Matthew Stafford Inks New Deal with Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Quarterback Matthew Stafford has signed a $53 million, three-year extension to stay under contract with the Detroit Lions for at least the next five seasons.

Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and signed him to a six-year contract worth as much as $78 million with $41.7 million in guarantees. After two injury-shortened seasons, he helped the franchise reach the playoffs in 2011 for the first time in more than a decade.

Stafford threw more interceptions and had 21 fewer touchdown passes in 2012 than he did the previous year.