Detroit GM denies report claiming Lions are engaged in discussions to trade Matthew Stafford
Could Matthew Stafford’s time in Detroit be coming to an end?
That’s a possibility if you believe the report from Bernie Smilovitz of WDIV in Detroit, who cites unnamed sources close to the Lions that have informed him that trade talks have been ongoing for weeks. Interestingly, Stafford’s wife responded to that report via social media and suggested she would be in favor of a move to California.
However, following that initial report, the team’s General Manager Bob Quinn calls that report “100% false” according to Dave Birkett of the Detriot Free Press.
Quinn is likely telling the truth as those familiar with Stafford’s contract in Detriot are reporting it would cost the Lions nearly $32 million in salary cap room to not have Stafford on the roster for the 2020 season. Apparently the Lions have structured Stafford’s contract in this manner to protect the quarterback and provide him with extra security.
Stafford missed several games last season for the Lions after fracturing bones in his back. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft has thrown for 41,025 yards and 256 touchdowns during his NFL career, which has all come as a member of the Detroit franchise.
The 2019 season was the first in which Stafford did not play in 16 games since the 2010 season.
He’s got to be secretly hoping he gets traded. Wasted most of his career at that dumpster fire organization
His denial is as believable as Mel Tucker’s denial of interest in the Michigan State job.
Why do we even pay attention to “denials” any more?
I’m a Lions fan and I don’t want Stafford to leave. He is one of the best come from behind QBs the NFL has ever seen. It’s the organization who has failed to produce healthy WRs and a decent RB to help him out. Before Johnson, they haven’t had a 100 yard game rusher since Reggie Bush 6 years ago. Stafford has done it all on his own. If Megatron didn’t retire, he would have Golladay and Calvin as his weapons. Those two would be top receivers in the league together.
Stafford is very underappreciated in this organization. They put a crap O-Line together, lose Megatron, and the OC is terrible.
He is a gun slinger.
The reason they can’t put anyone around him right now is because he’s eating a hige percentage of the salary cap space.
The Lions would be a worthless dumpster fire without him. He’s carried them on his back his whole career.
Unfortunately they are also a worthless dumpster fire with him.
I agree withDawg78 he has to be thinking time is running out. I’ve pulled for Detroit ever since he got there and they have never tried to build a winning team.
Faitly soon teams are going to realize that they can’t pay QBs and still put together a team complete enough to win games. Too much value is placed at the QB spot and while they do contribute probably the largest share of win percentages, they also are compensated at a value that far exceeds that. Just look at all of the Superbowl winners in the past 20 years. Only Eli Manning in 2011 was a top 5 paid QB. Tom Brady has kept hos salary low so the team could add quality across the board and look what it’s done for them. The Lions would be smart to move him long term if for no reason other than that they need to get away from that deal. Yes the quality of QB would decrease but it would be outweighed by the increase of talent at a multitude of other positions.
Unfortunately a similar dynamic is happening with my cap strapped Falcons.