Lions sign 3 more to the roster.
LIONS SIGN FREE AGENT WR BRETT FISCHER, DT DAMIAN GREGORY AND DT CLEVELAND PICKNEYAllen Park, Mich.- The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed free agents WR Brett Fischer, DT Damian Gregory and DT Cleveland Pinkney to one-year deals. Additional contract terms were not disclosed.
Fischer (6-0, 195) comes to Detroit after spending part of the 2005 preseason with Kansas City who signed him as an undrafted free agent following the NFL Draft.
As a collegian at Division II Missouri Rolla, Fischer had 155 receptions for 1,976 yards and 14 touchdowns through four seasons for the Miners. As a senior, he set single-season school records with 72 receptions and 1,040 receiving yards.
Gregory (6-2, 305) joins the Lions entering his fifth NFL season. He last played for Tampa Bay in 2004, seeing action in six games and garnering four tackles before suffering a knee injury for which he was placed on the reserve/injured list. Gregory did not play in 2005.
The Buccaneers allocated Gregory to the Scottish Claymores for the 2004 NFL Europe season after signing him February 26. He spent the majority of the 2002 season on the Cleveland Browns practice squad and was on the active roster for one game in which he registered one tackle.
In 2001, Gregory was on Miami's active roster for five games, playing in two, before he was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list with a ruptured spleen. Gregory originally joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2000 but was placed on the reserve/injured list during the preseason due to a knee injury.
A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Gregory was an honorable mention all-state selection as a senior at Sexton High School in Lansing before enrolling at Indiana University. He transferred to Illinois State for his senior season and recorded 55 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Gregory was named first-team All-American by the Coaches Association and Football Digest.
Pinkney (6-1, 300) will reunite with Head Coach Rod Marinelli who coached him in 2003 at Tampa Bay. Pinkney saw his first significant NFL action during his first season with the Buccaneers, playing in five games as a reserve and garnering four tackles and his only career sack. Though he was briefly with the Seattle Seahawks during training camp last season, he was released at the end of the preseason and did not play in 2005.
In 2004, Pinkney spent training camp with the Buccaneers but was released at the end of the preseason. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons and spent the first half of the season on their active roster, registering 7 tackles (5 solo) while playing in three games.
Pinkney entered the NFL as a rookie free agent when he signed with Indianapolis after the 2001 NFL Draft. He was released by the Colts September 27, 2001. Pinkney next signed with San Francisco March 1, 2002 and was allocated to NFL Europe where he finished with 24 tackles for the Berlin Thunder.
While a collegian at South Carolina, Pinkney started 21 games at defensive tackle after transferring from Copiah-Lincoln Junior College. In his two college seasons for the Gamecocks, he totaled 85 tackles, two forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Courtesy of the Lions.