"The question had already been asked and answered several weeks ago, but Detroit Lions quarterback Shaun Hill understood why it was being asked again.

"I know exactly why you're asking, but I don't regret it at all. I'm still very ecstatic that I'm here for another year,'' Hill said.

No regrets at all about signing a one-year extension with the Lions -- which will carry him through the 2011 season?

"No, absolutely not,'' he said.

Whether it's injuries or just unacceptable performances, there have been a lot of quarterback changes in the NFL this season.

It's pretty clear a veteran with a winning record as a starter (11-9) and a reputation as an excellent decision-maker could find a starting job in the league next year.

While Hill certainly would get a lot of looks from other teams, he won't be available. When he was traded to the Lions by the San Francisco 49ers (for a seventh-round draft pick), Hill was in the final year of his contract.

Shortly after that, he agreed to a one-year extension.

At this point, it appears to be another shrewd move by Lions general manager Martin Mayhew.

Hill threw three touchdown passes and didn't commit a turnover in last week's 44-6 win over the St. Louis Rams. This season, Hill is completing 61 percent of his passes, has eight touchdowns, seven interceptions and a passer efficiency rating of 78.0.

While Matthew Stafford clearly is the team's franchise quarterback, the reality is that when the 1-4 Lions visit the 3-2 Giants in New York on Sunday, Stafford will be missing the 11th game of his young 22-game career. "