Stafford, Vanden Bosch redo deals, give Lions salary-cap space

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford said Tuesday that he was in favor of restructuring his contract to help the team clear salary-cap space to sign other players.

Stafford spoke in vague terms about his new deal after details were reported by the Detroit Free Press and Crain's Detroit Business.

The Free Press reported Stafford and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who also restructured his contract, helped the Lions clear about $8.5 million in cap space. The team used that money to sign linebackers Stephen Tulloch and Justin Durant and cornerbacks Eric Wright and Chris Houston.

"Just trying to be able to have enough cap space to be able to get the players we need and the players we want," Stafford told the Free Press. "I think there's guys in this locker room that, given the opportunity, a lot of them would do the same. We have a great locker room, a great bunch of guys that want to win, and if I can restructure a deal to help our team bring guys in here that can help us win, then I'm all for it."

Both players converted reduced base salaries into signing bonuses to be paid over the remaining years of their deals.

Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, signed a six-year contract worth up to $78 million with $41.7 million in guarantees. Vanden Bosch signed a $26 million, four-year deal last year.

The Free Press, citing papers filed with the NFL Players Association, reported that Stafford reduced his 2011 base salary from $9 million to $525,000, the minimum for players with two credited seasons, while Vanden Bosch cut his base salary from $4.5 million to $810,000, the minimum for players with seven to nine years of experience.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions DT Suh says lockout helping him regain his mental edge

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, fresh off winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, said over the weekend that the biggest benefit he's realizing from the lingering lockout is the mental break.

"I don't think anything is more affected than our minds in the game of football," Suh said in an interview with CBSSports.com, via the Detroit Free Press. "Obviously, we're well-tuned athletes, or we wouldn't be in the position that we are, but mentally, if you're not into it and you can't focus, there's no way you can physically get it done."

Suh addressed a wide range of topics during the interview, including his place on NFL Network's "The Top 100 Players of 2011." An All-Pro as a rookie, Suh placed 51st on the list generated from votes by his peers.

"That ranking isn't going to win me any games," Suh said. "Until that ranking can win me some games, then I'll actually care about it."

Another television topic brought to Suh's attention was the possibility of HBO's "Hard Knocks" featuring the Lions, although the team declined to participate.

"I don't know if we'd be a good fit," Suh said. "I think it would be great for the city to see what we're doing and so forth, but, in my personal opinion, I don't really like the limelight ... especially when I'm in a workout. That's probably one of the most annoying things that you sometimes have to encounter.

"I'm actually kinda glad we (declined the offer), because I'd like to keep nice and quiet, keep everything in-house, then we'll show what we've got on that football when we get out there that first game."

Suh, the second overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, was more animated when the topic of expectations was broached. He believes he could have accomplished even more than the team-high 10 sacks and 66 tackles he amassed last season.

"I'm definitely surprised that people feel like I could accomplish what I accomplished and even more than that, because I felt I left a lot of things on the field," he said. "People may have preconceived notions of me not being able to do something ... I'm gonna go out there and continue to prove it, not only for myself and my teammates, but to show anything is possible. To show younger guys coming up in the ranks that you don't want to be me, you can always be better than me."

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Suh attends first player-only workout with Lions teammates

Ndamukong Suh's busy offseason included breaking a sweat with the locked-out Detroit Lions for the first time on Friday.

Even though Detroit hasn't made the playoffs since 1999, Ndamukong Suh says the Lions could go 16-0, and should shoot for nothing less if they want to be taken seriously. More...

"I got some good work in," he said in an interview with NFL Network after joining his teammates for conditioning drills at Detroit Country Day School.

Suh declined to talk with reporters after the workout.

He started his offseason by having shoulder surgery that prevented him from playing in the Pro Bowl. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award and was the only rookie on the All-Pro team after Detroit drafted him No. 2 overall last year.

Suh was among the celebrities who sped out of London last month for the Gumball 3000 Rally, a seven-day car race stretching across 10 countries in Europe, but insisted he wasn't just kicking back and relaxing overseas.

"No vacations -- I enjoyed myself," Suh told NFL Network analyst Willie McGinest. "No question, I worked out in Europe."

The Lions are wrapping up a second week of practices they've organized on their own during the lingering lockout.

"We're not going to plan another week of workouts, hoping the next time we see each other a deal is done," offensive guard Rob Sims said.

About 30 Lions attended this week's gatherings, including quarterback Matthew Stafford and two second-round picks from the team's 2011 draft, wide receiver Titus Young and running back Mikel Leshoure, who were about as wide-eyed as expected.

"We're going to try to make it as easy on them as possible, and catch them up to speed as much as we can," Stafford said earlier this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions' Burleson faces 'minor' surgery on ailing elbow

Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson says he is heading home to Seattle to undergo "minor" surgery on his right elbow, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Burleson injured the elbow in a Nov. 21 loss at Dallas. He said it swells up on occasion and he needs to have fluid drained and a bursa sac removed.

The ninth-year receiver signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Lions in March 2010 after four seasons with his hometown Seahawks. He started 14 games last season, catching 55 passes for 625 yards and seven touchdowns.

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Lions hire son of former Titans coach Fisher to assist defense

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have hired Jeff Fisher's son to assist their defensive coaching staff.

The move to add Brandon Fisher was announced Thursday.

His father coached the Tennessee Titans from 1994 to 2010. Lions coach Jim Schwartz worked for Fisher as Tennessee's defensive coordinator before getting his first shot to lead a team in 2009.

Brandon Fisher assisted the Titans' offensive coaching staff for part of last season.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Lions fans question 'Calvin Johnson rule' in chat with Goodell

Forget about the lockout. When Detroit Lions fans chatted with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, they seemed more interested in discussing the rule that overturned Calvin Johnson's apparent game-winning touchdown catch in their team's season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears last year.

As reported in the Detroit Free Press, Goodell touched on a number of subjects during a 30-minute conference call with Lions season-ticket holders, but he disagreed with the fans' contention that the Johnson rule, in which officials determined the receiver didn't have possession of the ball before losing it as he went to celebrate, is unfair.

Brooks: Lions will roar on defense

"What people want is consistency in the rules," Goodell said. "Any time there's judgment, that's when you sometimes get the inconsistency. If you're a fan from one team, you're looking at it from one perspective. If you're a fan from another team, you're looking at it from another perspective. You want to try to make it as black-and-white as possible, and you want to make sure it's as consistent as possible from game to game."

Still, the questioning continued, and Goodell further explained the rule.

"There are really three elements to any catch," he said. "No. 1, you've got to secure and control the ball in your hands. And No. 2, you've got to maintain control when you've got two feet down, or any other part of the body other than your hands. And No. 3 is you have to make sure that -- and this clarification we'll add to the (rule) book -- you must control the ball long enough after A and B have occurred that you've caught the ball cleanly and you've got two feet down or another body part, you've got to control that long enough. And that's something we have oftentimes looked at in our rules.”

Other topics discussed were similar to those raised on other conference calls -- Goodell has spoken to fans of roughly half of the 32 teams this offseason. Goodell reiterated his stance that the labor dispute between owners and players needs to be resolved through collective bargaining, and he said there isn't a drop-dead date at which time the 2011 season would be in jeopardy and there hasn't been talk of replacement players. He also said the league will look to have "reasonable" free-agency rules in place for 2011.

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Stanton, Hill split practice snaps with Lions' starters

Lions quarterback Drew Stanton took initial snaps with the first-team offense Thursday, one day after Shaun Hill opened with the first-stringers, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz has yet to clarify who will start Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, with both quarterbacks receiving practice time with the team's starting wideouts.

Stanton turned heads with his quick return to practice after injuring his left shoulder during last Sunday's 23-20 overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With victories over the Bucs and Green Bay Packers, Stanton led the Lions to consecutive wins for the first time since the 2007 season.

Hill broke his right index finger Nov. 25 against the New England Patriots and missed the next three games. He's trying to throw passes while protecting his injury with a taped-on splint.

Regular starter Matthew Stafford will miss a seventh consecutive game since aggravating his separated right shoulder.

The Lions (4-10) already have doubled last season's win total. They close the season at Miami and at home against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions' Stanton suffers shoulder injury; Schwartz mum on starter

Detroit Lions quarterback Drew Stanton has a separated shoulder, reports the Detroit News, citing a source.

Stanton suffered a Grade 3 separation of the AC Joint in his left shoulder in the second quarter of the Lions' 23-20 win over the Buccaneers. The injury is to his non-throwing shoulder and he played through pain for the remainder of the game Sunday, leading the Lions on the game-winning drive in overtime and finishing with 252 yards and one touchdown.

"Drew showed a lot of toughness out there," coach Jim Schwartz said in his news conference Monday. "He suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter and finished the game with it, played the best game that I've seen him play."

Stanton was backed up by Shaun Hill, who started eight games earlier this season after regular starter Matthew Stafford was injured. Then Hill broke his index finger and was replaced by Stanton, who has started the last three for the Lions.

Hill returned to practice last Wednesday for the first time since injuring his hand. He was impressive in relief of Stafford, throwing for 2,206 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine games, eight as a starter.

On Monday, Schwartz gave no indication of who would be under center against the Dolphins, saying he would wait until "probably Sunday" to make a decision.

He even mentioned Stafford as a possibility.

"We'll keep an open mind on all three guys and by the end of the week we'll have a pretty good plan to go forward," Schwartz said. "Drew definitely played well but we have a lot of other considerations."

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NFL fines Lions rookie Suh $15K for penalized hit on Cutler

The NFL fined Detroit Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh $15,000 for a Sunday hit on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler that drew an unnecessary-roughness penalty, although a closer examination of the videotape suggests the wrong call was made, NFL Competition Committee co-chairman Rich McKay acknowledged.

Suh, who said Wednesday that he plans to appeal the fine, was penalized during the fourth quarter of the Lions' 24-20 loss to the Bears when he sent Cutler to the ground with a hard, two-handed shove to the upper back after the quarterback ran for 8 yards. Referee Ed Hochuli called the play "an unnecessary non-football act," ruling that Suh delivered an illegal forearm.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz disagreed with the call and said Wednesday he couldn't think of anything his rookie lineman should have done differently when knocking down Cutler.

"I don't know what to tell him right there," Schwartz said. "The quarterback wasn't going down. He was a runner. He was trying to score a touchdown."

McKay, appearing Wednesday on "NFL Total Access" on NFL Network, agreed with Schwartz without explicitly saying the call was wrong.

"At full speed," said McKay, also the Atlanta Falcons' president, "you can see where (Hochuli) saw at least what he saw. ... The hard thing about this one is the defensive player in playing the game at full speed, trying to make a play, and then that ends up with that result. ...

"Player safety is always going to be at the forefront (for) these officials. I'm not one that's going to sit here and say right call or wrong call -- that's probably not appropriate for me to say. I'm sitting here saying that there are rules that come real close to what happened in this instance. And what Ed Hochuli saw and what he called ... he thought he saw it, and he called it that way. I know Detroit can't be very happy with the call."

Suh didn't confirm the amount of the fine, but a person with knowledge of the fine, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league hadn't announced it yet, confirmed it was $15,000.

Suh was fined $7,500 for a face-mask takedown of Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme during preseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions stick with Stanton, even as Stafford tests shoulder

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matthew Stafford is able to throw again, but Drew Stanton remains the Detroit Lions' starting quarterback.

Stafford threw a few 10-yard passes at the start of practice Wednesday, testing an injured right shoulder that has bothered him all season. Stafford has hurt the shoulder twice and has played only one full game this season.

With backup quarterback Shaun Hill also injured, Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Stanton will start for a second consecutive game when the team hosts the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Stanton went 16-of-24 passing for 178 yards and one touchdown in a loss to the Chicago Bears last weekend.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Lions place RB Smith on IR, promote ex-Army star Campbell

The Detroit Lions placed veteran running back Kevin Smith on season-ending injured reserve for the second consecutive year and signed linebacker Caleb Campbell off the practice squad in time for Sunday's showdown with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Detroit Free Press reported Saturday that the Lions shelved Smith, who injured his thumb during last week's 14-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills, to open up roster room for the season's final stretch.

The Lions officially announced the roster moves Sunday.

Smith had surgery on the thumb Thursday and hoped to shed a hard cast for a splint by next week, according to The Free Press.

Smith, who led the Lions in rushing in 2008 and 2009, missed the first three weeks of this season while on the mend from knee surgery.

Running back Maurice Morris will assume the No. 2 running back role behind starter Jahvid Best.

As Smith's season was ending, Campbell's was just beginning.

"Just got activated! Headed to Dallas. Ill take that!" Campbell tweeted Saturday.

Campbell was selected by the Lions out of Army in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. A subsequent Department of Defense policy superseded that 2005 Army policy, and Campbell was ordered to give up professional football for "full-time traditional military duties."

Campbell was released from his active duty obligations in May 2010 and joined the Lions' practice squad before the start of this season.

Lions linebackers have fought injuries in recent weeks. Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) is questionable to play against the Cowboys, and Bobby Carpenter (toe) and DeAndre Levy (groin) are probable.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions: Too early to tell on QB Stafford's latest shoulder injury

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Matthew Stafford threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in Week 9 -- the type of performance the Detroit Lions envisioned when they selected him with the top pick in the 2009 draft.

Then, with the game on the line, Stafford headed to the sideline with yet another injury. Not only did the Lions lose the game, but now they have to face tough questions about whether their franchise quarterback can stay healthy.

"I don't question his durability at all," coach Jim Schwartz said. "He hasn't been able to play as much as he'd like to play, but he hasn't been hampered by hangnails or, you know, headaches or anything like that. He's been hit by 290-pound guys going full speed."

Stafford's status is again uncertain after he injured his right shoulder late in the fourth quarter during a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets last Sunday. He separated the same shoulder in the season opener and missed the next five games. Schwartz said the two injuries aren't related, but the team plans to be careful with Stafford.

None of Detroit's quarterbacks were in the locker room Monday when it was open to reporters, although Stafford later told WJR radio he doesn't think he'll play this weekend at Buffalo.

Schwartz said Stafford had an MRI exam on Monday and that surgery wasn't being discussed, but that it's too early to tell how severe this injury is.

"I think I just, all our tests and consultations and everything else, I just won't comment any more on," Schwartz said. "He'll be thoroughly evaluated."

Rookie wide receiver Michael Moore, who played with Stafford at Georgia, was more than willing to vouch for Stafford's toughness.

"We played Kentucky a couple years ago," Moore said. "He took a shot to the face without a helmet on and he was bleeding out the face, and he came back in the second half and we won the game."

Stafford has started 13 games as a pro, with six touchdown passes and one interception in limited action this season. The Lions (2-6) clearly are improving, but their top quarterback has played only one full game this season.

Stafford also missed six games as a rookie with a banged-up left shoulder and a sore right knee.

If Stafford is out, the Lions don't necessarily know who their starter would be. Drew Stanton relieved him Sunday, but only because Shaun Hill, who started the five games Stafford missed earlier this season, was still recovering from a broken arm that knocked him out of a game three weeks ago against the New York Giants.

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Schwartz said Hill could potentially be ready by this weekend, but the Lions have a lot to consider over the next couple days.

They also may need to bring in new kickers after Jason Hanson hurt his right knee Sunday.

"Jason Hanson could potentially miss some time," Schwartz said.

Hanson's injury forced 307-pound rookie Ndamukong Suh to try an extra point, which hit the right upright, costing the Lions a point they could have used later when the Jets tied the game on a last-second field goal. Suh grew up playing soccer, and Schwartz said he was prepared to kick in an emergency, but the coach said he probably should have called a timeout to give his defensive lineman some time to warm up.

"I put him in a bad position," Schwartz said. "It was a crucial extra point in the game -- probably worth a timeout."

According to the NFL, the last defensive lineman to make an extra point or field goal was Green Bay's Dave Pureifory, who made an extra point on Sept. 29, 1975.

Schwartz also addressed comments by Jets linebacker Bart Scott that the Lions played dirty Sunday. Both teams were penalized 11 times.

"You probably have to consider the source," Schwartz said. "Rather than talk about Bart Scott, let me talk about a really classy guy in Trevor Pryce. Trevor Pryce was the guy that ran into Jason Hanson and got Jason Hanson hurt. Trevor Pryce sought me out after the game to apologize. ... To me, that's a very classy player and I think that speaks a lot about the Jets."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Sanchez rallies Jets in fourth quarter and finishes Lions in overtime

DETROIT -- Mark Sanchez threw a lot of passes high, low and wide.

When it mattered most, he found his target.

Sanchez connected with Santonio Holmes for 52 yards to set up Nick Folk's 30-yard field goal 2:18 into overtime, lifting the New York Jets to a 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

"He's at his best when he's not thinking and he's just a California boy playing football," Jets receiver Braylon Edwards said.

Sanchez scored on a quarterback sneak with 2:46 left in regulation and led a nine-play drive that set up Folk's 36-yard kick to send the game into OT.

He successfully lobbied Jets coach Rex Ryan to run the two-minute offense in overtime.

"When I started running it, we got them on their heels," Sanchez said. "It was obvious that we took over the game at the end."

Knocking Matthew Stafford out of the game certainly helped the Jets take control.

Stafford threw two TD passes and ran for a score to give Detroit a 10-point lead before re-injuring his right shoulder and leaving the game with 5:19 left. Stafford separated his shoulder in the opener and was out until last week.

"You don't want to hurt a guy, but that changed the game," said linebacker Bryan Thomas, who tackled Stafford from behind and sent him crashing on his right shoulder. "I was just trying to make a play."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz gave Sanchez extra time to run more plays on the game-tying drive when he called a pass on third down and Drew Stanton threw an incompletion, giving the Jets the ball with 1:40 left.

"I didn't make myself clear enough that we shouldn't worry about taking the lost yardage play right there because the clock obviously was important," Schwartz said.

The Jets were stunned at Schwartz's decision not to run the ball and take time off the clock when they were out of timeouts.

"They gave us about 40 more seconds to work with," New York offensive tackle Damien Woody said. "That was huge."

The Jets (6-2) took advantage against the Lions (2-6) and silenced a previously boisterous crowd at Ford Field.

"Obviously we feel fortunate we got the win, but we don't care -- we'll take it," Ryan said. "That's what good teams do, find a way to win."

In a matchup of first-round quarterbacks from last year's draft, Sanchez came out on top and Stafford couldn't stay on the field. Stafford was the No. 1 pick overall and Sanchez was drafted fifth.

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Sanchez was 22 of 39 for a career-high 323 yards with one TD -- a 74-yard, go-ahead pass to Edwards with a minute left in the first half -- and one interception.

Stafford was 20 of 36 for 240 yards with two TDs, no interceptions, and a rushing score. Calvin Johnson was held to 1 reception for 13 yards, getting shut down by All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.

"He brought the best out of me," Revis said.

The Lions were at their best and looked like they were going to win a third game this season -- to surpass the victories they had the past two years combined -- when Stafford lobbed a 2-yard TD to Nate Burleson with 11:51 left.

But they couldn't overcome Stafford's injury or Schwartz's questionable call and linebacker Julian Peterson's personal foul on the game-tying drive.

"This is the worst loss ever, I think, in my 10 years," said Detroit center Dominic Raiola, whose record with the franchise is 35-117 since 2001.

New York, which was shut out at home last week by Green Bay, didn't score in the first or third quarters at Detroit.

Sanchez and the Jets, though, were explosive enough to score 10 points in the last 2:46 and on the opening drive of OT.

Detroit got off to a good start and led for much of the game, but couldn't make enough winning plays on both sides of the ball to snap New York's seven-game winning streak on the road.

Stafford connected with Brandon Pettigrew for a 10-yard TD on the first drive against a team that had given up three points in the first quarter of its first seven games.

A missed extra point proved to be costly for Detroit.

Rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, filling in for injured kicker Jason Hanson, hit the right upright on an extra point in the third quarter when the Lions led 13-10.

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Hanson, whose right knee was evaluated on the sideline, was healthy enough to return to kick an extra point that put Detroit ahead 20-10 in the fourth.

The Jets would've been more aggressive if they needed a TD on the final drive of regulation, but they only needed three points to force the game into overtime against Stanton, who was active because backup QB Shaun Hill is injured.

Notes: New York's LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene combined for 101 yards rushing and Holmes had 114 yards receiving. ... Burleson had seven catches for 113 yards and a TD. ... The Jets gave DE Vernon Gholston his first start of the year and he didn't make a tackle.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.

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Home games for Lions, Chargers will be blacked out Sunday

Two NFL teams announced local television blackouts for Sunday's games.

Neither the Detroit Lions' game against the Washington Redskins, nor the San Diego Chargers' meeting with the Tennessee Titans will be shown in their respective home markets.

A Lions spokesman said 8,500 tickets remained available as of Thursday afternoon. The Lions had sold out their first two home games this season.

The Chargers announced that more 8,000 general tickets and club seats were available. This will be San Diego's third blackout in four games this season.

The NFL's long-standing policy requires all games not sold out 72 hours before kickoff to be blacked out in the local market. This includes all signals within a 75-mile radius of the stadium and those areas whose television signal reaches within that 75-mile zone. The league's policy affects all telecasts, including cable and satellite.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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NFL lightens Lions WR Burleson's wallet by $15K for incidents

The NFL confirmed Thursday that it has fined Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson $15,000 for two incidents during last weekend's 44-6 rout of the St. Louis Rams.

Burleson told the Detroit Free Press that the levy was for kicking a ball into the stands after a third-quarter touchdown and for lifting his jersey to reveal the message "What up Doe" -- a reference to Detroit -- on his undershirt during pregame introductions.

"They were kind of rough on me," Burleson said of the NFL. "They got me."

The kick cost the Lions a 15-yard penalty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Lions thump Rams to get first victory of season

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions moved a step closer toward putting their miserable past behind them, winning for the first time this season and by their largest margin in 15 years.

Stefan Logan's 105-yard kickoff return broke a tie in the second quarter and Detroit rolled to a 44-6 rout of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

"It feels good to get this one so we can move on," center Dominic Raiola said.

Detroit (1-4) hadn't won since Nov. 22, 2009, when Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes against Cleveland after getting briefly knocked out of the game.

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The Lions, who had the NFL's first 0-16 season two years ago, had won just three of their previous 44 games. They had a shot to win three of their first four games -- losing by five, three and two points -- after their 14 losses last season were by at least a TD and several were very lopsided.

"Our players understood how close we were," second-year coach Jim Schwartz said. "But you need validation."

The Lions won by more than a touchdown for the first time since Nov. 4, 2007, when they beat Denver 44-7.

The Rams (2-3) lost standout receiver Mark Clayton with an injured right knee in the first quarter and that limited rookie Sam Bradford's passing options.

Clayton fell to the ground while running a pattern and stayed down until he was carted off the field.

"It doesn't look good," St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

Bradford, coming off his best game, had one of his worst. He was 23 of 45 for 215 yards with two interceptions, one that was batted into the air and caught by Ndamukong Suh and one directly to Alphonso Smith, who returned it for the final score.

"There are going to be a lot of things that we have to find on the film and fix because we have to make sure this never happens again," said Bradford, who was drafted this year No. 1 overall just ahead of Suh. "I don't think I've ever been part of a loss like this."

Playing again in place of last year's No. 1 pick Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill threw for 227 yards and connected with Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew and Nate Burleson for touchdowns. Hill has started since Stafford separated his right shoulder in Week 1.

"Even though we don't have Matt, we have somebody who can hold down the fort," said Burleson, who was flagged for punting the football into the stands after his TD.

The Lions got off to a good start because a risky move backfired for St. Louis, which started the game with a failed onside kick.

"Maybe the biggest play that gets overlooked was the opening kickoff," Schwartz said.

Logan's return was easy to notice.

He went from the middle of his end zone and raced to the other -- breaking one tackle along the way -- for a 10-3 lead to make his mom and dad, who has kidney failure, two of the happiest people at Ford Field.

"I wanted to do it so bad because my parents were out here and I wanted to show off for my parents," Logan said. "My dad, he's sick so he can't just come up to a game every other week."

At least one kickoff has been returned for a score in the first five weeks of a season for the first time since at least 1950, including AFL games before the 1970 merger, according to STATS.

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Logan's TD tied the longest in franchise history and helped the Lions outscore St. Louis 21-3 in the second quarter.

Steven Jackson did his part for the Rams, running for 114 yards on 25 carries, but he didn't have much help without Clayton on the field. Clayton started the game among NFC leaders in receptions and yards receiving.

"Everyone has seen what he's done for this offense in the first four games, and it is going to be tough to replace him," Bradford said. "We just need someone to step up."

Notes: The Lions beat the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars 44-0 in 1995. ... Rams G Jacob Bell and TE Darcy Johnson had concussions. ... Lions DE Cliff Avril left the game with cramps. ... Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, whose team had a bye, was presented with his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring during a halftime ceremony. ... Lions DE Kyle Vanden Bosch confirmed the team voted Thursday to give the NFL Players Association its backing to decertify the union if there is a labor lockout next year. By disbanding their union, the players could sue the NFL under antitrust laws if there is a work stoppage. A similar move following a 1987 labor impasse led to the 1993 agreement that created free agency.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Lions WR Johnson knocked out of game with shoulder injury

DETROIT -- Detroit's Calvin Johnson sat out the final few minutes of his team's 44-6 win over St. Louis on Sunday after hurting his shoulder making a diving catch near the sideline.

Johnson said afterward the shoulder was sore before heading quickly to the training room. After coming out of the game, he had his jersey removed on the sideline before the shoulder was wrapped in ice.

The ice wrap was gone by the time Johnson spoke briefly to reporters in the locker room.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said only that Johnson "landed funny" on the play.

Johnson caught four passes for 54 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a ball near the back corner of the end zone, but the play was ruled incomplete after a review because Johnson couldn't get both feet inbounds.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Lions QB Stafford ruled out vs. Rams; return date uncertain

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz said quarterback Matthew Stafford still isn't healthy enough to play.

Shaun Hill will start Sunday for the winless Lions at home against the St. Louis Rams.

Stafford hasn't played since he injured his right shoulder during the season-opening game at Chicago last month.

Schwartz said Stafford has begun to throw and his rehabilitation is on schedule. The team hasn't provided a timetable for Stafford's possible return.

Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, has played in 11 games and will miss his 10th when he watches Detroit face St. Louis.

Hill has completed 60 percent of his passes for 991 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions in four games this season.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Lions chip away at 14-point deficit but ultimately fall to 0-4 with loss to Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- For all their talent and high expectations, the Green Bay Packers still haven't turned in the kind of performance that proves they can play like one of the NFL's elite teams for a full game.

The Packers appeared ready to rout the Detroit Lions when Charles Woodson returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter Sunday. Instead, they let the Lions back in the game and barely held on for a 28-26 victory.

Green Bay is 3-1, but the Packers weren't in the mood to celebrate.

"Doesn't feel like it, does it?" Packers coach Mike McCarthy asked.

If Sunday's game didn't feel like a satisfying win for the Packers, it also didn't feel like anything approaching a moral victory for the Lions (0-4).

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It was the franchise's 20th straight loss to the Packers in the state of Wisconsin, a streak that began in 1992. The Lions showed that they're more dangerous than they have been in the recent past, but it wasn't enough to win.

"This team doesn't need me to stand up here and say how close we are," coach Jim Schwartz said. "I think it's obvious to anybody that watches our game, anybody that follows us, the people in the locker room, everyone else. It's our job to get over the hump. We're right on it, we just can't get over the hump."

The Packers led 28-14 after Woodson scored early in the third quarter, but the Lions rallied for four straight Jason Hanson field goals to cut the lead to two points. A final drive by the Packers ran out the clock.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 181 yards with three touchdowns but also threw a pair of interceptions for the Packers, who were coming off a sloppy performance in a loss at Chicago on Monday night.

"It's a win, so we're happy about that," Rodgers said. "Offensively, we've got to find our identity again."

Rodgers hinted that he would have liked to see Packers coaches use more multiple-receiver formations to spread the Lions out.

"We've got to make sure we get our best players on the field at all times, and find ways to get them the ball," Rodgers said.

Detroit again was without injured quarterback Matthew Stafford, but backup Shaun Hill looked poised. Hill threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns to Calvin Johnson for the Lions, who made the game close despite committing 13 penalties.

"Guys fought hard today, they fought so hard," Hill said. "We deserved that win, we deserved to get the feeling of a win in this locker room. We really do. I just feel terrible that we haven't got that yet."

Woodson wasn't worried about style points.

"It was a tough game," Woodson said. "It doesn't matter if it's a good-looking game, an ugly game, it don't matter. As long as you win, that's the main point."

With Detroit facing second-and-10 at its own 38 early in the third quarter, Woodson picked off a pass intended for Johnson, got up off the ground and raced to the end zone, leaping the final few yards and stretching his arms out with the ball for the score.

The Lions challenged the play, but it was upheld and the Packers led 28-14.

The Lions didn't roll over, driving for a field goal on their next possession to cut the Packers' lead to 28-17. Cornerback Chris Houston then picked off a Rodgers pass at the Lions' 7 to stop a Packers scoring drive.

Hill's 40-yard scramble then set up a 52-yard field goal by Hanson, the Packers went three-and out and the Lions drove again, and Hanson hit a 49-yarder to bring the Lions within five points.

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Then Green Bay's Jordy Nelson fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, giving the ball back to the Lions at the Green Bay 18. The Packers made a defensive stand and forced a 24-yard Hanson field goal, cutting Green Bay's lead to 2 with 11:51 left.

Rodgers threw deep for Greg Jennings on the first play of the Packers' next possession but cornerback Alphonso Smith wrestled the ball away for an interception. Detroit drove to the Green Bay 37, but the defense held.

"When we're rolling, I think we're one of the best offenses in the league," running back Jahvid Best said. "(We've) just got to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with either penalties or mistakes. It's just self-inflicted wounds."

The Packers and converted fullback John Kuhn finally were able to establish a running game on their last possession, successfully running out the clock.

"Mike had to remind us twice in the locker room that we did get a win," Kuhn said.

Notes: Green Bay played much of the game without rookie safety Morgan Burnett, who left the game in the first half to get his knee X-rayed and was replaced by Derrick Martin. Burnett's injury was classified as a sprain. ... Hill was the Lions' leading rusher with 53 yards. ... The Packers' streak of 20 straight home wins against the Lions includes a 1994 playoff game.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Rams Trade for Wr Ronald Curry

"The Rams have added some much-needed experience _ and size _ to their wide receiver corps. League sources told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday that the team has acquired WR Ronald Curry from the Detroit Lions in a trade for defensive tackle Orien Harris.

Harris' tenure with the Rams was a short one _ he was acquired from Cincinnati on May 7 in a trade for running back Brian Leonard.

Curry, 30, is 6-2, 210. He caught 19 passes for 191 yards and two TDs last season with Oakland. The Raiders released him in February, and he was signed as a street free agent by the Lions in April."

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