LIONS SIGN WR AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM TO ONE-YEAR DEAL; SIGN WR DEVALE ELLIS TO PRACTICE SQUAD

Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed free agent WR Az-Zahir Hakim to a one-year deal. Additional terms of his contract were not disclosed. The team also re-signed WR Devale Ellis to the practice squad.

Hakim (5-10, 189) joins the Lions for his second tour of duty with the club. He was previously with the team from 2002-04. He also reunites with Lions Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz, who he played for in St. Louis from 1999-2001 while Martz was the Rams offensive coordinator (1999) and head coach (2000-01).

During his career, Hakim has played in 104 games (39 starts) and registered 299 receptions for 4,044 yards and collected 28 touchdowns. On the ground, he has carried the ball 30 times in his career for 197 yards and one touchdown. He is also a dangerous returner, especially on punt returns. Hakim has returned 165 punts for 1,773 yards ( 10.7 avg.) and three touchdowns. One of his punt returns was a 72-yarder that was the first touchdown ever scored at Ford Field when he took a handoff off of a reverse from WR Eddie Drummond and returned it for a score against the Green Bay Packers (September 22, 2002).

While with the Lions, Hakim started 27-of-36 games, garnered 117 receptions for 1,523 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Hakim's career took off as the slot receiver under Martz's high-powered offense beginning in 1999. In '99, he was instrumental in the Rams run to the Super Bowl title when he caught 36 passes for 677 yards and averaged a career high 18.8 yards per catch. In Super Bowl XXXVI, following the 2001 season, Hakim caught five passes for a game-high 90 yards. In three seasons under Martz, Hakim recorded 128 receptions for 1,785 yards, averaging 13.9 yards per catch, and scored 14 touchdowns.

During Hakim's seven post-season games under Martz, he recorded 21 receptions for 284 yards (13.5 avg.), along with 11 punt returns for 149 yards (13.5 avg.).

Hakim was a standout receiver and four-year letterman at San Diego State. He was an All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection as a sophomore after he started 12 games and was fourth in the conference with career-high 57 receptions for 1,022 yards ( 17.9 avg.) and eight touchdowns. He was also a standout prep athlete at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, playing football, basketball and track.

Ellis (5-10, 174) was re-signed to the team's practice squad after being released from the 53-man active roster Monday, September 11. He was signed from the practice squad to the active roster last week (September 8). Ellis was active in the season opener vs. Seattle and contributed on special teams against the Seahawks, finishing with two special teams tackles.

HAKIM'S CAREER STATISTICS

Year	Team	G	S	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	Lg	TD
1998	StL	9	4	20	247	12.4	22	1	2	30	15.0	34t	1
1999	StL	15	0	36	677	18.8	75t	8	4	44	11.0	31	0
2000	StL	16	4	53	734	13.8	80t	4	5	19	3.8	5	0
2001	StL	16	2	39	374	9.6	33	3	11	50	4.5	12	0
2002	Det	10	10	37	541	14.6	64t	3	4	3	0.8	10	0
2003	Det	14	12	49	449	9.2	28	4	3	51	17.0	35	0
2004	Det	12	5	31	533	17.2	39t	3	1	0	0.0	0	0
2005	NO	12	2	34	489	14.4	42	2	0	0	-	-	0
Totals		104	39	299	4044	13.5	80t	28	30	197	6.6	35