Detroit Lions fire president and general manager amid 1-7 season

The one-win Detroit Lions, looking nothing like the team that reached the playoffs last season, fired team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew on Thursday and promised to bring in new leadership to put a consistent winner on the field.

“We are very disappointed with the results of the season so far and believe a change in leadership was necessary,” said owner Martha Firestone Ford, reading from a prepared statement.

The Lions are an NFC-worst 1-7 under second-year Coach Jim Caldwell, whose staff was not affected by the changes a week after he replaced some assistants, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

Sheldon White, the Lions’ vice president of pro personnel and a 19-year veteran of the organization, will be the team’s acting general manager. Allison Maki, chief financial officer, will oversee business operations for the team.

Lewand was in his 20th season with the Lions, and his sixth as president. He was largely in charge of business operations, including negotiating contracts, and helped the franchise build Ford Field, the team’s home since 2002. Mayhew became the team’s general manager early in the 2008 season when the team fired Matt Millen.

The Lions have failed to draft well enough to win and their other moves — or lack of them, such as losing defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh in free agency — have often missed the mark.

Detroit reached the playoffs in 2011 for the first time since the 1999 season, but the franchise has just one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title.

Receiver recovering

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette said on social media that he has been released from a Dallas hospital after surgery to stabilize ligaments in his neck.

Lockette was injured Sunday in Seattle’s 13-12 win over Dallas on a hit during a punt return and lay motionless on the field for several minutes.

Lockette underwent surgery that was deemed successful at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas on Monday.

Etc.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran wide receiver and return specialist Jacoby Jones, , hoping to give their special teams a boost. The Steelers released running back-returner Dri Archer. ... Washington Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson was held out practice with what Coach Jay Gruden termed a “rotator cuff-type” ailment. ... New York Jets center Nick Mangold and wide receiver Brandon Marshall were limited at practice, while wide receiver Eric Decker, safety Calvin Pryor and guard Willie Colon sat out. ... The New York Giants have signed tight end Jerome Cunningham off the practice squad. The Giants need an extra tight end because starter Larry Donnell has a neck injury.