Matt Stafford Wants to be a Detroit Lion.

[Nukleopatra]

Stafford wants to be a Lion

Getting opportunity to throw to Johnson appeals to the former Georgia quarterback.
John Niyo / The Detroit News

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is welcoming the prospect of being selected by the Lions with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft with open arms -- literally.

In a Sports Illustrated profile on Stafford titled "Searching for Bobby Layne" -- the issue hits newsstands today -- senior NFL writer Peter King shares some behind-the-scenes tales from last week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

"I'm being completely honest, and it has nothing to do with money -- I would love to go to Detroit," Stafford told King, echoing comments he made in a 15-minute news conference earlier Friday at the combine. "My friends say, 'C'mon, gimme a break.' But I'm a competitive guy. The Lions have passionate fans, a great stadium, and I'd be throwing to the biggest freak (Calvin Johnson), with the most talent, of any receiver in the NFL."

The Lions' top brass, including head coach Jim Schwartz, had a two-hour dinner with Stafford on Thursday night in Indianapolis. By all accounts, it went well. Well enough, in fact, that Stafford felt comfortable enough the next day to sneak up behind Lions president Tom Lewand and give him a bear hug, King reports.

"Come on!" Stafford told Lewand, laughing. "Let's go! I'm ready!"

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It has nothing to do with the money, guys - Honest!

 

[Nukleopatra]

Oh, and it also seems that Rex Grossman wants to be a Detroit Lion, as well.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1449449,bears-blog-grossman-022509.article

Boy! Detroit sure is popular all of a sudden. See what 0-16 will do for a team?

 

[dave]

Of course he'd love to be a Lion and the #1 pick. $40 million guaranteed.
I have no read on the Lions' new GM, so it's hard to predict, but if the Lions pick a junior first overall, they get what they deserve.

Great teams are built from the inside-out. Lions should trade that pick or draft a lineman (offensive or defensive).

 

[Nukleopatra]

And just for the record - ''Kurt Warner/Arizona: Still $4 Million Apart on Contract.''

Kurt Warner does not want to be a Lion, though. Sorry, guys.

 

[dave]

And just for the record - ''Kurt Warner/Arizona: Still $4 Million Apart on Contract.''

Kurt Warner does not want to be a Lion, though. Sorry, guys.

Warner will be a Card next year ... guaranteed.

 

[manchild24]

Of course Stafford will say that so everything looks "nice" Detroit should trade away that top pick so someone like Philly how has two first rounders and get someone like Lito Sheppard, who Philly wants to move, and Detroit needs help. I know there are better options, but if you are Detroit and you still suck this year there may be a better QB for you next year. Philly can ndraft Crabtree and have two young studs at WR.

As far as Warner - is he really that good. Just think about it. All his success came when he was loaded for Bear atWR. Fuck Trent Green was great in St Louis until he got hurt. Look at it. Warner played with Bruce and Holt and Faulk (at his career peak) goes to NY and blows dick for a season or 2. Why? No WR, no RB's (tiki had fumble issues) Now lands in Arizona with what two of the best WR in the game.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Yes, he'd be throwing to Calvin Johnson, plus enjoy all that other talent around him on offense... oh, wait...

 

[chubbz]

i say just get a tackle and a defensive player in the first round and get culpeper(cuz hes still there) to get some timing down w/ calvin and work some of that shit he did w/ randy moss. dont forget that culpeper can be a monster and once was.

 

[MRN]

Oh, and it also seems that Rex Grossman wants to be a Detroit Lion, as well.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1449449,bears-blog-grossman-022509.article

Boy! Detroit sure is popular all of a sudden. See what 0-16 will do for a team?

Of course Rex wants to be in Detroit..

He shouldn't be in the NFL at all..

 

[Aso]

If the Detroit Lions select Stafford look for them to pay him maybe like a 6 year contract worth maybe 80 million. Last year at the #3 pick Ryan was paid 6 years 72 mil. Stafford is being picked earlier and will probably want to be paid more as every first quarterback taken in the draft does.

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

LMFAO @ Grossman wanting to be a Lion. He'd be a perfect fit, cause hes a fucking bum.

Strafford can play the competitive card all he wants. That kid wants to be the number one pick, and hes trying to entice the Lions by doing something NO other draft prospect will do; embrace playing for them.

 

[ThunderHorse]

it still makes me laugh that Kurt Warner won the MVP,

when Marshall Faulk managed to get 1,000 yards Receiving and 1,000+ yards rushing.

but nah, Kurt Warner deserved it more. ha

 

[FirstTimer]

Correction. Stafford wants to throw to Calvin Johnson. Not be a Detroit Lion.

 

[f16harm]

I just emailed Tom Lewand. I stated I would love to play for the Detroit Lions as well, particularly if they took me #1. I would give them everything I could on the field.....

......I even said that it had nothing to do with a $77 million contract.

 

[mgoblue2290]

We're going to take Stafford, he's going to be mediocre at best. I've already accepted this. I want Aaron Curry, he's the can't miss guy in the draft, but nope the Lions are going with an unpolished junior from Georgia.

Anyways, the atmosphere at Ford Field is going to be classic this season. When Stafford starts his first game next year, and trust me we're dumb enough to throw him out there when Culpepper implodes, I'm getting tickets just so I can hear how badly he gets booed.

The city of Detroit does not want a quarterback, we want an offensive lineman or Aaron Curry. These front office guys for the Lions think that Stafford will sell tickets, he won't.

 

[Apocalypse]

We're going to take Stafford, he's going to be mediocre at best. I've already accepted this. I want Aaron Curry, he's the can't miss guy in the draft, but nope the Lions are going with an unpolished junior from Georgia.

Anyways, the atmosphere at Ford Field is going to be classic this season. When Stafford starts his first game next year, and trust me we're dumb enough to throw him out there when Culpepper implodes, I'm getting tickets just so I can hear how badly he gets booed.

The city of Detroit does not want a quarterback, we want an offensive lineman or Aaron Curry. These front office guys for the Lions think that Stafford will sell tickets, he won't.

I couldn't have said it better as a Lions fan, that's exactly what is bound to happen, and like you said, I want Aaron Curry. He'll be amazing with Sims at LB.

But, knowing the Fords, they'll jump at it no matter how much money they have to pay them, just because they have it in their head that he'll sell tickets and sell out Ford Field.

-_-

 

[Apocalypse]

I have a feeling Detroit already told him he's going #1. Which is why he didn't throw.

I wouldn't doubt it, he had that dinner with the Lions staff or organization a week ago, and then a couple days later he says he'd love to throw to Calvin and all that, whatever, they've definitely told him he's going #1.

 

[Leftwich]

I'm sure he doesn't want to be a lion, he's just accepted that he probably will become one, getting rich as fuck in the process.

At least he isn't being a bitch about going to a shitty team like Eli Manning did.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Great teams are built from the inside-out. Lions should trade that pick or draft a lineman (offensive or defensive).

The NFL isn't Madden 2009 though.. just because you want to trade the pick doesn't mean you can.

The Lions were trying desperately to move down a few years ago when Calvin Johnson was on the board.. I doubt there will be any takers for Stafford.

Detroit is stuck.. they basically have no choice here.. they almost have to take Stafford because when you are 0-16, you obviously need to blow it all up and identify a guy you can build and market your franchise around.

That guy isn't an offensive tackle and it isn't Aaron Curry.

 

[Nukleopatra]

When Stafford starts his first game next year, and trust me we're dumb enough to throw him out there when Culpepper implodes, I'm getting tickets just so I can hear how badly he gets booed.

Do you think it'll take a year? I can see the guy playing mid season.