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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Lions’ leg to stand on


Jason Hanson has given Detroit a lift for 15 NFL seasons. 
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Carlos Monarrez Detroit Free Press

DETROIT – No one’s perfect. Jason Hanson knows this. But Donte Curry doesn’t. In fact, when it comes to perfection, the Lions linebacker and special teams captain thinks he has found his man.

“You look at him, man. He’s like a perfect guy,” Curry said of Hanson, the Lions’ longtime kicker. “He’s always trying to be perfect. That’s on the field and off the field. He’s that type of guy. He doesn’t say much at all. He’s just going out there and he’s going to lead by example, as far as his play.”

In his 15th season with the Lions, Hanson is the team’s longest-tenured player by three years. He’s the Lions’ all-time leader with 1,448 points, which ranks fifth among active players and 15th all-time in the NFL. He’s the Lions’ constant, dependable presence.

This year, Hanson is doing what he has always done, even if that ability was a question in some people’s minds last year.

Hanson missed the second game last season because of an injured hamstring, the first game he had missed because of an injury. It ended his streak of consecutive games at 209, and it started the doubting. At 35, maybe Hanson and his iron leg weren’t perfect after all.

“A lot of time it’s perception,” said Hanson, who attended Mead High School and Washington State University. “Everybody’s evaluated. … So you know their thinking is this: ‘Is he getting old or was this just one of those things that happens in sports?’ “

Hanson returned for the next game and finished the season by making 19 of 24 field-goal attempts. This year, Hanson has erased any doubts. He has been smarter about scaling back his practice regimen and he has converted 6 of 8 attempts.

“It’s too early to say, but it feels good that I feel like I’m in good form after being injured and going through that whole thing,” Hanson said. “Instead of the slow decline, I feel like I’m back to doing what I know how to do. And nobody has to plan for any drop-offs and ‘How are we going to compensate because Hanson can’t kick anymore?’ kind of stuff.”

Hanson is 36 and as confident as ever, which just might be a kicker’s biggest asset. His longest field goal was a 56-yarder in 1995. He feels like he can improve on that.

“I would say right now it seems like I could probably hit 58, 59, 60,” Hanson said. “I could be way short, too. And I have been.”

As for kickoffs, Hanson is tied for fourth in the league with six touchbacks.

“Hanson’s one of our go-to guys,” kick returner Eddie Drummond said. “He’s one of the top kickers in the league. Kicks field goals and kickoffs. Great kicker. Puts the ball wherever he wants to, as far as kickoffs go.”

But when it comes to kickoffs, Curry would prefer Hanson wasn’t quite so perfect.

“He’s been in the league for a while, man, and his leg’s still that strong,” Curry said. “So that’s good for him. But for me, you know, I’d rather have me a tackle or two.”