Lions cut cap, release veterans

— -- The Detroit Lions have released veteran wide receiver Nate Burleson and safety Louis Delmas.

Burleson, 32, was scheduled to make $7,531,645 against the team's salary cap in 2014, but was willing to restructure his deal to take less money to stay with the franchise.

The Lions apparently did not have interest in that.

"I'm in a pretty good position because I've been in it long enough that I'm not surprised by what happens in the NFL, so this situation isn't foreign to me," Burleson told ESPN.com earlier this week. "Which means there's a certain comfort in knowing whatever happens is the best situation for both parties."

Burleson had 39 receptions for 461 yards and one touchdown in nine games in 2013. He missed seven games in the middle of the season with a broken forearm; he was injured trying to save a sliding pizza box while driving.

Feeling he showed he could still play when healthy, Burleson plans on playing in 2014. He has played in 135 games since being selected by Minnesota in the third round of the 2003 draft. He has 457 catches for 5,630 yards and 43 touchdowns.

"I think I voiced my opinion enough that everyone knows I want to stay in Detroit and finish up my career there," he said. "But there's just no promises in the NFL, so you've got to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst."

Delmas was slated to make $6.5 million against the cap next season.

While he played all 16 games for the Lions in 2013, he was usually on a practice regimen where he would miss two days of practice a week and be able to play in games on Sundays to save his ailing knees.

The 26-year-old Delmas was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2009 draft. In his five seasons with the team, he played in 65 games, making 328 tackles, intercepting six passes and recording five sacks.

In all, Detroit saved over $10 million Thursday by cutting Burleson and Delmas, two moves that should put the team under the salary cap in time for the new league year on March 11.