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Detroit Lions re-sign special teams standout, fake punt star

C.J. Moore played the fifth-most special teams snaps last season and twice moved the chains on fake punts. C.J. Moore, a two-year contract worth up to $4.5 million, has been re-signed by the Detroit Lions for up to half a million dollars. Moore was cut from camp last year due to a numbers crunch on the roster, but returned early in the season and went on to play 224 special-teams snaps. He also proved to be a critical piece in Detroit’s league-best fake punt game, turning two direct snaps into 55 rushing yards and two first downs. His return helps mitigate the loss of Chris Board, who signed with New England in free agency.

Detroit Lions re-sign special teams standout, fake punt star

Diterbitkan : 12 bulan yang lalu oleh kmmeinke, Kyle Meinke | [email protected] di dalam Sports

ALLEN PARK -- Twice, C.J. Moore’s number was called on fake punts last year.

Now the Detroit Lions are bringing back their special-teams weapon, inking Moore to a two-year contract worth up to $4.5 million, according to NFL Network. The deal includes $3 million worth of guarantees.

That’s good money for a player who contributes almost exclusively on special teams, but Moore is a unique weapon in the third phase. So much so, the New England Patriots hosted him on a free-agent visit this week.

Instead, Moore is headed back to a Lions rebuild he wants to see through.

“I knew when I was at home (after getting cut last summer), I wanted to go back to Detroit,” Moore said last season. “Everybody was like, ‘Man, you got opportunities to go somewhere else,’ and I did. I was literally telling my agent, ‘I want to come back to Detroit, because I know the type of confidence we have in this locker room.’ I was like, ‘I’ve been here when we’ve lost. I’m gonna be here when we win.’”

Moore was cut coming out of camp last year because of a numbers crunch on the roster, but was brought back early in the season and went on to play 224 special-teams snaps, which was fifth most on the team. He also proved to be a critical piece in Detroit’s league-best fake punt game, turning two direct snaps into 55 rushing yards and two first downs.

“He’s a pivotal piece to our special teams,” head coach Dan Campbell said last season. “But he also understands the defense -- he’s been a part of it. He’s a guy that it means a lot to him, he cares, he’s a professional and guys love him, man. He’s an energy guy.”

Moore’s return helps mitigate the loss of Chris Board, another special-teams staple who signed with New England in free agency.


Topik: Football, NFL, Detroit Lions, Michigan, Detroit

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