Typically, teams will use Friday afternoons as a time frame to release bad news, like raising ticket prices and such.

In this instance, the Detroit Lions have some good news this afternoon. Yes, they’ve been in need of it too after a rocky offseason off the field. The club has reached a deal with coach Jim Schwartz on a multi-year extension, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Schwartz was entering the final year of his contract and after guiding the Lions to the postseason for the first time in 12 years, he was very much deserving of a new contract.

“ I’ll confirm that we’ve agreed on a multi-year contract extension but, beyond that, we’ve been consistent all along that we’re not going to comment on his contract," Lions president Tom Lewand told the Free Press. “I think Jim has said he’s not going to comment and my response to that is I’ll comment on it the day after he does.”

The Lions were 10-6 last season in Schwartz’s third year at the helm. Expectations have been raised for 2012 and we’ll see how the club responds.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune