ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Mike Martz not only is beginning his overhaul of one of the NFL's worst offenses, but he's making a quick impression.
The Detroit Lions broke a three-day voluntary minicamp Thursday with a better understanding of what has made their new offensive coordinator one of the most respected in the league.
"He's very detailed. There's nothing that goes by the wayside. He sees everything," quarterback Jon Kitna said of the former St. Louis Rams' head coach. "But the great thing about it is he's going to give us every opportunity to be successful."
That attention to detail often has been a matter of yards.
"There's more coaching. He says 2 yards outside the number, he means 2 yards. Not a yard and a half," said receiver Roy Williams, who led the team with eight touchdown catches last season. "That's different than what I'm used to."
The Lions were 27th in total offense last season and 26th in passing, marks Martz hopes to reverse after a successful seven-year run in which St. Louis teams rank in the top 10 offensively in six of the seven seasons. Kurt Warner and Marc Bulger emerged as stars under his tutelage.
Kitna, signed as a free agent from Cincinnati during the offseason, is a believer.
"I know people in Detroit hear that with a skeptic ear, but look at his track record," he said. "The Rams were 3-13 before we got there. We have to take what we've learned now and go out and do it."
Like his offensive coordinator, new coach Rod Marinelli kept workouts brisk as the team spent most of the week beginning the process of learning its system.
"Right now you're using these camps as tools to teach and find what you want to teach," Marinelli said. "The biggest thing is progress and the tempo were trying to create."
Lions president Matt Millen was watching the coaches as much as the players.
"You saw a lot of coaching going on, a lot of details," he said. "All the tiny little things that you take for granted that often get overlooked when you don't make it a priority."
PATRIOTS SIGN SEYMOUR: Last season, Richard Seymour missed part of training camp because he was unhappy with his contract. The All-Pro defensive lineman isn't dissatisfied any more. A day after signing a new four-year contract estimated between $7 million and $8 million a year, he said Thursday: "I want to retire as a Patriot." The 6-foot-6, 310-pound defensive end, who is 26, is the cornerstone of the team's young defensive line. He is currently in the last of a six-year deal that he signed as a rookie out of Georgia.
COLTS RE-SIGN MORRIS: The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed veteran linebacker Rob Morris. Morris, who played at BYU, has started 60 games since the Colts selected him in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft but spent last season backing up Gary Brackett. In six seasons, all with the Colts, Morris has recorded 483 tackles, seven sacks, forced two fumbles, recovered one and had one interception.
It's the second straight year Morris has re-signed with the Colts after becoming an unrestricted free agent. Morris' return should also help solidify depth at the position, where the Colts have already lost David Thornton to Tennessee.
RAVENS SIGN PUNTER: The Baltimore Ravens signed veteran punter Leo Araguz to a one-year contract Thursday. He replaces Dave Zastudil, who signed a five-year, $8 million contract with the Cleveland Browns during the opening weekend of free agency..
Araguz entered the league in 1996 with the Oakland Raiders and played for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and the Seattle Seahawks. For his career he had a 42.6 yard average, 97 kicks inside the 20, and a career-best of 64 yards.
BENGALS SIGN FULLBACK: The Cincinnati Bengals re-signed starting fullback Jeremi Johnson to a one-year deal on Thursday. Johnson, a restricted free agent, has been the Bengals' No. 1 fullback since being drafted from Western Kentucky in 2003. He has been used primarily as a blocker for running back Rudi Johnson and as a pass protector. Last year he also caught 12 passes for 65 yards and had 14 rushing yards on eight attempts.
STEELERS SIGN HARRISON: Backup linebacker James Harrison signed a $5.5 million, four-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, even though he wouldn't have become a free agent until 2008. Harrison received a $1.375 million signing bonus. Normally, NFL teams do not offer such terms to backup players who cannot become free agents for several more seasons. However, Harrison had 45 tackles and three sacks last season for the Super Bowl-champion Steelers, starting three games.
The 27-year-old Harrison went undrafted after playing at Kent State. But he made the Steelers' roster in 2004 after being cut in 2002 and 2003 and spending parts of several seasons on their practice squad.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher has talked repeatedly about Harrison's ability to make plays when he has filled in for injured starters, including a monthlong stretch last season following outside linebacker Clark Haggans' knee surgery.
COWBOYS SIGN POLITE: Dallas Cowboys fullback Lousaka Polite signed a one-year contract Thursday. Polite played in 14 games last season with three starts. Polite had two carries for 8 yards and caught nine passes for 72 yards. He also played extensively on special teams.