Stafford gets more time, lot more money to help Lions win

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Matthew Stafford has more time, and money, to accomplish what the Detroit Lions drafted him to do for the franchise.

Detroit gave its standout quarterback a five-year extension worth $135 million, keeping him under contract through 2022. The franchise desperately hopes he can return the investment and help it have success in the playoffs that has been elusive.

Stafford’s contract surpassed what was — briefly — the richest deal in the league. Derek Carr signed a $125 million, five-year deal earlier this summer with the Oakland Raiders.

Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009 and he has led the team’s transformation from league laughingstock to being relatively respectable. He guided the Lions to the playoffs last year for the third time in six seasons.

Odds and ends

Washington defensive tackle Phil Taylor is out for the season after tearing his left quadriceps tendon. Taylor will have surgery to repair the tear Wednesday. After injuries derailed his career with Cleveland, Taylor was a good bet to make Washington’s roster almost three years since he last played a regular-season game. The 2011 first-round pick from Baylor had a chest injury in 2012 and then knee problems that led the Browns to release him. … Defensive end Owa Odighizuwa was waived a day after the NFL suspended him for the first four games of the regular season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. … Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis became the latest addition to Indianapolis’ injury list with what coach Chuck Pagano called a “pretty significant” groin injury that could keep him out of the regular-season opener and perhaps longer. “He’s week to week,” Pagano said, divulging no other details including a timetable for Davis’ return. … Pittsburgh acquired tight end Vance McDonald and a 2018 fifth-round draft pick from San Francisco for a fourth-round pick. … New England acquired linebacker Marquis Flowers from Cincinnati for a seventh-round draft pick next year . ... Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, reuniting the famous running back with his first NFL franchise.