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Kwan coming back
Add special-teams coordinator Stan Kwan to the list of returning assistants from last year's 0-16 team.
Kwan joins receivers coach Shawn Jefferson and running backs coach Sam Gash as known holdovers from Rod Marinelli's staff, a source said Thursday. He ran the special-teams units for the Lions each of the last two years after serving as an assistant special-teams coach for seven previous seasons spread over two stints.
The Lions ranked 24th in both kick- and punt-return average last year and allowed punt-return touchdowns against the Redskins and Buccaneers, but specialists kicker Jason Hanson, punter Nick Harris and long-snapper Don Muhlbach rank among the best at their positions in the NFL.
Hanson, a free-agent-to-be, made 21-of-22 field goals last year and went an NFL-record 8-for-8 on kicks beyond 50 yards. If they can't sign him to a long-term contract, the Lions likely will make Hanson their franchise or transition player later this month.
Labels: Detroit Lions, Don Muhlbach, Jason Hanson, Nick Harris, Rod Marinelli, Sam Gash, Shawn Jefferson, Stan Kwan
posted by Paula Pasche at
3:04 PM
4 Comments:
I thought it had been reported that Hanson was already subject to the transition tag:
In 1993, under terms of the collective bargaining agreement signed at the time, each team was given a franchise tag and, on a one-time basis, each team was given a transition tag to put on two players. The transition tag would stay with that player as long as his contract did not expire.
The Lions used those transition tags on Hanson and receiver Herman Moore. Because Hanson always extended his contract through the years -- and it never technically expired -- Hanson still is under the rules of that transition tag. It means that if the two sides cannot come to an agreement on a new deal, Hanson will be given a one-year contract that pays him an average of the top 10 kickers in the league.
Hanson said he was not aware he still had the transition tag.
"Are you serious?" Hanson asked. "I had no idea. I know my agent (Jack Mills) doesn't know."
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2008/11/lions_hanson_wants_to_return_f.html
You're right about the transition tag, but it's my understanding that the team can still decide to franchise him. Hanson would make more money under the franchise tag and I highly doubt a team would want to give up the draft-pick compensation to sign him.
As a transition player, the Lions have right of first refusal on any contract but if they don't match I don't believe they get any compensation for losing Hanson.
well....it was bound to happen sooner or later - they made a move i don't like.
hope schwartz knows what he's doing bringing kwan back. we'll see.
oh ya - hanson is going NOWHERE.
dave -
ANY chance he comes back as an ASSISTANT and NOT the ST HC?
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