PONTIAC, Mich. -- Linebacker Charlie Weaver, an 11-year veteran and a longtime mainstay of the Detroit Lions' defense, Wednesday was released by the NFL club.
Weaver, 32, was the senior Lion in terms of service, playing in 142 games, including seven this season. He was eighth on the team's all-time longetivity list and had 105 career starts to his credit.
Weaver saw duty mainly on special teams this season after losing his left linebacker job to third-year man Gary Cobb. The club cut him to make room for defensive back Jeff Delaney, signed Wednesday to replace the injured James Hunter.
Delaney, drafted in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Rams in 1979, will come to Detroit from Tampa Bay, which released him earlier this year.
Lion Coach Monte Clark said he hated to part with Weaver, but said the rash of injuries the team has suffered necessitated the move.
'It was one of the most agonizing and difficult decisions I've ever had to make,' Clark said. 'Charlie has always been one of the hardest workers on the team and one of the finest people here.'
'We'll do everything we can to find a spot for him with another team.'
Weaver was the Lions' second-round draft pick in 1971 after being named a first team All-America for Southern California in both his junior and senior years.
A starter with the Lions since 1973, Weaver was twice named Most Valuable Player by his teammates and had accumulated 15 career interceptions.
Following knee surgery in 1979, Weaver came back to start all 16 games for Detroit last season, finishing third on the team in tackles with 64 solo and 23 assists.
Prior to his 1979 injury, Weaver had missed only three games as a Lion.
Clark and the rest of the Lions' staff were breathing a sigh of relief with news that offensive lineman Chris Dietrich's knee injury is not as serious as anticipated. Team doctors said he should be out of action for three to four weeks.
Hunter, who suffered a broken arm in Monday night's victory over the Chicago Bears, will be out of action for three to four weeks as well. Doctors said defensive lineman Al Baker, nursing an injured toe, will be also sidelined three to four weeks
