NFL: Lions Trade Hall to Rams for Draft Pick

Also on Friday, the Lions released DT Marcus Bell, DT Tyoka Jackson and TE Marcus Pollard.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions announced Friday that they have traded DE James Hall to St. Louis for their second 2007 fifth-round draft choice and released DT Marcus Bell, DT Tyoka Jackson and TE Marcus Pollard.

Hall (6-2, 280) joined the Lions as a rookie free agent prior to the 2000 season after a standout career at the University of Michigan.

He was re-signed to a five-year deal during the 2004 offseason and then set a career high with 11.5 sacks (74.5 yards lost) the next season.

In 2006, Hall played and started in the first seven games and had 34 tackles (20 solo) and 5.0 sacks (40 yards lost) before being placed on the Reserve/Injured list (November 9) due to a shoulder injury.

The New Orleans native started three years at rush linebacker at Michigan and finished his career with 185 tackles, 25 sacks (ranks second in school history) and 40 tackles-for-loss (fourth in school history).

Prior to his time with the Wolverines, Hall was an all-state selection as a senior at St. Augustine High School.

Bell (6-2, 325) was claimed off waivers by Detroit June 11th, 2004 and then signed to a three-year contract March 30th, 2005.

He spent his first three NFL seasons with Arizona who drafted him with their second selection of the fourth round (123rd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.

Last season, Bell had a career-high 52 tackles (21 solo) in addition to a sack and a forced fumble while playing in 13 games with seven starts.

He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list (December 18th) with a hand injury.

As a senior at Memphis in 2000, Bell was an integral part of the Tigers’ top-ranked rushing defense while anchoring the defensive line and earning first-team all-Conference USA honors.

Jackson (6-2, 280) helped provide veteran leadership for the Lions defensive line in 2006 after signing with the team just before the NFL Draft (April 26th).

In his 12th NFL season, he was a regular in Detroit's defensive line rotation and finished with 30 tackles (18 solo) and 2.0 sacks (11 yards lost) while playing 15 games.

Prior to joining the Lions, Jackson spent five seasons in St. Louis.

While in St. Louis, Jackson played in 78 games (five starts) as a regular in the Rams' defensive line rotation.

Last season, he played in all 16 games (two starts) and had 30 tackles (14 solo) and 2.5 sacks (8 yards).

He set single-season career highs during the 2003 season with 45 tackles and 5.5 sacks (35.0 yards) while playing all 16 games (three starts).

Jackson signed with Tampa Bay prior to the 1996 season and had his first career start at Detroit (September 8th) where he recorded a season-high four tackles.

He saw the most significant action of his career in 1998 when he played in all 16 games and had a career-high 12 starts during which he garnered 35 tackles (22 solo) and 3.0 sacks (39 yards).

Before joining the Buccaneers, Jackson had stints with Atlanta and Miami.

He originally signed with the Falcons as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1994 where he spent the preseason and then eight games on their practice squad.

The Dolphins signed Jackson to their active roster November 16th, 1994 and he played in one regular season game and two playoff games.

In 1995, he spent training camp with Miami but was not with a team during the regular season.

Jackson played four years at Penn State and led the school in sacks twice (1991, 1993).

He received all-America honorable mention for Football News and first-team all-Big 10 conference honors as a senior after finishing with 41 tackles and 8.0 sacks.

Jackson was born in Washington D.C. and played high school football at Bishop McNamara High in Forrestville, MD.

Pollard (6-3, 250) signed a three-year contract with Detroit March 7th, 2005.

In his first season with the Lions, he led the team with 46 receptions (516 yards) after playing and starting all 16 games.

Last season, Pollard finished with 12 receptions for 100 yards.

Before joining the Lions, Pollard spent 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts where he caught on as an undrafted rookie free agent in 1995. He tallied 263 receptions for 3,391 yards (12.9 avg.) and 35 touchdowns in 146 games (104 starts) for Indianapolis.

Pollard’s 263 receptions rank second among Colts’ tight ends in team history (John Mackey, 320).

In post-season action, he has played in 11 games (eight starts) and recorded 16 catches for 225 yards (14.1 avg.) and one touchdown. Pollard played in two AFC Championship games for the Colts following the 1995 and 2003 seasons.

As a collegian at Bradley, Pollard was a two-year starter at power forward on the basketball team and did not play college football.

He finished with career totals of 424 points (7.3 avg.) and 289 rebounds (5.0 avg.) in 58 games (49 starts).

Pollard transferred to Bradley after two years at Seward County Community College (Liberal, Kan.), where he was a two-year starter and averaged 15.5 points/game and 9.5 rebounds/game as a sophomore.

The Lions also announced that they have re-signed LS Don Muhlbach to a five-year deal.

Additional contract terms were not disclosed.

Muhlbach (6-4, 256) first joined the Lions midway through the 2004 campaign due to injuries and finished that season as the team's snapper.

During the 2005 preseason, he solidified his position as the team's longsnapper. Muhlbach's velocity and accuracy place him among the best in the league in his specialty.

In 2006, Muhlbach had a career-high seven special teams tackles, including two against Miami (11/23) on Thanksgiving day. He played in all 16 games.

Muhlbach served as the primary longsnapper for Texas A&M as a senior in 2003.

He also filled in as a punter during his sophomore season (2001) with the Aggies.

After his collegiate playing career, he was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent but was released at the end of training camp.

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