ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- 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. Gareth Bale Wales Jersey . And while taking highly-touted Simon Fraser offensive lineman Matthias Goossen second overall on Tuesday night will definitely help in an area of need for the club, it was a swap of draft picks that may prove to be his most shrewd move. "When Jesse Briggs started to fall a little bit, you could just see Kyle perk up in his chair. Joe Allen Jersey . Seriously. Seven years of losing has brought many different faces, players and management, to the annual pre-season get-to-know-the-team round up. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/aaron-ra...FA-EURO-jersey/. Maricopa County spokeswoman Cari Gerchick says thats the finding from an autopsy conducted Thursday by the county Medical Examiners Office. Aaron Ramsey Jersey . -- Ryan Gropp scored in overtime as the Seattle Thunderbirds shut out the Spokane Chiefs 1-0 in Western Hockey League play Tuesday. Gareth Bale Jersey . I wondered how NHL coaches would feel about a playoff schedule that allowed them to open a best-of-seven series on the road, which many claim to favour, yet still gave them the precious home-ice edge for a seventh game.The NHL is a quarter of the way through the 2013-14 season. It is usually at this time of the campaign that teams start looking to quickly make their way up the standings. Unfortunately, some Canadian teams have not had the strongest start to the season and it is up to each team to turn things around in the coming months, but which one has the best chance to make significant improvements? The Edmonton Oilers have the largest ground to make up as they sit at the bottom of the Western Conference. The Oilers are a young team still working to grow and improve their dynamic, though they have proven lately that they can win. Currently, they are in the midst of their second three-game winning streak of the season. Seated just above Edmonton in the Western Conference are fellow Albertans, the Calgary Flames. With just as much to prove as the Oilers, the Flames certainly have some work to do if they want to turn things around this season. Calgary has won only two of their last 10 games. They have made some progress though, earning points in shootout and overtime losses. The Vancouver Canucks are currently ninth in the West and will have to get out of their current funk and back to how things were earlier this season in order to make a playoff push. After a solid October, the Canucks have lost their last five games. It is projected that there may be a 20-point difference between what it takes to make the playoffs in the Eastern and Western Conferences this season. The Winnipeg Jets are a new member of the Western Conference and the adjustment has surely been difficuult for the team.dddddddddddd If the Jets were to finish just over 100 points this season, they could possibly miss the playoffs because of the strength of their conference. Had they remained in the Eastern Conference this season, they would have more than enough to earn a spot in the playoffs at that level. Over in the East, the Ottawa Senators have been struggling as of late, with goaltending problems contributing to their worries. They have lost four of their last five games with starter Craig Anderson between the pipes for three of the defeats. Backup Robin Lehner proved himself earlier this month when pressed into action, but has stepped aside since the return of Anderson. Currently 11th in the East, the team has been inconsistent, putting out strong performances one night and letting games slip through their fingers the next. The other two Canadian teams in the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens are both slowly nearing the top of their conference. The Maple Leafs, who have been preforming recently without some of their big names, such as Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak, are still holding onto their place in the top five of the conference. The Canadiens, meanwhile, are in seventh spot and have won three of their last five games. Unlike their Western counterparts, these two have less reason for concern but could quickly climb their way to the top. With all things considered, which of the seven Canadian teams have the best chance to turn things around this season? As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '