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Lions Sign UFA G Barry Stokes and FA T Courtney VanBuren
March 23, 2006
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed unrestricted free agent G Barry Stokes to a three-year deal and free agent T Courtney VanBuren to a one-year deal. Additional contract terms were not disclosed.
Stokes (6-4, 310) comes to Detroit, where his pro career began, for his ninth NFL season. He was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent April 26, 1996. He has been with a number of teams since being waived by the Lions during his rookie training camp (August 14) including: St. Louis, Miami, Green Bay, Oakland, Cleveland and Atlanta.
After spending his first two seasons on the practice squads for Jacksonville (1996), St. Louis (1997) and Miami (1997), Stokes spent the second half of the 1998 season on the Dolphins’ active roster where he was coached by current Lions offensive line coach Larry Beightol. He saw action in three games. Stokes then played two seasons (1998-99) for the Scottish Claymores and started all 20 games at left tackle.
In 1999, Stokes was with Miami during the preseason and reunited with Coach Beightol in Green Bay after his release. He was on and off of the Packers active roster that season but played in eight games for Green Bay in 2000. Stokes became a regular in his final season with the Packers in 2001, playing in all 16 games with three starts
Stokes joined the Browns and started all 16 games for Cleveland in 2002. He was their only offensive starter to play every snap through the regular season and postseason. During the 2003 season, Stokes started 13 of 14 games at left tackle. He signed with the New York Giants prior to the 2004 season but missed the entire season with a back injury. In 2005, he played 16 games for the Atlanta Falcons with his lone start coming in the Thanksgiving Day Classing at Detroit (11/25).
A native of Michigan, Stokes was born in Flint and lettered in football, basketball and track at Davison High School. He earned first-team all-state honors at tight end and defensive end before enrolling at Eastern Michigan University. Stokes was a four-year starter for the Eagles (1992-95) and earned All-Mid-American Conference honors as a senior.
Van Buren (6-6, 350) joins the Lions after three seasons with the San Diego Chargers who drafted him in the third round (80th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He missed the 2005 season with a knee injury.
Midway through Van Buren’s rookie season (2003), he became the starting right tackle, starting seven games before a knee injury landed him on the reserve/injured list December 17. He was slated as a starter for the Chargers heading into 2004 training camp but suffered another knee injury that led to him being placed on the reserve/injured list September 20 after seeing minimal action in the season opener.
As a collegian at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Van Buren was a second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference as a senior (2002) and honorable mention as a junior (2001). He was born in St. Louis and was an all-city, all-conference and all-metro selection at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.
March 23, 2006
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions announced today that they have signed unrestricted free agent G Barry Stokes to a three-year deal and free agent T Courtney VanBuren to a one-year deal. Additional contract terms were not disclosed.
Stokes (6-4, 310) comes to Detroit, where his pro career began, for his ninth NFL season. He was originally signed by the Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent April 26, 1996. He has been with a number of teams since being waived by the Lions during his rookie training camp (August 14) including: St. Louis, Miami, Green Bay, Oakland, Cleveland and Atlanta.
After spending his first two seasons on the practice squads for Jacksonville (1996), St. Louis (1997) and Miami (1997), Stokes spent the second half of the 1998 season on the Dolphins’ active roster where he was coached by current Lions offensive line coach Larry Beightol. He saw action in three games. Stokes then played two seasons (1998-99) for the Scottish Claymores and started all 20 games at left tackle.
In 1999, Stokes was with Miami during the preseason and reunited with Coach Beightol in Green Bay after his release. He was on and off of the Packers active roster that season but played in eight games for Green Bay in 2000. Stokes became a regular in his final season with the Packers in 2001, playing in all 16 games with three starts
Stokes joined the Browns and started all 16 games for Cleveland in 2002. He was their only offensive starter to play every snap through the regular season and postseason. During the 2003 season, Stokes started 13 of 14 games at left tackle. He signed with the New York Giants prior to the 2004 season but missed the entire season with a back injury. In 2005, he played 16 games for the Atlanta Falcons with his lone start coming in the Thanksgiving Day Classing at Detroit (11/25).
A native of Michigan, Stokes was born in Flint and lettered in football, basketball and track at Davison High School. He earned first-team all-state honors at tight end and defensive end before enrolling at Eastern Michigan University. Stokes was a four-year starter for the Eagles (1992-95) and earned All-Mid-American Conference honors as a senior.
Van Buren (6-6, 350) joins the Lions after three seasons with the San Diego Chargers who drafted him in the third round (80th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He missed the 2005 season with a knee injury.
Midway through Van Buren’s rookie season (2003), he became the starting right tackle, starting seven games before a knee injury landed him on the reserve/injured list December 17. He was slated as a starter for the Chargers heading into 2004 training camp but suffered another knee injury that led to him being placed on the reserve/injured list September 20 after seeing minimal action in the season opener.
As a collegian at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Van Buren was a second-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference as a senior (2002) and honorable mention as a junior (2001). He was born in St. Louis and was an all-city, all-conference and all-metro selection at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.
