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Jeff Riger: Draper Hoping For Another Year

While the Lions worked out at another player led function at Detroit Country Day High School there was a Red Wings that decided to crash the practice. Kris Draper was in attendance experiencing the same grueling workout that the football players were and he loved every moment of it. Draper talked about his uncertain future afterwards saying "I just turned 40 a couple weeks ago and I have felt great this year, that's why I feel I can still play." Draper was asked if the Wings did not want him back would he consider playing for another team and the forward all but said no. "For me to go play hockey somewhere else would be pretty selfish on my part" said Draper. "I guess you never say never in professional sports but I couldn't see myself playing for another team and wearing another teams colors, for me it just would not be right" Draper continued. The longtime Wing expects to know his future for certain in the next 7 to 10 days and admitted that he has talked to General Manager Ken Holland a couple of times and has made it clear that he would love to return to Hockey Town for at least one more season. In the meantime, while Draper waits on his long term future, his short term future was catching a pass from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Draper threw on his number 33 Lions jersey and ran a single route where he corralled a tight Stafford spiral. Draper also made his feelings clear on the NFL lockout clear saying "I couldn't even imagine not playing hockey and then to not even have my NFL Sundays, I mean, my wife wouldn't like me one bit. I need both those things to get resolved real fast."

Watch the Draper video below as the forward gives a gut feeling on the future of Nick Lidstrom, his own future and talks Wings hockey and Lions football. Also watch Draper catch a pass from Stafford.



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