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Mayhew On Possibility Of Re-Signing Sims: 'We've Been In Contact'

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

PHOENIX - In five seasons for the Detroit Lions, free agent guard Rob Sims did not miss a game, and general manager Martin Mayhew hinted Monday that Sims' run with the team might not be over yet.

"We've been in contact with Rob," Mayhew said in a sit-down with Detroit reporters at the Arizona Biltmore. "We've had some dialogue with him about a contract."

Sims will be entering his 10th season in the league. The Lions parted ways with another veteran offensive lineman, center Dominic Raiola, earlier in the offseason. When the players cleaned out their lockers at the end of the year, both said they hoped to return.

Sims acknowledged at the time that his play had been hampered some by injuries, but he remained optimistic the front office would appreciate what he brings to a team.

"I was going through some things," Sims said in January. "I fought through it. I'm not the type of person to make excuses. I just take my lumps as they come. I did that and just kept playing, man, kept playing and got better throughout the year and got stronger throughout the year and got over anything that was ailing me. That's the thing. I prided myself on being available every single game – I've played 80 straight or whatever it is – and trying to be as consistent as possible. I've tried to do that.

"I think my main goal coming in here was, the 10 years previous from me being here that it'd been 16 other guards, and that was enough," Sims continued. "We'll see what happens, but me holding it down for five years, man, I'm proud of that ... I feel like I've proven to the powers-that-be that I can still play this game ... we'll see what they think."

The Lions brought in guard Justin Blalock for a visit earlier this month, but Mayhew would not discuss whether he is still a possibility for Detroit.

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