The dollar amount and long-term commitment may have been less than what he was seeking. But Alex Anzalone received a slight pay bump in the final year of his contract, a league source confirmed.
The Detroit Lions linebacker, who was scheduled to make a $6 million base salary this season, was given a $250,000 raise. The total amount was also fully guaranteed. Anzalone had $100,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $150,000 in not-likely-to-be-earned incentives already written into his pact with the club. But he can now earn an extra $750,000 in playtime bonuses.
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Anzalone, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, arrived at training camp earlier in July unhappy with his contract situation after angling for a new deal throughout the offseason.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut (36) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
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“I’m disappointed, I’ll just say that,” he said July 22. “I’m disappointed.”
Anzalone made his feelings known by skipping the Lions’ formal workout program in the spring, which spawned questions about whether he would rejoin the team for training camp. Anzalone did show up, but he missed the first five days of practice after hurting his hamstring during a conditioning test.
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Anzalone, who will turn 31 in September, has been a team captain and one of the core members of the defense ever since he arrived in Detroit four years ago.
During his Lions tenure, he has contributed 395 tackles, 6½ sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
“You guys know how I feel about Alex, how we feel about Alex,’ coach Dan Campbell said recently. “He’s one of our dudes, man, we’ve leaned on him, he’s a productive player.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions adjust Alex Anzalone’s contract, with slight pay raise