Stafford the Starter

[ajaX82]

Its official

Matt Stafford has been named the starter for the season.

I was against it at first, but now i am ok with it. Thoughts?

[Bartender]

Ehh, Culpepper deserved it. I feel bad for him. He's done a lot to deserve better than to be a backup to a rookie that was just average in the preseason.

[TSE]

I agree that Culpepper deserves it. But I don't care. I'm not a sentimental fellow when it comes to sports. I'm not interested in rewarding people that deserve things if it compromises my mission to win, as it is my prime directive is to win football games no matter how unfair or how mean it may be or how bad it might make a guy feel. I won't lose any sleep over telling Cpep that unfortunately he deserves a shot but is not going to get one. Although I wouldn't be necessarily talking to him in such a tone like that, but that is the reality of the situation.

Daunte has no long term value to us as a starter, and Stanton is hurt, Stafford is the only option left, get him some reps, the sooner he can learn from his mistakes the sooner we can start making progress. Hopefully he made most of his mistakes in the preseason and is ready to revolutionize the Lions. This decision is a total no-brainer.

Also, we ABSOLUTELY should trade Cpep before the season starts and figure out a temporary backup plan, and if we can't trade him we should cut him, as we would be better off without him than to have him and have to eat his massive salary. There are plenty of QBs on PSs and in the FA market that can serve as a backup until Stanton is healthy or until a decent backup is found, and the odds that Stafford will have to leave a game from an injury before Stanton gets healthy are statistically remote anyhow, so even if we had a guy like Brooks Bollinger just to sit on the bench as an emergency insurance policy, that would be better than nothing.

But we CAN'T just let Cpep be here for Week 1 and then have his ENTIRE salary guaranteed. We must figure out an option to move him, or restructure his deal down. Heck even if we cut him, we could still offer him a lesser deal and give him the option if he wants it. But more than likely we can get a draft pick or a player from somebody, I can't imagine that there isn't something out there we can peddle him for, but it is a major issue to deal with for this coming week. C'mon Mayhew, make something happen with Cpep, one way or another, just make SOMETHING happen.

Oh and don't feel too bad for him, he's getting paid millions to watch the games from a better seat than I will have watching it on TV. I think he's getting a good deal!

[Liqourish]

It was the best decision IMO.

No, Stafford isn't an elite QB right now. But the sooner he plays, the sooner he improves. If you sit him out one week, seven weeks, one season.... all you're doing is delaying the inevitable. Yes he'll make mistakes. Yes he'll throw interceptions. Which rookie doesn't? But I'd rather deal with those mistakes now in his first season, when the team has nothing to lose, than in his second or third season.

This also provides stability to Calvin Johnson, Aaron Brown, Kevin Smith, Brandon Pettigrew, etc to have a stable QB throwing to them and developing a chemistry with, than to have another season of 3 or 4 guys for the offense to become familiar with. This allows Stafford and CJ, KS, BP to grow together while they're young, than waiting years down the line and taking away opportunities during their primes.

This isn't about Matthew entirely. This is a good move for everyone involved.

[ajaX82]

Its the rights move. Absolutely. He will look bad at times. There is no doubt. But that arm will get me every time. I expect him to struggle early but come on very strong in the end of the year.

By next year, with an NFL season and a year to practice, train, and get used to the NFL, he will be ready to effing rock in 2010. And im hoping him and CJ continue to form a bromance like we saw in the first Buffalo drive.

Daunte has no long term value to us as a starter, and Stanton is hurt, Stafford is the only option left, get him some reps, the sooner he can learn from his mistakes the sooner we can start making progress. Hopefully he made most of his mistakes in the preseason and is ready to revolutionize the Lions. This decision is a total no-brainer.

TSE, very well put. couldnt agree more

[mastertang]

From the wiretap...

One of the factors that helped Schwartz make his decision was the 21-year-old rookie's chemistry with Detroit's biggest offensive weapon, Calvin Johnson.

[kellmellus50]

One of the reasons STAFFORD is starting is because he can stretch the defence going downfield.Where in culpepper defences would play the short passing game and load up in the box to shut the lions down.

So i say go with STAFFORD even thow their will be growing pains.INT+Fumbles.

[Liqourish]

From the wiretap...

One of the factors that helped Schwartz make his decision was the 21-year-old rookie's chemistry with Detroit's biggest offensive weapon, Calvin Johnson.

When Stafford played with Calvin, they made great plays. It's just as important for Johnsons development as it is for Staffords that they play together. Also add in Kevin Smith, Aaron Brown, Brandon Pettigrew, etc.

[Icness]

I guess we all knew this was inevitable. I still would have liked to see Culpepper start until the bye week. I think that sliced toe injury is mighty suspicious too.

[ajaX82]

Daunte had a pretty classy statement regarding this:

"Now that the debate is over and the decision has been made regarding the starting quarterback in Detroit, I would like to make the following statement today so that tomorrow I can put all of my energy into helping our team prepare for our opponent.

"The reason I agreed to restructure my contract in order to stay in Detroit was because I knew that I would have a chance to have a full off-season for the first time in over three years. I also knew that I would have an opportunity to finally compete against whoever the Lions brought in whether via free agency, trade or the draft. When the Lions selected Matthew Stafford first overall I was excited. My position is that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Coach (Jim) Schwartz gave me a fair opportunity to compete for the starting job and now the decision has been made that Matt is the best quarterback in Detroit. I support the decision and I am ready to settle into my role. Matt is a great guy and a talented young quarterback. I am confident that he will lead this team to plenty of victories in Detroit for a long time to come. I look forward to helping Matt in that mission in any way that I can this year. My role as his back-up is not to be seen unless needed and not to be heard from unless required. The Lions organization has treated me with respect and class and they can expect the same from me."

He should still probably be traded, but at least he has the right attitude.


http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/20 ... suppo.html

[TSE]

Well Daunte has always been a smart guy relative to the average NFL player, no doubt about that, and that is a smart position to take.

[Liqourish]

Daunte is a pretty classy guy. Him and Matt are actually friends. Matt said that after Schwartz made the decision, Matt went to Daunte to talk things out and smooth things over but Daunte just congratulated him.

The right attitude is as important to a team as talent. We've had talented guys on the team in the past, but their attitudes made it difficult for the team to win. Mayhew has done a good job of getting great attitude guys with talent to help rebuild.

Yes, we are rebuilding, but you also want proven vets around to teach and help mold the young guys. Stafford will learn alot from not only playing, but having Daunte around to give him advice. Could Daunte be traded? sure he could. Should he? we'll see.

Watching Sportscenter, they had a graphic up showing the past 9 quarterbacks taken #1 overall that started their rookie seasons. Not one of them had a winning record their first years. Including guys like Drew Bledsoe, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw. But all of them went on to great careers.

Matt will have growing pains. He'll make mistakes. The team will lose games. But the experience he gains will be invaluable.