Cleaning up another remnant from the previous regime, the Detroit Lions are releasing tight end Jesse James, according to two sources familiar with the decision.
James will arguably go down as former general manager Bob Quinn's worst free-agent signing. After a productive early-career stretch with the Pittsburgh Steelers, James was brought in to help revamp Detroit's tight end room, which had struggled to produce a year after Quinn released former first-round pick Eric Ebron.
In his final three years with the Steelers, James averaged 37 catches for 378 yards and three touchdowns. With the Lions, it appeared the 6-foot-7, 250-pounder would have an opportunity at an expanded role, indicative by the four-year, $22.