The Lions have already cut one of their starting offensive linemen, and they avoided having to cut another Thursday.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions have restructured the final year of center Dominic Raiola’s deal, which will allow him to stay with the team in 2013.
Since he’s in the final year of the deal, “restructure” is another way to say “pay cut.” He was due to make $4.05 million, with a $250,000 roster bonus, but it doesn’t take much imagination to realize part of that went away.
The Lions cut Stephen Peterman early, right tackle Gosder Cherilus is a free agent and left tackle Jeff Backus is 36, so the Lions could have a drastically different look up front, even though it appears Raiola is now safe in the middle.