NFC North Notes: Lions, Packers, Vikings

Lions

Lions DT Damon Harrison skipped OTA’s and minicamp in Detroit earlier this offseason, forfeiting a $250,000 bonus because he was unhappy with the state of his contract. While Lions GM Bob Quinn at the time said Harrison would have to wait while the team addressed other priorities, Quinn later circled around and gave Harrison a one-year, $12 million extension. 

“Damon’s a great player,” Quinn said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “It was something we’ve talked about all offseason and just kind of we felt like it was a situation where we wanted to do that to solidify our defensive front and have him here for a couple more years.

“I thought that was, looking back at that trade, that was a great trade for us and he wasn’t completely happy with the contract that he signed in New York a couple of years ago, so we had some conversations and we found middle ground and it was good.”

• Lions CB Darius Slay also skipped OTA’s and minicamp, however, Quinn didn’t say if a reworked deal is on the table for Slay: “Every contract negotiation is different. It’s a different player, it’s a different position, it’s just a different scenario. They’re all different.”

Packers

• Per the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers HC Matt LaFleur said veteran G Lane Taylor will be the team’s starting left guard Week 1: “I just think it’s a comfort factor. You’ve got experience there.”
• Packers UDFA LB Curtis Bolton will have a third MRI on his knee after the first two were inconclusive. (Tom Silverstein)

Vikings

The Vikings dealt a fifth-round pick to the Ravens a few weeks ago for kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik in the hopes of solidifying their kicking game. That has not been the case and the results have been close to disastrous. Vedvik missed his first three field goals for the Vikings after the trade before making one Thursday night, while also having a punt returned for a touchdown off one of his kicks. 

The Vikings will likely stick with Dan Bailey at kicker, who has looked good since the Vedvik trade. Vikings HC Mike Zimmer says the Vikings will be patient with their new specialist. 

“I don’t know if I’m disappointed in it,” Zimmer said via Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. “I know that he hit one. He’s a talented kid, and Bailey came in and kicked well. We’ll just have to evaluate it and see.”

• Zimmer said Vedvik’s chances of making the roster at punter were good, saying the return touchdown wasn’t necessarily his fault as “some guys had some wrong leverage.” (Chris Tomasson)