The Detroit Lions couldn’t have put both Matthew Stafford and their own establishment in better situations from the exchange that sent the group’s record-breaking passing pioneer to the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford was shipped off an association that is a Super Bowl competitor with him at quarterback, while the Lions got Jared Goff, first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023 and a third-round pick in 2021.
Stafford had one exchange demand from Detroit, and is extremely keen to the Lions for satisfying his desire.
“What’s accurate is — and this is an incredible thing by (the Lions) — I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship,” Stafford said, via Mitch Album of the Detroit Free-Press. “And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. There were a few teams that were not on that list. And they were respectful of that and understood completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each one of them.”
While Stafford had a rundown of groups he wished to go to – he neither affirmed nor denied the report that he advised the Lions not to exchange him to the Patriots – the principle objective was to seek a title in the wake of playing for a group like Detroit, an establishment that dominated only 79 matches since Stafford’s tenderfoot year (2009), tied for the 6th least successes in the NFL in that length. The Rams have dominated 43 matches since the beginning of the 2017 season (Sean McVay’s first year as lead trainer) – tied for fourth-most in the group.
Stafford tended to the possibility that he was discontent with Matt Patricia, who was terminated subsequent to going 13-29-1 as Lions mentor and got back to the Patriots as a collaborator: “He and I had a good relationship, no matter what anybody wants to say,” Stafford said.
Stafford has the most passing yards (45,109) through a player’s initial 165 games in NFL history and his 282 score passes are the seventh most through a player’s initial 165 games. Stafford has the most final quarter rebounds (31) in the NFL since his youngster season in 2009 and his 38 match dominating drives are second in the alliance during that length (behind just Drew Brees).
Playing for a Super Bowl competitor could be Stafford’s way to the Hall of Fame, particularly if he’s ready to catch a title.
