Detroit Lions free-agent signing takes subtle jabs at his former team

The Detroit Lions had a need to fill at the linebacker position this offseason after the team parted ways with Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a special teams ace who was released earlier this offseason.

Detroit addressed that need by signing former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard, who will not only provide insurance on defense, but an option to replace Reeves-Maybin on special teams.

The Lions made the signing official recently by holding a press conference for their free-agent addition. And, in that press conference, Stuard appeared to take a few jabs at his former team, the Colts.

Stuard revealed that upon signing with the Lions, family members congratulated him for the deal, and for joining a contender in Detroit. The veteran linebacker noted there aren't a ton of those out there, and Indianapolis isn't on the list.

"I got text messages from family members, from high school coaches and stuff saying like, ‘Hey, congrats on being part of a contender,’ and I think that’s the way it’s widely seen," he said. "There’s only about four or five teams you can say that about confidently and objectively, and I feel like this is definitely one of those places."

Stuard went on to explain what else attracted him to the Lions, and in the process he appeared to throw some shade at the Colts.

"[Detroit] is a place that I think is open to innovation, open to playing the guys who deserve to play, open to putting the best guys on the field and being very transparent about everything," Stuard said.

"It's very hard to find a building full of authenticity from the head coach to the coordinators, and having a lot of former players (on Detroit's staff), they seem to understand that as well," he added.

Stuard's comments seem to suggest that the Colts don't have the same qualities that attracted him to the Lions, which isn't a great look for Indianapolis.

Then again, not many teams operate like the Lions do.