Jason Hanson, center, made $3.2 million last season, his 21st with the team. He will be 43 in June but is coming off another productive season. (Daniel Mears/Detroit News)
Allen Park — Jason Hanson has decided he wants to play; the question now is how badly do the Lions want him back?
"You just never know with the Lions when it comes to contract negotiations," said Hanson's agent Jack Mills, who confirmed Hanson informed general manager Martin Mayhew of his decision to return in an e-mail Monday night.
Mills, who has negotiated contracts with the Lions dating to the days of Russ Thomas, said he has not had a single conversation with the team regarding Hanson.
Hanson made $3.2 million last season, his 21st with the team. He will be 43 in June but is coming off another productive season. He made 32 of 36 field goals last season, including 18 of 22 from beyond 40 yards.
"He is still at the height of his performance," Mills said. "I had John Carney (who played for eight teams over 20 seasons) go until he was 45. He was still able to perform pretty well, but he wasn't performing as well as Jason is at that age.
"They don't make them like this, believe me. I've been in this business more than 40 years and you just don't find these kind of people."
The Lions signed a free agent punter, Blake Clingan, and there is speculation he may also perform the kickoff duties. The only concern the Lions had the last couple of seasons with the aging Hanson is the distance of his kickoffs.
Twitter: @cmccosky
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