Lions GM 'optimistic' veterans will return 

February, 9, 2013
Feb 9
12:40
PM ET
By Vince Verhei | ESPN.com
You don't think of offensive linemen and kickers as sports heroes, but Jeff Backus and Jason Hanson are fixtures of the Detroit landscape, with 11 missed games between them in a combined 33 seasons. But they are 35 and 42 years old, and there's no guarantee they'll be back in 2013.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

RECENT UPDATES

SUBSCRIBE:

BLOG ARCHIVE:

RUMOR CENTRAL

Rumor Central represents regular tips and analysis from ESPN sources plus numerous credible external sources from every form of media. We will speculate intelligently and consider future possibilities on open-ended topics. If something looks speculative, it was intended to be.