NFL Free-Agency Rumors: Stephen Tulloch Contract Demands Mean Exit from Detroit

Many of the biggest free agents in the NFL this season such as wide receiver Vincent Jackson and defensive end Mario Williams have already signed lucrative long-term contracts and will be taking their talents to new teams this season.

However, the market for 4-3 middle linebackers such as Curtis Lofton of the Atlanta Falcons and David Hawthorne of the Seattle Seahawks has been slow to develop, and if the contract demands of one middle linebacker are to be believed, his market may not develop at all.

The Detroit Free Press reports that linebacker Stephen Tulloch, who had 111 tackles for the Lions in 2011, is seeking a deal in excess of the $42.5 million dollar extension that D'Qwell Jackson signed with the Cleveland Browns in February.

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According to sources, Tulloch is seeking a long-term deal worth more than Cleveland's D'Qwell Jackson's five-year deal, which is worth $42.5 million ($19 million in guarantees and bonuses). He is seeking a contract that will pay no less than $6 million a year, with no less than 40 percent of his deal guaranteed. It is unclear how much Tulloch wants in bonuses and incentives.

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Granted, Tulloch has earned a certain amount of long-term security after playing very well in his first year for the Lions in 2011, and the 27-year-old has emerged as a rock solid tackler over the past three years, averaging over 130 stops a season during that stretch.

However, there's a reason why D'Qwell Jackson became so emotional at the press conference announcing his new contract with the Browns. Even Jackson realized he was being overpaid significantly, but apparently that news hasn't trickled down to Tulloch's camp yet.

There are teams with a need at middle linebacker in free agency this season such as the Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints, but while the Saints have already hosted Hawthorne and are reportedly interested in Lofton, Tulloch has drawn scant interest to this point, and as the Free Press pointed out yesterday, every domino that falls leaves one less potential landing spot for the seventh-year pro.

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Detroit Lions free agent linebacker Stephen Tulloch does not need to hit the panic button, but there might be a sense of urgency soon.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne is going to visit the New Orleans Saints on Friday, according to sources. Hawthorne, who also has an interest from the Detroit Lions, is one of the NFL's premier free-agent linebackers. If he signs with New Orleans, it leaves one less possible landing spot for Tulloch.

Detroit must hope the market for middle linebacker continues to diminish in order to receive a deal on Tulloch's skills.

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However, given the Lions' salary cap situation (even after creating around $9 million dollars in cap space by re-upping superstar wide receiver Calvin Johnson earlier this week), it's highly unlikely that Detroit is willing to offer Tulloch anywhere near $8 million dollars in annual salary. Considering the saturated market for his position, if that's the deal Stephen Tulloch is looking for he might want to get comfortable.

He's going to be waiting a while, and at the end of the day not only will Tulloch probably be playing elsewhere in 2012, but it's all but certain that it will be for significantly less than the scratch he's seeking.

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