DETROIT -- The Lions re-signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on Friday, keeping one of Matthew Staffords top targets and a player who can potentially make defences regret focusing too much on Calvin Johnson. "The key is to be able to keep your good players," new Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "And, I think anytime you can do that in an organization, its great. It doesnt always work out for you, but when you can, and a guys been productive for you, I think its huge." Pettigrew will get a $16 million, four-year contract with half of the money guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke Friday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not announced. "Obviously, this is certainly a long-term commitment from both sides and were certainly looking forward to that," Caldwell said. The Lions drafted Pettigrew with the 20th overall pick in 2009, the same year they selected Stafford first overall in the NFL draft. The native of Tyler, Texas, has 284 receptions for 2,828 yards and 16 touchdowns in five NFL seasons. Pettigrew said part of the reason he wanted to stay was because hes in "a groove," with teammates such as Stafford. "We got drafted together," he said. "Weve already got that going, and I think thats important. I love the city. Im grateful for being able to be here. The city is going through change, as is the organization. Its just an honour to be a part of that." He tested the market as a free agent before deciding to stay in Detroit. "Of course, the pursuits were real because thats just part of the business," Pettigrew said. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Pettigrew is yet another weapon for Stafford, who already has Johnson and will now have receiver Golden Tate next season. Detroit, with a solid offensive line, should be able to strike a balance in the running game with Reggie Bush in his second season paired with Joique Bell, who was re-signed with a $9.3 million, three-year deal earlier this week. "He gives you a guy that really is a dual threat in terms of being able to handle the end-line blocking on the line of scrimmage, which he does very well," Caldwell said. "Also, obviously, hes a threat in the passing game. When you look at whats going to happen in most cases with the guys that we have on the outside, our inside receivers are going to certainly become a bigger part of our game." Pettigrew is coming off a relatively disappointing season, which probably cost him some money on the market. He had 41 receptions for 416 yards and two TDs, his lowest numbers in each category since he was a rookie. When Pettigrew was at his best in 2001, he caught 83 passes for 777 yards and five TDs -- all career highs -- and helped the franchise end an 11-year post-season skid. Pettigrew said he spoke to some members of teams new staff, including Caldwell. "Hes already told me he wants me to step up and be in that role of a leader and coming out to accept that," Pettigrew said. "Ive been here long enough, and I agree with him. He seems like a great guy. So, Im looking forward to getting back." The Lions next significant move may be finding a starting safety to play alongside Glover Quin, who was signed last year as a free agent, to replace Louis Delmas. They seem to be interested in adding veteran safety James Ihedigbo, but he left team headquarters without a contract after a visit Thursday. Ihedigbo made 99 tackles last season, ranking second on the Baltimore Ravens, and had three interceptions after not picking off one pass in his first five NFL seasons. He started 16 games last season and 12 games in 2011 for the New England Patriots and ranked fifth on the team in tackles. He spent his first three seasons in the league with the New York Jets after making the team in 2008 as an undrafted rookie. Detroit, desperate for success with only one playoff victory since 1957, also hopes Ndamukong Suh will sign a new contract to avoid having the defensive tackle count more than $20 million against the salary cap in 2014. Camilo Vargas Colombia Jersey . Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man. Jose Izquierdo Colombia Jersey . Burris threw for 247 yards in one half of a game -- on pace for a nearly 500-yard outing -- as the Redblacks downed the woeful Montreal Alouettes 26-10 in CFL pre-season play Friday night at Percival Molson Stadium. http://www.nationalcolombiafootball.com/...olombia-jersey/. Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee? Green had bounced around the NBA when he wasnt playing overseas. The Pacers gave up on Plumlee after just one season. Now Green and Plumlee are key cogs in the Suns surprising breakout season. Wilmar Barrios Colombia Jersey . Atletico Madrid made it three wins from three thanks to a double from in-form striker Diego Costa in a 3-0 victory at Austria Vienna, leaving the Spanish side on the brink of the last 16 already to continue its brilliant start to the season. Jose Izquierdo Jersey .D. Martinezs ninth-inning sacrifice fly scored Torii Hunter with the winning run and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 4-3 Sunday.SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. -- Jared McCann scored four times and Sergey Tolchinksi had one goal and three assists as the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds crushed the visiting Sudbury Wolves 10-3 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League play. Both sophomores set career-highs against Sudbury. McCann came into the contest not having scored more than twice in a game, doing it three times in his rookie season, while Tolchinkys four points bested his previous high of three, which came last season against the Mississauga Steelheads. Tyler Gaudet scored once and set up two more for the Greyhounds (1-0-0) while Dylan Staples, Jorgen Karterud, Brandon Hughes and Michael Bunting each added a goal. Patrick Watling, Andrew Fritsch and Trent Mallette chipped in two assists apiece for Sault Ste. Marie. Dominik Kubalik, Nicholas Baptiste and Nathan Pancel supplied the offence for the Wolves (0-1-0). Matt Murray made 29 saves for the win as Franky Palazzese picked up the loss after allowing eight goals against on 28 shots through 40 minutes of action. Troy Timpano replaced Palazzese to start the third period and stopped 2-of-4 shots in relief. Sault Ste. Marie went 2 for 3 on the power play while Sudbury failed to score on three chances with the man advantage. Battalion 4 Bulls 1 BELLEVILLE, Ont.dddddddddddd -- Vincent Praplan scored once and set up two more as North Bay downed the Bulls. Alex Henriksson, Mike Amadio and Jamie Lewis also scored for the Battalion (1-1-0) as Brendan ONeill made 34 saves for the victory. David Tomasek had a power-play goal for Belleville (0-2-0) while Charlie Graham turned aside 35-of-39 shots in the loss. Otters 2 Whalers 1 PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Connor Brown scored the winner on the power play midway through the third period as Erie edged the Whalers. Dane Fox also scored for the Otters (1-0-1) while Oscar Dansk turned aside 29 shots. Connor Chatham scored with the man advantage for Plymouth (0-2-0) while Alex Nedeljkovic turned away 35 shots in a losing cause. Petes 4 Attack 3 (SO) OWEN SOUND, Ont. -- Jonatan Tanus scored the lone goal of the shootout to lift Peterborough over the Attack. Michael Giugovaz made 37 saves through 65 minutes and another three in the shootout to get the win for the Petes (1-1-0) while Eric Cornel had a goal and an assist. Anthony Stefano and Stephen Nosad also scored for Peterborough. Jaden Lindo led the Owen Sound (1-0-1) offence with a goal and two assists as Gemel Smith and Holden Cooke added single goals. Brandon Hope made 24 saves in defeat. ' ' '