Kyle Van Noy

Darryl Tapp still motivated by 2014 team picture snub

Published Aug. 17, 2015 10:23 a.m. ET

foxsports

Veteran defensive lineman Darryl Tapp played in all 16 games for the Detroit Lions in 2014, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the team picture -- he wasn't in it.

In order to make the team last year, Tapp had to go through a roster shuffle. He was cut and re-signed three days later, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein, after the Lions put linebacker Kyle Van Noy on short-term injured reserve. During that time, the team picture was taken.

"I came back and looked on the website one day and was like, ‘Y’all took a team picture?’ Cut me to my soul," Tapp said, per ESPN. "So everything this whole offseason is ‘Get into the team picture, Tapp.’

"Do everything you’ve got to do to get into the team picture."

Tapp, who turns 31 years old next month, has played for four teams through nine seasons. Last year was his first with the Lions, and he recorded 17 tackles, half a sack and two pass defenses as a reserve in Detroit's D-line rotation.

With starting defensive end Jason Jones on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, Tapp has taken plenty of first-team snaps and is enjoying one of the best camps of his career, according to ESPN.

"Everything I’ve been trying to do and work at has been to get into that team picture," Tapp said, via ESPN.

(h/t ESPN)

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Kyle Van Noy

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