Matthew Stafford won the Detroit Lions' quarterback derby. Daunte Culpepper didn't lose the job.

That's what Detroit's new coach, Jim Schwartz, emphasized yesterday when he made the No. 1 overall draft pick the starter for Sunday in New Orleans, when the Lions try to win for the first time in 21 months.

"I've had a lot of very tough decisions in the last few days — guys making the 53-man roster or not making it — but none more difficult than at quarterback," Schwartz said. "We announced to our team this morning that Matt Stafford is going to be our starting quarterback."

Schwartz felt Stafford and Culpepper played well in training camp and the preseason, as did third-stringer Drew Stanton before sustaining a knee injury.

"I'm very, very comfortable with the quarterback position here, not just one and two, but also three," Schwartz said. "What made this decision difficult was that I think we can win with Daunte Culpepper, I think we can with Matt Stafford, and I think we can win with Drew Stanton."

Stafford said that while he always believed he would win the job, he didn't know for sure until yesterday morning.

"I definitely thought I was going to be the guy, but as competitive as Daunte is, I'm sure he thought he was going to be the guy, too," he said. "Coach Schwartz called me in this morning and told me, and I went out and practiced with the first team. That was exciting."

LAW AND ORDER

LB MERRIMAN CONVINCED HE WILL BE CLEARED

San Diego star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman said he did not harm reality TV star Tila Tequila at his home early Sunday and added he was concerned for her safety because she appeared to be intoxicated.

Merriman was arrested and accused of choking and throwing Tequila to the ground as she tried to leave his home in suburban Poway. Tequila signed a citizen's arrest warrant charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment. Both are felonies.

Merriman spent about 2 1/2 hours in the downtown jail before posting bail.

Merriman practiced yesterday, then said he's convinced he'll be cleared. It will ultimately be up to the District Attorney's office to decide if he'll be charged.

"I think when it all surfaces, it will be a different situation. Period," said Merriman, who described Tequila as an acquaintance.

Tequila, whose real name is Tila Nguyen, is best known for "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila," which ran for two seasons on MTV.

TRADE FALLOUT

SEYMOUR DOESN'T REPORT TO RAIDERS DAY AFTER DEAL

Five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour did not report to Oakland yesterday, a day after being acquired in a trade with the New England Patriots.Raiders coach Tom Cable said after practice that Seymour had to resolve some things with the Patriots before the deal for a first-round pick in 2011 could be finalized.

"We have attempted to make a deal," Cable said yesterday. "There are some issues still between him and the Patriots that are being worked out. I'm hoping that that will get resolved as quickly as possible. We know that the player wants to be here, but we have really no control over those issues."

All deals are subject to certain conditions, including physicals for players involved, and teams can inform the league if those conditions are not met. Neither the Raiders nor Patriots asked for the trade to be rescinded by the close of business yesterday.

ELSEWHERE

Saints: Despite the looming possibility of four-game suspensions for Will Smith and Charles Grant, Saints coach Sean Payton intends to play the starting defensive ends Sunday against Detroit — unless the NFL soon says otherwise. "We're waiting to hear from the league," Payton said. "Right now we're proceeding with the idea that those two players are playing." Payton said he hoped to hear something from the league by today. Smith and Grant tested positive last year for the banned diuretic bumetanide.

Chiefs: Quarterback Matt Cassel appeared on Kansas City's practice field yesterday for the first time since injuring his left knee Aug. 29, but his status for Sunday's opener at Baltimore remained unclear. Cassel, who signed a six-year contract for a guaranteed $28 million, injured his knee on the third play of the third preseason game against Seattle.

Bears: Cornerback Charles Tillman practiced for the first time since undergoing back surgery in July and hopes to be ready for Chicago's season opener at Green Bay. Whether he actually will play Sunday is a tossup. "I don't know," Tillman said. "Flip of the coin, we're going to see."

Browns: Cleveland Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers returned to practice, increasing the chances he'll play in the season opener against Minnesota. Rogers did not play in the exhibition season with an unspecified injury.