NFL notebook: Lions president defends hiring process

Detroit Lions president Rod Wood defended the team's approach to checking into head coach Matt Patricia's background before hiring him in February, saying the team employed a security firm to do a background check on Patricia, entrusting that their knowledge of local and federal laws would be best.

"We always err on the side of hiring a firm who understands all the laws, follows them, state and federal," Wood said Saturday, per ESPN. "So that we don't happen upon something that we're not entitled to have nor would we would be able to use."

Despite the team's diligence, a 1996 sexual assault case involving Patricia wasn't discovered. According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, non-conviction felonies aren't reportable after seven years. The team could have found the information through other means, but Wood said he didn't think that was the right approach.

"There might be ways for companies, teams in our case, to find information out about a prospective employee through other means than the legal means," Wood said to ESPN. "I guess if others wanted to do that, that's their prerogative. I'm only in charge of what the Lions do, and I want to do it the right way."

--While he reiterated the team doesn't currently plan to sign a veteran running back, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton said he would "absolutely" consider bringing back Adrian Peterson if the Saints do add a back.

Some have speculated the split between the Saints and Peterson -- who was traded just four games into his New Orleans tenure -- was not amicable, with many pointing to a tense moment between Payton and Peterson at the end of the second quarter of their Week 1 game at the Minnesota Vikings.

"This gets back to the notion that we had some type of any argument at Minnesota," Payton told reporters, "which I still say there was none. I think a ton of him. ...He's a tough player, warrior and a great worker, and we have a good relationship."

--First-round draft pick Bradley Chubb could be the next great pass rusher for the Denver Broncos, and the team hopes that one of its former stars will serve as Chubb's mentor.

The Broncos recently reached out to former defensive end/outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware to work as a part-time coach during the offseason, according to a report from KUSA-TV in Denver. If Ware accepts, he would help during organized team activities in the summer and during training camp just before the season starts.

Ware is No. 8 in NFL history with 138.5 sacks. He played the final three of his 12 NFL seasons with the Broncos and served as a positive influence for teammates such as Von Miller, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett.

--Philadelphia defensive end Derek Barnett underwent sports hernia surgery after helping lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory in February, according to The Philly Voice.

Barnett's timeline for recovery was six weeks, so he is expected to be at full strength when the Eagles get back to work in their offseason program.

Barnett had a strong rookie season, compiling 21 tackles, 5.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries in the regular season. He also had a key sack in the NFC title game and a huge recovery of a Tom Brady fumble with 2:09 left in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots.

--The Buffalo Bills have signed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, to a four-year deal, the team announced.

The signing of the 20-year-old Edmunds leaves just two of their eight picks unsigned, including the No. 7 overall pick, quarterback Josh Allen.

"I'm a young guy, but at the same time I'm a very mature guy," Edmunds, the youngest player in April's draft, said according to the team's website. "I've been around older guys all my life. I know this is a different stage, but I'm a mature guy and my parents did a good job of raising me. So I'll compete with those other guys and work for my spot and work to play my role on this team."

--Field Level Media