courted him the next day at team headquarters. The pitch include

ALLEN PARK, Mich. Spain Soccer Jersey . -- The Detroit Lions made it crystal clear to Golden Tate that he was their top target in free agency. They booked a flight for the wide receiver on Tuesday -- when free agency began -- and courted him the next day at team headquarters. The pitch included a chat with team vice chairman Bill Ford, just three days after the death of his father, team owner William Clay Ford. Tate, who was the top receiver last season for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, liked what he heard and saw and agreed to join the Lions as NFL free agency reached its second day Wednesday. He got a five-year deal worth $31 million with $13.25 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. "Theres a ton of upside to this organization," Tate said. "And one thing that really stood out to me is that Mr. Ford found some time to meet with me. I know hes been going through a lot lately with family issues. So for him to find time in his busy schedule to meet with me and to have a conversation, that meant a lot. I felt like I was wanted here." Tate said the Seahawks made him an offer to stay, and that the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars also expressed interest. He insisted it wasnt tempting to find out if the Jets or Jaguars would offer him more than the Lions did, but acknowledged it was tempting to ask the Seahawks to make another offer. "I had a great four years in Seattle," he said. "Im going to miss that place to death. Great city, great people, great fans. But for me, it just made more sense to come here." First-year Lions coach Jim Caldwell said landing Tate was a big deal for the team, which has been looking to complement All-Pro receiver Calvin Johnson. "We were looking, from an offensive standpoint, to find a guy who could go on the other side and be our No. 2 and play opposite to Calvin and give us some work inside and out," Caldwell said. "Golden Tate is going to be that individual." Tate led the Seahawks with 64 catches and 898 yards receiving last season, both career highs. The former Notre Dame star also scored five touchdowns last season, giving him 15 in his four-year career. He is expecting to flourish with quarterback Matthew Stafford throwing to him in one-on-one coverage while defences assign two or three receivers to slow down Johnson. Stafford threw almost 40 passes a game last season and Russell Wilson threw an average of 25 for the Seahawks. "Im leaving a run-heavy offence to a pass-happy offence and thats exciting," Tate said. "And, I can get to play with one of the best to ever play the game." The Lions also signed running back Joique Bell and confirmed they had hosted centre Phil Costa. They are expecting to visit with fullback Henry Hynoski on Thursday. Costa was cut by the Dallas Cowboys last week. He played sparingly the past two years after starting all 16 games in 2011, his second NFL season. The New York Giants started Hynoski in 17 of 30 games, including 11 in 2012, over the previous three seasons. Bell was paired with Reggie Bush, giving Detroit a formidable backfield. He had a team-high eight touchdowns rushing last season and was second to Bush with 166 carries for 650 yards rushing for the Lions last year. Bell had a total of 105 receptions for 1,032 yards the last two years. The undrafted free agent from Wayne State in Detroit played in half of the games as a rookie in 2010 with the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles. The Benton Harbor, Mich., native found a home with the Lions, who signed him off New Orleans practice squad late in the 2011 season after he bounced around with the Saints, Eagles, Colts and Bills. He has also become rich, getting a $9.3 million, three-year deal. "Its never been about the money, but I dont work for free," Bell said with a smile. Tottenham Hotspur Jersey . - The Atlanta Falcons have signed former offensive lineman Gabe Carimi. AC Milan Jersey . -- Canadian Erik Bedard pitched into the fifth inning in his bid to win a spot in Tampa Bays rotation, helping the Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 on Saturday. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dale Jarrett had no idea what crazy things Blake Shelton might say as the country music star inducted him into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. "It could have gone in a lot of different directions," Jarrett said of Sheltons induction speech. Shelton read a handwritten and heartfelt speech about his love of racing, inherited through his late father, who as his health declined was so thrilled that his son got to hang with some of NASCARs biggest stars. Jarrett on occasion spoke to Sheltons father on the phone. "I believe it was little things like that that kept my dad happy those last few years," Shelton said. "And even though I know he was beyond proud of my accomplishments in music, he just couldnt get over the fact that I got to spend time with guys like Clint Bowyer and Elliott Sadler, and most of all, Dale Jarrett." It set the tone for Jarretts emotional induction. He joined his father, Ned, as just the second father-son combination with NASCAR championships inducted into the Hall. The Jarretts join Lee and Richard Petty. A three-time Daytona 500 winner, two-time Brickyard winner and the 1999 Cup champion, Jarrett was emotional the entire time. But he had to choke back tears when it came time to address his father. "My dad has been everything a son would want his father to be -- successful, a leader by example, a teacher you can believe in, and always there to support me," Jarrett said. "My dad was and still is today my hero. Thats what really makes this night so very special: Im joining my father in the NASCAR Hall of Fame." Ned Jarrett is the first of the 25 Hall of Fame members still alive to see his son inducted. "As a child and a 57 year old one right now, theres not a lot we can do that our parents will take for payment back for everything they did for us in our lives," Jarrett said. "In a small way, I feel like this is something I can give to them that they can be proud of." Maurice Petty was inducted to complete the Petty dynasty in the Hall, which now includes his father, brother and cousin as members of the exclusive group. "The Chief" was inducted by brother Richard Petty, the seven-time NASCAR champion and member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class. "The big deal is that its really the end of Petty Enterprises because we started in 1949, and now that my brother is in the Hall of Fame, then that pretty well closes the book on it," Richard Petty said. Maurice Petty is the first engine builder inducted into the Hall. His engines won seven titles and more than 200 races, including seven Daytona 500s. Also in the Hall from the Petty Enterpriise dynasty is patriarch Lee Petty, and the Petty boys cousin and crew chief, Dale Inman. Barcelona Jersey. "Who would have thought growing up that there would be four of us, out of a small, rural country community that would be in a North Carolina Hall of Fame?" said Maurice Petty of the familys roots in Level Cross. Fireball Roberts, considered the first superstar of NASCAR, was the second member inducted. He won Daytona seven times, including the 1962 Daytona 500, and had two Southern 500 victories. He ran just 10 races in 1958, winning six. He died from critical burns suffered in a crash at Charlotte in 1964 when his car overturned and caught fire. Roberts, who suffered from asthma, had always refused to soak his firesuit in flame retardant chemicals because of the fumes. His grandson, Matt McDaniel, accepted Roberts induction and noted his death led to safety improvements in NASCAR. "After his death, NASCAR started developing flame retardant coveralls, five point safety harnesses, special contoured seats and a fire zone fuel cell," McDaniel said. Jack Ingram, considered one of NASCARs greatest drivers, was inducted by his close friend and rival Harry Gant. Ingram won three consecutive Late Model Sportsman championships, then the inaugural Busch Series title in 1982 and again in 1985. Ingrams mark of 31 Busch wins stood until Mark Martin beat it in 1997. All but two of Ingrams victories came on short tracks. Ingram told a story of winning the track championship at Harris Speedway in Ruffin County by winning the final race of the season, only to have the check for his winnings bounce. He called NASCAR from the bank and was told where to go to cash the check. "I took it down there and walked in that door. They handed me five 100 dollar bills -- that kept my family going for several months," Ingram said. "I was a total supporter of NASCAR from then on because (founder) Bill France, he meant what he said when he said he guaranteed that purse. I appreciated that the whole rest of my life." Two-time series champion Tim Flock, one of NASCARs first dominant drivers, was remembered during his induction for the Rhesus monkey named Jocko that was his co-pilot for many eight races. Winner of 39 races and the 1952 and 1955 championships, the tale told by Flocks widow, Frances, was of the time Jocko got loose in the car during a 1953 race in Raleigh. "Tim had to pull in the pits to put Jocko out, the monkey out of the car," she said. "He came in third that day, and the extra pit stop to remove Jocko from the car cost him a big sum of money that day. His brother finally went on to win the race." cheap jerseys ' ' '