The Lions and kicker Dave Rayner have agreed to terms on a one-year deal that will keep the former Michigan State Spartan in Detroit. Rayner can't officially re-sign until Friday at 6 p.m. (ET), but he has agreed to return to the Lions.
Earlier in the offseason when Rayner was considered a restricted free agent the Lions tendered him a qualifying offer. That indicated they wanted him back, but since Rayner became an unrestricted free agent under the new CBA, it wasn't a guarantee that he would return.
In the end, Rayner did generate interest from the St. Louis Rams and some other teams, but no offers that came his way were good enough to sway him away from re-signing with the Lions.
By returning to Detroit, Rayner is going into training camp to battle for the starting kicker job with Jason Hanson. Hanson is returning from a season-ending injury that gave Rayner a chance to show off his skills at the end of last year. He played quite well, and now he will look to win the job away from Hanson, who has been the Lions' kicker since 1992.