NFC Notes: Lions, Seahawks, Vikings

Lions

Lions DT Damon Harrison made a statement when he skipped mandatory OTA’s in search of a contract extension this spring. Though it took a few months, the Lions rewarded Harrison, who turns 31 in November, with another year tacked onto the end of his current deal guaranteeing him $12 million over the next two years.

“I mean, I’m an older guy, so financial security is everything in this league and we were able to work something out,” Harrison said via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Seahawks

Seahawks DL coach Clint Hurtt said he told Seahawks’ recently signed OLB Jachai Polite that he has a “clean slate” in Seattle after being cut by the Jets as a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Polite was seen as a potential first-round pick in February, but a disastrous pre-draft process tanked his stock. The Jets took a chance on him in April, but Polite reportedly racked up over $100,000 in fines from the team since then. 

“The only thing I said to him, I said ‘listen, I understand all the media articles are out there about what transpired in New York.’ I said ‘you’ve got a clean slate here with me.’” Hurtt said via Crabtree. “I said ‘don’t do anything that’s going to make me conjour up and recall the things that I heard. You got a new start, let’s move forward. We don’t deal with any of that foolishness here and if you’re not going to be the consummate pro and be where you’re supposed to be on-time, you don’t give me your undivided attention and work, you won’t be here long.’

“He was pretty good with that. He said ‘coach, I appreciate it. I’m trying to be better.’ I said, ‘well, I’m going to help you. You’re not going to be alone. If you want to do it, I’ll help you get it done.’ So he’s been good so far.”

“… He’s not the first and he ain’t going to be the last kid to make some mistakes early in his career. He’ll continue to come along and we’ll have patience,” Hurtt added

Vikings

Vikings HC Mike Zimmer believes that CB Xavier Rhodes (groin) had a good preseason and has fully recovered from his previous injuries. 

“Part of it is we’ve been working real hard on technique with him and the things that he has to do from there. I feel like he’s had a good preseason. The one ball he got beat on against Arizona was a miscommunication. I think he’s got a chance to have a good year,” said Zimmer, via Courtney Cronin of ESPN.

• Per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, new Vikings WR Josh Doctson says he spent a lot of time with the Vikings before he was drafted by the Redskins in the first round one spot ahead of Minnesota in 2016: “I thought I was going to be a Viking coming out. So being in this building, this locker room, feels good.”
• Doctson added there’s a lot of crossover with the offense in Minnesota compared to what he’s run the past three years in Washington: “It’s been very easy for me so far. A lot of the same concepts [as Washington’s offense], familiar routes, just kind of different verbiage, so it’s pretty easy.”
• Vikings OT Aviante Collins will make $15,000 each week he’s on the practice squad. The league minimum is $8,000. (Darren Wolfson)
• Vikings K Dan Bailey said his new holder, P Britton Colquitt, has “been good” and has “a lot of experience” with the role: “It’s been good. He brings a lot of experience to the table.” (Chris Tomasson)