Lions to Release Furrey

WR Mike Furrey is in Tampa Bay participating in a charity event in conjunction with Super Bowl XLIII. When asked about Scott Linehan being his new offensive coordinator Furrey replied, "He's not my offensive coordinator," explaining that he was told Tuesday morning in a brief phone call from Lions general manager Martin Mayhew that he'll be let go by the team with a year remaining on his contract. Players can't be officially released until Feb. 9.

"(Mayhew) just called to say they were calling the guys they were releasing, and that was the gist of the conversation," said Furrey, who was due $1.85 million in salary next season. "I said, 'Thanks,' and that was it. The conversation was real brief. But I wasn't surprised at all. We butted heads toward the end of the season. And it's because I wanted to win. I was sick of losing, sick of going out on Sundays without a chance to win."

Furrey, who caught only 18 passes for 181 yards in nine games last season, also was among a handful of players who were openly critical of the Lions' shift in offensive philosophy last season. Furrey was brought to Detroit largely because of his familiarity with former coordinator Mike Martz's pass-oriented system. He led the NFC with 98 receptions in 2006, his first season with the Lions.