Sometimes we get so carried away with the big news on the NFL negotiations and such that the good news slides under the radar.

Got word that Lions defensive end Turk McBride graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in sociology.

McBride played four seasons at Tennessee (2003-06) , but was 16 credits shy of a degree when he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Lions claimed him off waivers in 2009.

If it hadn’t been for the NFL lockout, this feat might not have been accomplished. McBride spent most of the days Monday-Thursday during the spring semester on the Knoxville campus according to a release from his agent.

“It was always my goal to go back and get my degree, and the timing seemed right with the lockout this year to go ahead and get all 16 credits completed,’’ McBride said. “I’m ready to get back to the football field, but I’m also very happy that I was able to go back and get my degree.’’

Good for him. Many athletes intend to go back to school and earn their degree, but never find a way to do so. McBride made it happen.

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ALLEN PARK -- Even after undergoing surgery last week on a bulging disc in his neck, Lions defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch has still had a huge impact on his teammates. He’s done for the season, but he’s not done with his work. His impact has been all-encompassing.

Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said he finally got defensive end Turk McBride to tell him how he had improved so much this season.

“He said, ‘The veteran leadership, Gun, that’s the difference.’

“I said, ‘Kyle?’

“He said, “Absolutely.’’

“I said, ‘You were at Kansas City with some veterans.

“He said, ‘Let’s not discuss it.’ He said, ‘Kyle Vanden Bosch showed me the way.’’’

Vanden Bosch was injured in the Thanksgiving game and had surgery last week and was placed on injured reserve.

“I’ve met some tough people in my lifetime, but never one like Kyle. For him to show up right after that surgery and be on the sideline (on Sunday), he’s in the meeting rooms. ... Just talking to him makes you feel better. What a great thing for the young guys to be around,’’ Cunningham said.

McBride will finish out the season in Vanden Bosch’s spot on the right end.

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Finally an answer to the will-he-or-won't-he question that's plagued the Lions all week: Matthew Stafford will not start today's game against the Steelers.

Of the game-time decisions, this one is the least surprising. Stafford hurt his knee on a sack in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's loss to the Bears, and did not practice until Friday, waiting for the swelling to go down. While Monday's tests showed there was no structural damage to the knee, the Lions remained mum on the issue until putting out the list of Sunday's starters and lineup changes, which had the No. 1 overall draft pick listed as the third (emergency) quarterback.

In other lineup news, veteran Jon Jansen will start at right tackle in place of Gosder Cherilus, helping protect Stafford's replacement, Daunte Culpepper. Waiver-wire acquisition Turk McBride, who'd been deemed "not ready" to contribute so far this season, will start in place of Dewayne White at defensive end. Landon Cohen will start at defensive tackle for nicked-up rookie Sammie Hill. Hill, White and Ko Simpson (who started at safety last week against the Bears) are all on the inactive list.

For the Steelers, Tyrone Carter gets the start for Troy Polamalu, who'd been expected to return from his knee injury. Polamalu is inactive, along with starting running back Willie Parker and former Lion Shaun McDonald.

In the NFL, “the Turk” is the guy that all fringe players fear at cutdown time, the guy who delivers the bad news that they haven’t made a team.

Having benefitted all offseason long from their perch atop the waiver claim list by grabbing up player after player cut by other teams, the Lions claimed another Wednesday, picking up defensive end/linebacker Turk McBride, who was cut by Kansas City on Tuesday. McBride practiced with the Lions Thursday.

“I always heard about (the Turk). I watched ‘Hard Knocks’ when I was in high school,” said McBride, whose given name is Claude Maurice, and who was featured on the HBO Show himself in 2007. “The Turk tapped me on my shoulder in Kansas City, so I know the feeling.”

A former starter at defensive end, McBride was a second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2007, when Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham held that same position in KC, but did not fit the new 3-4 scheme installed by first-year head coach Todd Haley.

Considering that he dropped down to 255 pounds to gain the mobility needed for outside linebacker in the 3-4, the Lions will need to put 10-15 pounds back on the third-year pro, and hope he can contribute to the pass rush, possibly as early as Sunday.

“He did everything they wanted him to do, he lost a lot of weight to do it, but you know obviously it didn’t fit their scheme, and we were fortunate to be able to get him,” said Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. “We’re excited about him. I think his skill set fits what we do on defense.”

Cliff Avril did not practice Thursday, missing his second straight day of work. If Avril, who started opposite Dewayne White against the Saints, can't go Sunday against the Vikings, the Lions' options for starters are a trio of waiver acquisitions — McBride, Jason Hunter and Copeland Bryan — or a converted defensive tackle — Andre Fluellen.

The Lions cut defensive tackle Orien Harris on Wednesday to clear room for McBride on the roster.