Disappointed Anzalone hoping to retire a Lion as contract frustrations simmer

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Allen Park — There’s an almost comical tension between the Detroit Lions and defensive captain Alex Anzalone.

Those dynamics were unintentionally captured following Tuesday’s training camp practice when Anzalone stopped to talk with local media, facing an inevitable barrage of questions about his contract status.

Repeatedly, the veteran linebacker volleyed back reporters’ queries, telling them they would need to ask coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes about anything related to negotiations, which may or may not be ongoing. Humourously, the team’s brass stood no more than 10 yards behind Anzalone, conducting a joint interview with MMQB reporter Albert Breer.

The whole scene gave off the vibe of a husband and wife embroiled in a marital dispute, using their child as an intermediary at the dinner table.

“Violet, can you ask your mother to pass the salt?”

Anzalone didn’t say much during the nearly seven-minute conversation, but he said enough. He acknowledged he’s disappointed something hasn’t gotten done and reiterated a message he’s conveyed to the team behind closed doors: He’d like to retire a Lion.

“I put so much into my time here, being a four-time captain,” Anzalone said. “My teammates, the city, and just living here, you can list all the reasons. It's just important to me. I feel like I love this place. I want that opportunity.”

Anzalone didn’t attend the voluntary portions of the offseason program. Simultaneous with his absence, he shared multiple messages on social media about his production and value in relation to his pay, making his desire for an extension part of the public discourse.

Anzalone admitted that he weighed not reporting to training camp, but after considering the pros and cons, decided it wasn’t the best way to move forward.

“I’m in a situation where I thought about it, and for my own personal goals and what I want for the team, I didn’t think it was the best scenario (to not report). …We have a chance to win the Super Bowl and I want to be a part of it.”

Anzalone reported with the rest of his teammates on Saturday, reportedly “crushing” his conditioning test. But he has yet to practice the first three days of camp. According to Campbell, it’s a hamstring strain that’s sidelineing the veteran, and Anzalone confirmed it was suffered during the conditioning test.

What’s the timetable to return to action? That remains unclear. Anzalone said, “No clue.” And when asked whether he’d practice without a new deal in place, he was non-committal.

“I’m just taking this day-to-day right now,” he said. “I mean, we’ll see.”

Anzalone was definitive when he said the issues — hamstring and contract — wouldn’t keep him from playing in the regular season.

Entering his ninth season, Anzalone has been a key fixture of Detroit’s defense under Campbell. The two arrived together from New Orleans in 2021. Anzalone initially signed a one-year contract with the Lions, then a second prove-it deal, before landing a three-year, $18 million contract in 2023. He’s entering the final season of that agreement.

Since signing the pact, the linebacker market has exploded, leaving Anzalone underpaid relative to the market. That includes a three-year, $24 million contract awarded to teammate Derrick Barnes this offseason.

“I mean, it’s just kind of obvious, I think,” Anzalone said. “Production, play, the market. …I feel like I’ve done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here and I’m just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.”

Will he get it? That’s the $10 million-or-so-per-year question. It’s not as if the Lions haven’t aggressively handed out extensions during Holmes’ tenure, including for older veterans such as Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow.

But only the GM knows if he’s willing to meet the linebacker’s expectations. And, yeah, we could ask him, but I assure you that we're less likely to get answers than Anzalone.