Lions give Pearson shot at NFL
Center one of six former U-M players to sign free-agent deals
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
BY JOHN HEUSER
News Sports Reporter
Dave Pearson won't travel far to get his chance at the NFL.
After going undrafted over the weekend, the former
University of Michigan center said he fielded free agent offers from Tennessee, Jacksonville and Detroit. Pearson said it took him about 20 minutes Sunday night to choose the Lions.
"I talked to them throughout the week, and I thought it would be a good opportunity and good situation there," added Pearson, who played high school football in Brighton.
Pearson, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 295 pounds, started for two seasons at Michigan. He'll try to make the Lions as a backup to starter Dominic
Raiola. Pearson will report to Detroit's training facility in Allen Park on Thursday for a minicamp that will run through the weekend.
"It's exciting," he said. "It's going to be a challenge to go in there and do everything I can to impress the coaches and give them a reason to keep me on board."
Among other undrafted Michigan players to sign free agent deals were tight end Andy
Mignery (New England Patriots), defensive ends Larry Stevens (Cincinnati Bengals) and Alain Kashama (Chicago Bears) and defensive tackles Grant Bowman (Tennessee Titans) and Norman Heuer (Washington Redskins).
During the draft, Redskins representatives told Heuer that if the player they wanted in the sixth round - Notre Dame
offensive tackle Jim Molinaro -
wasn't available, they'd pick Heuer. Molinaro ended up
getting drafted by Washington, but the Redskins (who didn't have a seventh-round choice)
remembered Heuer. The 6-5,
288-pound Heuer had been scouted by the Redskins' Shemy Schembechler, son of former Michigan coach Bo
Schembechler.
"I think this is the best
situation for me," Heuer said. "They've been very interested in me since the beginning."
The same can't be said for
Titans regarding Bowman, since the two parties hadn't communicated at all until after the draft. Philadelphia,
Jacksonville and Houston seemed most interested in
Bowman before the weekend.
"I just looked at everything and decided Tennessee would be the best place," said
Bowman, a 6-1, 288-pound nose tackle. "It's pretty cool to have this opportunity."
The 6-5, 263-pound Kashama, an occasional starter at Michigan his senior season, said he's looking forward to matching the praise he's heard from Bears.
"They've been telling me that they like my ability for the
system of the new coach (Lovie Smith)," Kashama said. "They like what I bring to the table, my quickness and my speed."
John Heuser can be reached at
jheuser@annarbornews.com or (734) 994-6816.
The loss to Miami was before my time. I hope we sign some young DT's or ends to try to make the squad. Has Norman Heuer DT, Michigan, Tommy Kelly or DeMarco McNeil signed yet?