Lions CB Darius Slay expected to miss minicamp, wants new contract

Darius Slay is not planning to attend the Detroit Lions’ mandatory minicamp as he seeks a new contract.

Slay missed the Lions’ offseason team activities because of his contract status. On Monday, he was talking with fans on Instagram Live and was joined by former teammate Crezdon Butler. During an exchange with Butler, Slay said he would not be going to minicamp.

Here’s how the exchange went, via Pride of Detroit:

Butler: Where you at? You in Brunswick?

Slay: No, I’m in Detroit, man. Finally get some heat.

Butler: What y’all got? OTAs? I mean, minicamp?

Slay: I don’t know, I ain’t goin.

Butler: Why you ain’t goin, bro?

Slay: Hey man, I’m chillin’, man.

Butler: You chillin? You ain’t gonna get no money at OTAs anyways.

Slay: Y’all know. Tell me about it.

Slay and recently-acquired defensive lineman Damon Harrison share an agent who encouraged both players to skip OTAs and forfeit their $250,000 workout bonuses in hopes of new contracts.

Slay signed a 4-year $48.15 million contract extension with the Lions three years ago. He is owed $12.5 million in base salary for 2019 and $10 million for 2020. He probably saw the contract Xavien Howard received from the Dolphins and said he needed an upgrade.

Slay, 28, had 43 tackles, three interceptions and 17 passes defended last season. He led the league with eight interceptions in 2017.