One of the misconceptions about receiver Nate Burleson and his role with the Detroit Lions is that he needs to be a downfield threat to help take pressure off fellow receiver Calvin Johnson. Actually, it's just the opposite.

One of Burleson's strengths is getting immediate separation from a cornerback, especially one that is attempting to jam him or knock him off his route at the line of scrimmage. The reason this is crucial for the Lions is because, if opponents run two or three defenders at Johnson, that leaves Burleson one-on-one in most cases. The Lions are hoping that defenses can no longer "walk up'' on the opposite receiver and stuff him at the line, eliminating the outside options for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Star wide receiver Calvin Johnson has been frustrated with the losing ways of the Detroit Lions, but after Detroit made a series of moves to boost the talent around him, Johnson is happy.

"You see all the pieces coming together," Johnson said. "We're bigger, we're faster. We're going to be able to spread the ball around."

Johnson's new sidekicks include rookie running back Jahvid Best, wide receiver Nate Burleson, and tight end Tony Scheffler. Plus quarterback Matthew Stafford should continue to mature in 2010 as he enters his second season.

If Johnson's happy, that's good news for fantasy owners. The new pieces around him give him a strong chance to rebound after a down year in 2009, and he could prove to be a great value as he likely won't be among the first wide receivers drafted like he was last year. Many receivers drafted before Calvin could easily be less productive.

QB Matthew Stafford fired a rocket over the middle through a tight window to WR Nate Burleson. We've known about Stafford's arm and aggressiveness since the Lions drafted him No. 1 last year, so that part is no surprise. This was significant.

First, Stafford is healthy again. He's past the knee and shoulder injuries he suffered last season, knocking him out of the lineup, hampering him when he returned.

"I feel a lot better," Stafford said. "My shoulder feels good. My knee's feeling a lot better. As far as throwing the ball, I can step into it and let it go as good as I ever have."

Second, Stafford has support. The Lions signed Burleson in March largely because they needed someone to make defenses pay for smothering WR Calvin Johnson. On this play, Stafford made the defense think he was going to the big guy.

Third, Stafford has the talent to put it all together. You should have seen offensive coordinator Scott Linehan smile -- and heard defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham swear -- when the ball was completed.

Stafford will be an interesting fantasy QB option this year. The Lions will be better overall, but still figure to play from behind, which means he could put up some monster garbage numbers. Interceptions could be a concern if he has to throw a lot, but Stafford figures to be an outside-the-top-10 QB, who should make for a nice QB2 on your team.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, who missed games because of knee and shoulder injuries, was taking part in all drills and throwing the ball without any problems Thursday.

On the first day of the Detroit Lions' Organized Team Activities, quarterback Matthew Stafford (knee) did everything that was asked of him. Lions coach Jim Schwartz, though, said Stafford still isn't 100 percent.

"He can throw, he can do all the things for 7-on-7 and stuff like that. If we were having a 100-meter dash, I don't think he'd be entered right now,'' Schwartz said. "He's exactly on the schedule we want him to be on and the biggest thing is not having a setback off of that schedule.

The 49ers have agreed to trade quarterback Shaun Hill to the Detroit Lions for a seventh-round draft pick in 2011, according to a league source. Hill, who was 10-6 as the 49ers starter, finished the season behind Alex Smith on the depth chart.

The Lions offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan, is familiar with Hill having coached him in Minnesota. Linehan also was the Rams head coach in 2008. Hill and the 49ers swept the Rams that season.

The trade -- as all trades are -- is pending a physical for Hill. Carr also has yet to turn in his signed contract, which is

Hill will find himself playing behind Matthew Stafford, who was the Lions' top choice last season. Stafford suffered a shoulder injury late last season, and the Lions will be cautious as far as his workload this spring. That ought to provide more work for Hill, who is familiar with Linehan's offense.

"I feel good," Matthew Stafford said Wednesday, relaxing in the green room before an ESPN interview amid the hoopla of Super Bowl XLIV. "I've been lifting on my leg, working it out."

Stafford has been rehabbing in his hometown of Dallas with the same doctor who scoped his left knee in high school.

"It's still in the rehab phase, but I'm moving around, doing a lot of stuff with it," Stafford said. "It's more strength now than anything, not, 'Is the knee going to be OK?' "

Stafford said he's just working on getting his right leg in the same shape as his left. He also suffered a separated left shoulder during his rookie season, but that did not require surgery. He is expected to be ready for the start of the off-season conditioning program in March.

Lions running back Kevin Smith , still recovering from last month's surgery to repair a torn ACL, has yet to undergo a planned offseason shoulder surgery. But Mayhew said Lions trainer Al Bellamy visited three other key offensive players recovering from recent surgeries as they rehab in Dallas. Quarterback Matthew Stafford (knee), tight end Brandon Pettigrew (ACL) and guard Stephen Peterman (ankle) all are progressing well, Mayhew said.

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew says the team's 2-14 season is unacceptable.

Mayhew said Thursday the team would not draft a quarterback with the No. 2 pick in April's NFL draft. Detroit took Matthew Stafford last year with the No. 1 pick and he showed promise as the Lions' starting quarterback.

Mayhew said the high point of his first season as GM was watching Stafford connect with fellow rookie Brandon Pettigrew in the end zone to lift Detroit to a win over Cleveland. The low point was Pettigrew's season-ending injury four days later.

The GM indicated that backup quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Drew Stanton could return next season.

Lions QB Matthew Stafford missed the final four games of the season with a separated left shoulder and also underwent minor surgery on his right knee. He said there's no question that he'll be 100 percent by the time the off-season program begins in the middle of March.

"I'll be getting healthy pretty soon and I'll be good to go. I'm taking it slow, there's no rush at this point,'' Stafford said. "I'm tough to keep down for too long so I'm sure I'll be moving around.''