By: Michael Stets
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions signed safety Glover Quin to a contract extension through 2019 on Sunday afternoon, giving the nine-year veteran something he’s always coveted: playing in a city where he feels wanted.
“Throughout my whole career, throughout my whole playing career from college to anything I always did, I always wanted to play and be somewhere where I was wanted,” Quin told the media after the team’s first practice on Sunday. “I didn’t care where it was or anything about all that stuff, I just wanted to go somewhere where I was wanted. Detroit doing this for me shows me that they wanted me here and I’m happy to be here.”
Quin, 31, put pen to paper on the two-year extension–which ESPN reported is worth $13 million with $9.5 million in guaranteed money–just prior to the first practice of training camp.
“Glover is one of our team leaders, and throughout his career has been a consummate professional on and off the field,” Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Bob Quinn said in a statement. “We are thrilled that he will be a Lion for the next three seasons.
Cornerback Darius Slay was signed to an extension in the opening days of training camp last season, and Quin said he “wanted to be in the same situation” heading into this year’s camp.
“I told my guys, I was like, ‘Hey man. I don’t want this thing to linger into training camp,” said Quin, who finished 2016 with 55 solo tackles and two interceptions. “I either want to get it done, or I want it to be like, ‘Hey, we couldn’t to come to terms and GQ is in his last year in Detroit. Let’s enjoy it.’ I’m going to have a lot of fun and just understand it was just a part of the business.’”
After playing his first four years in the league with the Houston Texans, Quin joined the Lions in 2013 on a five-year contract worth $23.5 million. Known for his leadership, preparation, consistent production and heady play, Quin is one of the best defenders on the team, as well as one of the most durable. In 2016 he was the only player in the NFL to play every defensive snap for his team. And he’s also a valued presence in the locker room who is greatly respected by his teammates and the coaching staff.
“He’s one of those guys that does everything the right way,” said head coach Jim Caldwell. “He’s outstanding, just in terms of his preparation, his off the field, on the field. He’s tremendous. He’s like having obviously, another assistant coach out there on the field and just in terms of preparation and all the little things. Glover does a great job. He’s very conscientious and sets a great example for the rest of the guys as well.”
Now entering his ninth NFL training camp, Quin said he feels “young again” and admitted the new extension may have “Contributed a little bit” to that feeling. It’s quite evident the new contract means a great deal to him, especially since he was heading into the final year of his last one. The NFL can be a cut-throat business and signing a third contract at 31 years of age is something that many veterans will never experience. Quin is obviously well aware of that fact, and now he can enter the season without any uncertainly and just put all his focus on playing football.
Quin, who went right out the practice field after signing his new contract on Sunday, admitted he hasn’t really had any time for personal reflection just yet. But he revealed that a text message from his wife gave him some perspective on what he’s been able to accomplish in his career.
“She said something that kind of made me think a little bit. I haven’t had a lot of time [to think about it]. She was just like, ‘Congratulations. I’m really happy for you. You are signing your third NFL contract. A lot of people don’t sign three NFL contracts.’ And so, when she said that it kind of was just like, ‘Wow,’ you know? A little kid like me from a small town in Mississippi–Summit, Mississippi–just to be in the NFL long enough to receive three contracts and to play at a level high enough to be rewarded with three contracts, it feels good. I will probably think more about it tonight or sometime, but I’m just happy right now.”