ALLEN PARK — Put new Lions guard Rob Sims in the happy-to-be-with-the-Lions camp. The Lions pulled off a deal with Seattle for Sims on Monday and he passed his physical on Tuesday.

After meeting fellow teammates and coaches on Tuesday, he said the mood seems better in Detroit than it was in Seattle where they won five games last season. He agrees with coach Jim Schwartz that the Lions are a team on the verge.

After spending four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2006, he’s happy to be back in football country. He grew up in Ohio and played at Ohio State. Geographically, Seattle is out of the football loop and Sims noted that all they do is drink coffee and chit-chat. Football is not a huge deal out there, but it is to Sims.

Sims, who signed a one-year tender with the Seahawks last week, hopes to earn the starting spot at left guard which is where he’s played with the Seahawks. The 26-year-old guard wants to prove he’s worth a big long-term contract.

Read more about Sims in Wednesday’s Oakland Press.