Detroit ? Damien Woody has had quite a year.

The Detroit Lion went to the Duke Weight Loss Center; slashed $2.5 million from his salary; almost got cut; lost his job at right guard and was a healthy scratch for the first time in his nine-year career; played tackle for the first time since high school.

Meanwhile, his former team went into this weekend with a shot to be the NFL’s first 16-0 team.

“I look back on everything that has happened and it has really helped me as a man,” Woody said.

It all started in Durham, N.C., where Woody was joined by his wife, Nicole, and their three daughters for a six-week stay that cost about $12,000.

He said it was worth every penny.

“It changed my life,” the 6-foot-3, 340-pound Woody said. “It was an eye-opening experience about eating habits that finally gave me the tools to deal with something I’ve been struggling with my whole career.

“I lost 40-some pounds and that was the first step in the whole process for me this year.”

Then, he had to cut some more.

The Lions signed him to a $31 million, six-year contract with a $9 million signing bonus in 2004 after he spent his first five seasons with New England, starting almost every game and being a part of two Super Bowl-winning teams.

Woody and his agent, Ben Dogra, agreed to give up $2.5 million in salary this season – more than half what he was to make – in order to void the last two years of his deal.

If he didn’t restructure his deal, the Lions likely would’ve released him.

“That’s not what came out of their mouth, but that’s the reality of the NFL,” Woody said.

The Lions still considered cutting him before the season, despite the salary cap saving move he signed.

Woody started the first three games at right guard before being benched.

“It was a surprise because there was no indication that showed me it was going to happen,” he said. “I was devastated.”

But unlike many pro athletes that get demoted, Woody kept his mouth shut, worked hard and hoped good things would happen.

Woody not only became a starter, but an effective one.

When Detroit (6-8) hosts the Kansas City Chiefs (4-10) on Sunday in its home finale, Woody will be in the lineup for the fourth straight game.

“He had an opportunity to resurrect his career and he came back with that mind-set and he’s done a good job,” Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said. “Sometimes with offensive linemen, they really go unnoticed.”

Woody has certainly been noticed by coaches and teammates, earning rave reviews for the way he has salvaged something out of a disappointing season for a team that might be the first in NFL history to win six of its first eight games and finish 6-10.

“I can’t tell you how impressive he’s been really,” Detroit coach Rod Marinelli said. “It’s been remarkable. The protections have improved dramatically with him at right tackle.”