"It's not a system that provides for a lot of allowance for sentimentality," Lions president Tom Lewand said at the NFL owners meetings. "We have the utmost respect for Jason and want to have him back, but it's a situation where everything has to fit. The salary cap is a real restraint for all 32 clubs and we have to operate within that and within our plans. So we've had our discussions with Jason and like I said we have the utmost respect for him personally and professionally which is why we want to have him back."