Quin On Ihedigbo Missing Workouts, Seeking New Contract: 'It Is What It Is'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
ALLEN PARK - Detroit Lions safety James Ihedigbo has made it known he wants a new contract. His current one will pay him a base salary of $1.1 million this season. One of the team's backup safeties last season, Isa Abdul-Quddus, recently re-signed with Detroit as a free agent and will get a base salary of $1.2 million this season.
Glover Quin, the team's other starter at safety, said he worked out with Ihedigbo in Houston but has not spoken with him since returning to Detroit for the team's offseason program. Ihedigbo does not plan on joining the voluntary workouts until he receives a new contract.
"He's got to make a decision for him and his family," Quin said. "It is what it is. We're going to work and trust that when Diggz comes in, he'll be ready to go."
Quin spoke highly of what Ihedigbo contributed to the team last season, when Detroit's defense was among the best in the NFL.
"He added a lot," Quin said. "You look at the playmaking ability that he had, he's a physical force, he's a veteran guy, leader, experienced, he won a Super Bowl, so he brought a lot to the table for us. I'm not going to downplay it.
"He freed me up to not have to get in the box and play with those 400-pounders out there and get to run around in the back end and have some fun, catch a couple passes," Quin continued. "So I can't say that he didn't bring a lot. He was obviously a key part in our defense, and we feel like we had a great defense … Everyone was a key part to it. I would say he was a big part of that."
Quin did not give any insight on how the contract matter would end, but he hoped Ihedigbo would still be playing for the Liosn when it was over.
"I would hope," Quin said. "I would hope. He's a great friend of mine, great teammate, I had fun playing with him, so I would hope, but like I said, I have no control over that from his standpoint and the Lions' standpoint. So all I can do is control what I can control, and that is my effort, my attitude and the guys that I'm here to work with."
