Veteran defensive end Robert Porcher has restructured and extended his contract with the Detroit Lions, a maneuver that creates more than $2 million in additional salary cap room for the club in 2002, but which all but dictates another reshuffling of the deal in 2003.

The club fully guaranteed $3.25 million of Porcher's scheduled base salary of $4 million for 2002, and that essentially is regarded by the league as a signing bonus. By doing so, and adding an additional season to the four-year contract Porcher signed in 2000, Detroit was able to reduce Porcher's cap charge for 2002 from $6.749 million to $4.582 million.

Porcher, 31, is a Lions defensive fixture and was amenable to helping the team secure extra cap room for the coming season. The Lions are expected to restructure the contract of tailback James Stewart as well in the next few weeks.

A 10-year veteran and first-round choice in 1992, Porcher has played his entire career in Detroit and has made three Pro Bowl appearances, including one last year. He started all 16 games in 2001 and registered 52 tackles and 11 sacks. Over his career, Porcher started in 129 of 158 appearances, and has 524 tackles and 87 sacks.

The salary cap savings of $2.167 million on his contract will help the Lions sign their draft choices, including Joey Harrington, the former Oregon quarterback taken with the third overall selection. It could also permit Detroit to sign a few more veteran free agents.

But the move increases Porcher's salary cap charge for 2003 to an astronomical $10.832 million, clearly an unwieldy amount, and one the Lions cannot carry on their books. Even without the restructuring, Porcher had a cap figure of $9.749 million for 2003, is due a $1 million roster bonus in early March, and is scheduled for a base salary of $6 million.

The base salary for the 2004 season added to the end of the existing contract is just $2.5 million and the salary cap charge is $3.583 million.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.