2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

DAVE
UYRUS
National
Scout
Years with Lions: 16
Years in NFL: 22
Dave Uyrus joined the Lions’ personnel
department as an area scout in June 2000, and
2015 marks his 16th season with the club. Prior
to joining the club’s scouting staff, Uyrus spent
seven years (1994-2000) with the New England
Patriots. He started as their assistant director of
pro scouting (1994-96) and then was director of pro
scouting for three years (1997-99). Uyrus worked as
a national scout for the Patriots in 2000.
Uyrus has been coaching and scouting in the
collegiate and professional ranks for nearly 40
years, beginning with his first job in 1974 as
freshman coach of his alma mater, Middlebury
College. In 1975 he coached the varsity tight ends
at Brown University and the following year he
was an assistant coach at Lee High School in Lee,
Mass. He then joined Dick MacPherson’s staff at
Massachusetts as a graduate assistant in 1977-78
before moving on to American International in 1979
and Merchant Marine Academy in 1980.
Following those stints, Uyrus then re-joined
MacPherson’s staff at Syracuse in 1981. He spent
10 seasons (1981-90) with the Orangemen, six as
the tight ends and special teams coach (1985-
90). He moved into the professional ranks after
MacPherson was named the head coach of the
Patriots in 1991. He spent the 1991-92 campaigns
as the Patriots’ assistant defensive line and special
teams coach before coaching the tight ends and
special teams at Cornell in 1993.
As a player, Uyrus earned honorable mention
Little All-American, All-ECAC and All-New England
Small College honors as a junior at Middlebury.
He and his wife, Heidi, have two daughters, Haley
and Gwendolyn.
ALAN
ANDERSON
BLESTO
Scout
Years with Lions: 5
Years in NFL: 5
Alan Anderson enters his second season as the
Lions’ BLESTO scout after spending three years as
the team’s pro personnel assistant. In his current
role, Anderson is responsible for covering the
Southeast Region scouting area, including Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
Anderson completed an internship in the Lions
player personnel department in 2010 and was
promoted to pro personnel assistant in 2012. While
with the club, Anderson has assisted with several
player personnel projects including evaluation and
production of various scouting reports, annual NFL
Draft prep, free agency acquisitions and other daily
administrative tasks.
Prior to joining the Lions, Anderson served in
a myriad of roles as a student assistant with the
Florida State Athletic Department from 2006-2010,
including defensive student assistant (2006) and
recruiting student assistant (2006-09) for the
football team, as well as compliance graduate
assistant (2009-10). A native of Cooper City, Fla.,
he graduated from Florida State in 2008 with a
bachelor’s degree in sport management, and later
went on to receive his master’s degree from the
university in sport administration in 2010.
Prior to joining the Lions, Anderson served in
a myriad of roles as a student assistant with the
Florida State Athletic Department from 2006-2010,
including defensive student assistant (2006) and
recruiting student assistant (2006-09) for the
football team, as well as compliance graduate
assistant (2009-10). A native of Cooper City, Fla.,
he graduated from Florida State in 2008 with a
bachelor’s degree in sport management, and later
went on to receive his master’s degree from the
university in sport administration in 2010.
FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
CEDRIC
SAUNDERS
Senior Vice President of
Football Operations
Years with Lions: 10
Years in NFL: 17
Cedric Saunders, now in his 10th year with
the Lions, enters his first season as senior vice
president of football operations after serving as vice
president of football operations for the past seven
seasons. In his second season with the club (2007),
Saunders was promoted to director of football
operations. He came to Detroit after spending the
previous five seasons with Tampa Bay (2001-05).
Saunders works closely with Executive Vice
President of Football Operations and General
Manager Martin Mayhew and oversees the team’s
football operations, including the coordination
of the year-round football calendar. Among his
football operations duties, Saunders oversees
the Lions’ player development department, video
department, equipment operations, team travel,
athletic training staff, strength and conditioning,
cafeteria operations, security department and
human resources. Along with the coordination of
those departments, he handles the annual budgets
for the coaching staff, coaching support staff and
player personnel department.
Saunders also assists with player personnel,
including the development of the team’s roster,
college scouting and on-campus visits and
pro talent evaluation. He plays a role in the
coordination of the team’s free agency and draft
agenda, including free agent and draft eligible
visits. In addition to his various football operations
responsibilities, he also assists with contract
negotiations.
In 2014, Saunders attended the NFL Career
Development Symposium for General Manager and
Head Coach talent held at the Wharton School of
the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most
prestigious business schools in the country.
While directing the player development
department in Tampa Bay, Saunders helped get
DETROIT LIONS
EXECUTIVES AND COACHING