Alex Anzalone ‘disappointed' over contract, Lions get physical: Training camp news and notes

New York Times

2 days ago

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Tuesday's practice was an eventful one for the Detroit Lions. Things got physical, requiring Dan Campbell to intervene. There was a surprise appearance from a player who's been absent. All this, and we're still days away from pads going on.
Here are the latest observations from Lions training camp.
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For the first time since the end of last season, Anzalone spoke to local media, voicing his frustrations over his contract situation.
'I'm disappointed. I'll just say that,' Anzalone said. 'I'm disappointed.'
Anzalone told reporters he wants to retire a Lion, and expressed to the front office long ago. While Anzalone deferred specific questions about the details of their discussions to Campbell and Brad Holmes, he made it clear he wants a new contract.
Anzalone is entering the final year of a three-year, $18.75 million dollar contract. He's currently the 35th-highest paid linebacker in the NFL. He believes he's underpaid, relative to what others make. When asked why, Anzalone said, 'I mean, it's just kind of obvious, I think. Production, play, the market. Yeah.'
The play he's offered the Lions has been closer to top-15 the past two seasons. He's an excellent coverage linebacker, especially in man. He's a high-IQ player, wearing the green dot and directing traffic around him. The Lions finished top-5 in run defense in back-to-back seasons. Not to mention he's a four-time team captain.
Anzalone's value to the team is immense. He's the voice of reason, a calming veteran leader and a reliable player the coaching staff trusts. However, it's unclear if there's a long-term fit between the two sides. Anzalone will turn 31 in September. The team has several young players making top-of-market money with more to come — including 2023 first-round LB Jack Campbell. If Anzalone wants to be paid like a top-10 or top-15 linebacker, he might have to look elsewhere to get it.
While Anzalone didn't go out of his way to categorize this as a hold-in, citing a hamstring injury suffered during his conditioning test, it feels as close to one as you can get without saying it. Anzalone thought about it and said not reporting to camp wouldn't be the best scenario for him or the team. At the same time, he made it clear what he wants. If you know Anzalone, he's always been pro-player, understanding the business angle of the league that employs him. He wants to finish his career here and be treated like a core player, but retaining him might come at the expense of a younger player needing an extension soon.
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This is the first time the Lions have had to deal with a situation like this under Campbell and Holmes, but Anzalone said he hopes to return to practice before the season begins. Until then, we're in a bit of a holding pattern.
'I feel like I've done that a lot (put team first) through my four years here,' Anzalone said, 'And I'm just in a situation where you want to be rewarded for that, at least in some regard.'
Lions LB and team captain Alex Anzalone says he believes he's underpaid relative to other LBs in the league. Wants the opportunity to retire a Lion.
Shared this with the front office long ago and is disappointed with how things have unfolded, entering the final year of his deal. pic.twitter.com/8sEcsVCOhr
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) July 22, 2025
I don't think I've ever seen Campbell kick a player out for being too physical in a practice. It's odd even typing that sentence. But that's what happened Tuesday.
There were several physical hits delivered by the defense in team periods. Brian Branch had a pair vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Tim Patrick. Ahmed Hassanein and Mason Miller got into it. Netane Muti and Keith Cooper did, too. At one point, after second-year DB Morice Norris laid out rookie WR Isaac TeSlaa, Campbell stopped practice to tell his team they weren't allowed to tackle until Friday when the pads go on. It was emphasized for all to hear.
Roughly 20 minutes later, Norris did it again — delivering a hit to Dominic Lovett. After the play, Campbell pointed at Norris, then to the sideline. His day was done right then and there.
Campbell had some words for his team shortly after practice concluded, and while we were too far to hear any details, you have to think he wasn't pleased with how physical they were. It was Day 3 and the team was still in shorts. It's a bit of a balancing act for a coach like Campbell who preaches physicality, but there's a time and a place for everything. This wasn't the time to be lowering shoulders and laying out receivers. Given the injuries to the team last season, it's easy to see why Campbell wasn't having it today. He was visibly frustrated.
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As for Norris, it's a learning moment. When the head coach tells you to lay off, you have to do it. Kerby Joseph immediately ran to catch up to Norris as he exited stage left, offering some words of encouragement. Good leadership from Joseph.
I caught a portion of the WR-DB one-on-ones in the middle of practice. It featured Goff as the all-time QB, throwing to the starting receivers vs. the top group of DBs. Here's how it unfolded:
Considering how hard this drill is for defensive backs, I was really impressed with the Lions' secondary. They have the potential to be the best in football if health permits. Right up there with the Ravens.
• DT Brodric Martin left practice early with a foot injury and did not return. The Lions have an off day on Wednesday and Campbell doesn't speak again until Friday. We'll learn more about the severity then. Any missed time would be yet another setback for a player who needs to impress this training camp.
• RB Sione Vaki is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss a few days, per Campbell. The second-year back left practice early on Monday and did not return.
• Lions DT Roy Lopez sat out practice and is expected to miss a few days. He took a cleat to the foot during Monday's practice.
• Reed returned to practice after missing Monday. Unclear why he was absent.
• Campbell offered some timelines for players recovering from lengthy injuries. CB/gunner Khalil Dorsey (broken leg) could be back by the end of training camp. DT Mekhi Wingo (meniscus) could return in September. Miles Frazier (knee) will be out until September or October. LB Malcolm Rodriguez (torn ACL) will be out until October.
• The Lions spent a good portion of practice working on their third-down/short-yardage packages. That situational focus during camp has been invaluable during the season. I'd say the offense did well to convert, but the defense held its own.
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• In past years, I can't remember the Lions working starting skill players in with the reserves. It's been the norm this year, though. You'll look up and see LaPorta with TeSlaa, Dominic Lovett and Tom Kennedy. Or Williams. Or Gibbs in the backfield. I wonder if they're doing it to get a better look at their backup QBs. Last year, the reserve receivers were, uh, not great. It was hard to fully evaluate Hooker as a result, even though he had his own struggles. Hooker, in particular, has a strong early rapport with TeSlaa and Lovett, but working in some starters could help the staff get a better look.
• Another day, another play that featured Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery on the field together. Last year, those two appeared on the same play just 10 times, per TruMedia — three run plays (totaling 11 yards — all by Montgomery) and seven pass plays (5-of-7 for 68 yards). You always have to wonder how much teams will preach what they're practicing, but one thing that's clear is that Gibbs is lining up in the slot quite a bit. Seems like an effort to get their best playmakers on the field together.
• It feels like the DBs are blitzing more than they have in the past, from all angles. One of Kelvin Sheppard's mentors, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, is known for dialing up the perfect blitz at the perfect time. Not that Aaron Glenn didn't blitz — the Lions had one of the NFL's highest-blitz rates under his watch — but that often felt out of necessity. With more talent at his disposal than Glenn had when he started, Sheppard could take advantage, dive into his past inspirations and make this defense his own. Curious to see how it shakes out.
• Arnold has been great the first three days of practice. His WR-DB interception was one of the best plays I've seen out of that drill since I've been on the beat, and it came vs. St. Brown. My colleague Nolan Bianchi asked if I could recall Arnold allowing a completion during an 11-on-11 period so far. I couldn't think of one. The only one that comes to mind is a 7-on-7 completion to Brock Wright during Monday's practice, with Arnold trailing close behind coverage. He punched the ball out for a forced fumble right after it was caught. That's what you want. I said it earlier, but if Arnold takes the leap, this could be the best secondary in football. I don't think that's a stretch or hyperbole.
• Second-year offensive lineman Giovanni Manu said he's dropped about 20-25 pounds this offseason. He looks like he could play tight end in a pinch. The coaching staff has him focusing at left tackle after cross-training him at guard a bit last year. He spent the offseason working with Taylor Decker in Arizona and praised the veteran for taking him under his wing. Not many veterans would do that for a player who could replace them down the road. Says a lot about Decker.
• I spotted rookies Ahmed Hassanein and Isaac TeSlaa getting coached up by their position coaches, Kacy Rodgers and Scottie Montgomery, at various points in practice after mistakes. Rodgers offered tips. Montgomery drilled a point of emphasis home. Those moments will only help them in the long run. Each player was receptive and went right back to work without issue or attitude.
• UDFA DL Keith Cooper earned some love from Campbell, as the Lions look for interior pressure without Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal and Mekhi Wingo for the time being. A player to keep an eye on.
(Top photo of Alex Anzalone: Junfu Han / USA Today)