Lions Booked One-Way Ticket to Ensure DJ Reader Signed Deal

Lions did not want veteran DL to leave practice facility.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader (98) takes the field during a joint practice between / Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

The Detroit Lions wanted it to be clearly known to veteran defensive lineman DJ Reader that he was a player the organization was targeting to sign a free agent contract.

In fact, the team only booked him a one-way ticket to Detroit, in an effort to guarantee he would not leave the team's Allen Park practice facility before an agreement was reached.

Appearing on the "Up and Adams Show," the 29-year-old shared just how committed Detroit was during his vist.

"I wasn’t there yet. They only booked a one-way flight on my visit, so they was really trying to get this done," said Reader. "I kept asking my agent, ‘When am I gonna get a flight home?’ I look at the itinerary, I’m like, ‘There’s got to be a flight home.’ And then I kept asking my agent, ‘When are they gonna book the flight home.’ He said they said they’re gonna book it.

"It’s like five in the afternoon and I ain’t go no flight back to the crib. I’ve been up here since eight and I ain’t got no flight back, they’re really trying to get this done," Reader continued. "He’s like, ‘It don’t seem like they’re trying to let you out this building.’ I was walking by one door and some dude shouted out, ‘We ain’t letting you out this building until we get this deal done.’"

In the end, Reader agreed to a two-year, $27.5 million contract to depart Cincinnati and join Dan Campbell's squad.

Reader unsure why Jared Goff is not viewed as elite

Like many active players, Reader was unsure why veteran signal-caller Jared Goff was not heralded more across the National Football League.

Goff's departure from Los Angeles likely skewed the perception of certain teams or coaches regarding his ability to lead a franchise to big wins.

“I just always felt like he got a tough rap. I don’t know what he did to people or anybody that made him feel like he wasn’t a very elite quarterback," said Reader. "He went to a Super Bowl, he went to another NFC Championship this year. He can dial it up, I’ve always seen him make really good passes, I’ve never really seen him not put up points. I think that both of them are competitive. I think they both do a good job of commanding the locker room as well.

"Sometimes you can come in there and you can be one of the guys, but you also have to command the room. I think him and Joe Burrow do a good job of commanding the room, people respect them and that’s all that really matters," Reader explained further. "People respect you and you can go out there and play your game, people are willing to live with results. That’s the biggest thing, people respecting you, being fiery and knowing that you’re gonna compete with us.”

Dan Campbell and the #Lions only booked a one-way flight for D.J. Reader when he came to visit Detroit 😂🔊 #OnePride @Djread98 @heykayadams

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 2, 2024