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April 25, 2005Kaleita signs with LionsKingsley grad inks free-agent deal after the draftByRecord-Eagle staff writer  Eastern Michigan University offensive tackle Tom Kaleita, a graduate of Kingsley High School, didn't have his named called as one of the 255 picks in the NFL Draft. But shortly after the draft ended, the 6-foot-5½, 318-pound Kaleita signed a three-year free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions. "It's a dream come true to have this opportunity," Kaleita said from his agent's house in Saline. "I can't wait to get started." The wait won't be a long one. Kaleita, who would not discuss the financial aspects of his contract or the amount of his signing bonus, reports to mini-camp on Thursday. The camp runs through Sunday. The Lions, who didn't have a pick in the seventh and final round of the draft, actually talked to Kaleita about signing as a free agent before the draft ended on Sunday. Eastern Michigan did have a player selected in the draft when defensive back Chris Roberson went in the seventh round to Jacksonville. "I was real happy for my teammate," Kaleita said. "I was a little bit (disappointed), but we were where we needed to be by the end of the draft. "I'm just happy to be a Lion." Kaleita, who participated in commencement at Eastern on Saturday, watched the draft with his parents - Gary and Leslie - younger sister, Mary, and his girlfriend. "We had a nice, relaxing get-together," Tom Kaleita said. "We ate some food and just watched the draft." Gary Kaleita said the whole process was interesting to watch unfold. They stayed to see Tom sign his free-agent contract before returning home to Kingsley. "We're pretty relieved and excited," Gary Kaleita said. "We were nervous, just like anybody would be. "It's pretty exciting. It's fun how everything worked. I'm just glad this hurdle is finally cleared. Now he has to go to work, which is a good thing." "I just have to prove myself now and get back to work," Tom Kaleita added. As far as his goals for summer training camp in July, it's simple for Kaleita: make the team. "We're going to make the 53-man roster," he said. "We're confident we're going to make it." Tim Wooer, Kaleita's coach at Kingsley, said Kaleita will do whatever it takes to make it in the NFL. "He has that fire in him that he is going to make it," Wooer said. "That's his plan. He's going to do whatever it takes. "If it means being on the practice squad for a year, he'll do it. If it means going to NFL Europe, he'll do it. "That's what I see out of Tom right now. This isn't just an opportunity. It's something he's going to make sure he gets done and follows through with." Besides, whether or not Kaleita makes the Lions or the practice squad, he's still living the dream. "I'm real excited," Wooer said. "Going into the draft I was excited for Tom and I'm still excited for Tom. "He'll have a great opportunity to live out a dream that we all had at one time in our lives." See Related Story: Kingsley's Kaleita hopes to hear name called in NFL draft - April 17, 2005
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