The Lions have hired Jeff Fisher's son to assist their defensive coaching staff, according to an Associated Press report. The move to add Brandon Fisher was announced Thursday.

The Lions say they have made some adjustments to their business operation because of the NFL lockout. The team would not provide any more details Monday, but the Detroit News reported that Lions employees have begun two-week furloughs.

Earlier this month, the Lions turned down an opportunity to be on the HBO series "Hard Knocks." The Lions declined comment on the decision Saturday, but both team president Tom Lewand and coach Jim Schwartz said last fall the football documentary wasn’t for them. "It's one thing to have cameras on the practice field. These guys are used to that and every day there's cameras, fans watching them practice and things like that," Schwartz said. "But when you start getting into meeting rooms, when you start getting into the cafeteria, into the dorms, into the locker room and things like that, it changes the vibe." The Buccaneers and Broncos have also turned down the series, according to reports.

Commissioner Roger Goodell isn't above seeking a little advice as the lockout approaches its 10th week with no end in sight. Goodell said Thursday he leans on the Ford family, which owns the Detroit Lions, to draw on their labor relations experience in the automobile industry, according to an ESPN.com report.

Matthew Stafford has been cleared for football activities for about two months. The Lions starting quarterback says he's 100% recovered from January surgery on his throwing shoulder. "I feel great," Stafford said. "Healthwise, I feel as good as I ever have, so I'm ready to go." Limited to just three games last season because of two different right shoulder separations, Stafford said he believes the Lions can contend for the playoffs this year if he and the rest of the team's young nucleus stay healthy.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is getting some work throwing the football as he continues the rehab process on his right shoulder. Stafford posted a message on his Twitter page Thursday, mentioning that he was preparing to throw to a group of receivers, including Calvin Johnson and rookie Titus Young. "Gotta stay ready..." Stafford said in the tweet.

Lions cornerback Aaron Berry is excited to get back to football so he can apply some of the tips he received from Jets All-Pro Darelle Revis this offseason. Berry, who saw his rookie season limited to one game due to injury, spent time with Revis back in February. "That's a lot of the thing that separates people in the NFL, that film and just knowing what teams are going to do and knowing what people are going to do," said Berry, who played one season with Revis at Pitt. "That's pretty much what he tried to emphasize to me. "When you get in that film room and you can label people and splits and receivers and know what routes they like to run and know what quarterbacks like to throw, their strengths and weaknesses, you play so much better, you play so much faster. You're able to make more plays because you understand more. I think that's going to be a big thing for me is just getting in the film room a lot more."

The Lions tried to trade up in the first round last week to draft LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, according to a league source. The Cardinals drafted Peterson with the fifth overall pick. Detroit kept their No. 13 pick and selected Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley.