With all new coach Jim Schwartz has on his plate, he can rest easy knowing that Jason Hanson is his kicker.
 Hanson will start his 18th season with the Lions this fall. Eighteen years in the league is rare. Eighteen years with the same team is practically a miracle. Eighteen years without missing a game to injury is definitely a miracle.
 Hanson, who will turn 39 on June 17, has not faded. Even though the Lions have struggled (to put it mildly) since 2001 (Matt Millen’s first season), Hanson has been solid. It’s tough to imagine worse results, but had it not been for Hanson perhaps the Lions would have sunk to deeper depths.
  Last season he tied for a league-high four 50-yard field goals. For the second time in his distinguished career he had two 50-yarders in one game (at Houston on Oct. 19).
 In his entire career Hanson has missed just eight extra points (522 of 530). At Ford Field he has just missed on 13 field goal attempts (103 of 116).
 In other words, he’s a machine.
— PAULA PASCHE