Ryan Nece News

The Detroit Lions have pared down their linebacker corps, releasing Alex Lewis after five seasons.

Christina Sanchez's room looks like a tornado went through it. The 18-year-old is packing, getting ready to go to college in two months.

We have some football related news and notes that have piled up from last few days.

The Wake-Up Call greets you each weekday with news, views and a few Tampa Bay area sports offerings to anticipate for the day and night.

Owners of the league's worst defense two years running, the Lions suddenly don't look too bad on that side of the ball.

The Detroit Lions will retire the number 93 for the 2009 football season in memory of player Corey Smith, one of three men lost when their fishing boat capsized off the Florida Gulf Coast three weeks ago.

Lions player development director Galen Duncan told several hundred mourners in Smith's hometown church Saturday that Smith's number would be retired for a year in honor of a player of extraordinary heart and competitive drive.

'I want to tell you something about Corey Smith playing with pain,' Duncan said of Smith, who played with such abandon that high school teammates called him the Tasmanian Devil.

Searching has turned to grieving for the family of Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, one of three men missing after a boat capsized in the Gulf on Saturday.

In his statement, Cooper thanked everyone involved in the search for his son. Though the search has been called off, there are still efforts being made by NFL players to raise money for the families.

The Coast Guard has rescued one survivor from an overturned fishing boat discovered by crews searching Florida's Gulf Coast for four missing persons, including two NFL players.

The US coastguard is searching for two American football players reported missing after a fishing trip in rough seas.

The Coast Guard is conducting a search in the Gulf of Mexico for a fishing boat with two NFL players on board.

The Coast Guard is searching for two former Tampa Bay Buccaneer players and two other people who left Clearwater Pass about 6:30 a.m. Saturday in a 21-foot, center-console boat and are believed missing.

The NFL free-agent market opens at midnight tonight, and the Lions are expected to pursue mid-level players more than high-profile ones.

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry was supposed to have dinner with Lions officials at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, but he had to reschedule because of medical testing related to a stinger he suffered in 2008.

Shelton Quarles and Ryan Nece helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win a Super Bowl. Now they will help 10 Connects News prepare fans for the big game Sunday, February 1 at Raymond James Stadium.