd back up Culpepper next season. "I'm pretty confident that I'm going to get a better offer."
Lions general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz both have denied a decision about next season's starter already has been made.
"I told Dan when I talked to him: 'The best player will play,' " Mayhew said Friday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. " 'If you come in here and you're the best player to help us win football games, you'll start.' "
But, Mayhew added, "He was a backup last year, he was a backup before that, he's been a backup his whole career. I don't think anybody would be surprised if I thought he was a backup."
The Lions currently have four quarterbacks under contract for next season -- Culpepper, Kitna, Drew Stanton and Drew Henson. The team also might release Kitna, 36, who is due a $1 million roster bonus on March 3."
Link
Calendar
