National Football League

Lions cut Young to nix 'distraction'

Published Feb. 7, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz says receiver Titus Young was released to get rid of a distraction.

Schwartz also said Thursday that cutting defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and guard Stephen Peterman was strictly business.

Detroit cut ties with Young on Monday and the St. Louis Rams claimed him off waivers the next day. The 2011 second-round pick was banished from the Lions three times last year because of his behavior.

The Lions let Vanden Bosch and Peterman go with a year left on their contracts Tuesday to give them more time to sign with another team. Vanden Bosch made 15 1/2 sacks in 43 games for the Lions and Peterman started all 48 games for them over the last three years.