Thursday Notes: When Will Stafford's Deal Be Finalized?
by Sean Yuille on Apr 23, 2009 3:51 AM EDT
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- Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole is reporting that Tom Condon talked to Martin Mayhew and Tom Lewand last night, presumably to get Matthew Stafford's contract taken care of. Stafford's representatives have until Friday to get a deal done. If nothing is agreed to by then, the assumption is that Aaron Curry will be the top pick. That seems highly unlikely, though. Stafford is expected to agree to a deal before the deadline that includes $40 million of guaranteed money. Cole tossed that number out, making him at least the third person to do so.
- Dave Birkett thinks that if the Lions believe Matthew Stafford is truly capable of being their franchise QB, then money shouldn't be an issue, meaning they shouldn't consider taking Aaron Curry instead simply because the contract is cheaper.
- Mark Sanchez thinks the Lions are "in love" with Stafford.
- ESPN had its bloggers mock draft, and to say that it went poorly for the Lions would be an understatement. NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert picked Matthew Stafford for the Lions with the top pick and Knowshon Moreno with the 20th selection. This was his explanation for the Moreno pick:
The Lions can't allow need to trump talent, and in this mock draft, Moreno is the best player remaining.
If the Lions did this, Martin Mayhew would be the laughingstock of the NFL. The Lions have needs at almost every position. Running back, however, is not one of them. Kevin Smith is the Lions' running back, and with the addition of Maurice Morris, there is ample depth at the RB position going into next season. To take Moreno would just be stupid. The Lions must draft players that will fill a need, and Moreno certainly would not do that since no need exists at RB. - I talked a bit about free agency for a story by Andrew Bucholtz of The Good Point.
- There is still time to sign up for NFL.com's Predict the Pick game. I created an entry specifically for Pride of Detroit so we can see whose mock draft is the most accurate. The password to join the group is Bubbles. Make sure to name your entry after your username so we know who is who.
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I hope that we have someone signed in the nest 24 hours
I’m not to fussed if we sign Stafford, I have faith in him and will offer all my support to him, same goes for Curry. I do hope we can keep the guaranteed money under $40 mil. I know it’s probably not gonna happen but let’s hope the Curry backup forces Stafford to sign for less.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 23, 2009 4:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow that last topic is full.
Anyways. Since I still have a shred a hope left that it will be Curry, that means all Stafford haters like myself are hoping we hear nothing until late Friday, or even draft day.
by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 23, 2009 6:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm looking forward to the season now...
I just want some wins this year. I hope Curry signs but I’m not holding my breath. If they take Stafford at 1-1, they’ll need to use 1-20 on an OT or trade the pick to someone for more picks and still need to take an OT very soon.
I’m just not of the thinking that paying someone boatloads of money to ride the pine is in the best interest of the team. If he’s the guy, cut Culpepper Monday morning and sign another back-up. Start Stafford from day one.
"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx
by Jettero2112 on Apr 23, 2009 7:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If the worst does happen, let him sit.
GreenBay’s qb Rogers came out his Junior year too. He looks pretty good though, because he had a couple years to sit and watch a veteran. You’re hard pressed to think of more than one or two GOOD QBs that came out after their junior seasons.
by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 23, 2009 7:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rodgers
Was sitting behind a hall of famer, Walt… Not to mention a OLine that had several years of continuity at that point, with decent success… Stafford, unfortunately has a guy who couldn’t get a job last year except with the only 0-16 team in history.
Good luck, Matty, you’re gonna need it…
by Nate D. on Apr 23, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ESPN Mock Draft
This ignorance is not confined to Mr. Seifert. I have seen ‘reputable’ mocks with wide receivers at #20, Brandon Pettigrew at #20, and more recently a mock at Walterfootball.com [a site I like and respected for its content] give Detroit DT Roy Miller of Texas at #65. They had Mr. Miller ranked as the twentieth best DT in this class. Their mock was only up to the seventh or rated DT.
I sometimes wonder if these mockers just expect the Lions to waste their picks like that.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 7:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The consensus pick at #20 at the NFL.com Predict the pick is....
Darrius Heyward-Bey, do other fans hate us that much??
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 23, 2009 7:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DHB is not even a good receiver.
They compare him to Ashley Lelie at http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/564881. Runs fast, catches the odd bomb, refuses to go over the middle.
Wow, thats the kind of WR I want. NOT!
This is more of that idiotic mindset that you need two strong WRs to spread the field and prevent the double team on your #1 WR. We tried that. It does not work. We are lucky that we have a #1 WR who can beat double coverage. Thank you Calvin Johnson!
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
they are not saying DHB at #20
They are saying that DHB ranks as #20 in the draft. They give points based on the draft position and then rank the players based on this.
I don’t think many people have DHB going to the Lions. Except my mock draft where we take Crabtree, DHB, Nicks with our first 3 picks.
by ATL Lion on Apr 23, 2009 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ATL He is referring to an On Line Poll at NFL.com
I guess, because I tried to see it and could not. I do not want to register at that site.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know
The poll he is referring to is an average of all the user entered mock drafts. I’m just explaining that how they average the data means that a player could be ranked #20 overall and no single mock draft could have them actually picked at #20.
by ATL Lion on Apr 23, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Really? So it is more a prospect ranking system?
Statistically speaking that is one effed up way of doing it.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's not a very effective way of doing it then
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 23, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mel Kipers way of ranking players is the correct way. You just pick the player that gives you the largest hard on and thats your ranking, has nothing to do with actually skill.
by Curse of Bobby Layne 50 Years Strong on Apr 23, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or just jock the guy who's known you his whole life
Drafting a quarterback first overall is like watching your mother-in-law drive over the edge of a cliff in your new Mercedes.
-Brian Billick
by Nate D. on Apr 23, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Those mocks are made by people...
who are analyzing all of the league’s teams, not just the Lions. So none of them really know the intimate details of what the Lions truly need. Having said that, these guys probably shoulding be putting mocks out there then. Seifert picking Moreno is a surprise, though. He writes the NFC North blog and he should be able to have adequate knowledge of the Lions as he is only concentrating on four teams. Do I think that there’s a small chance the Lions could take Moreno… yeah, maybe. He’s Stafford’s college teammate, he’s a good back and maybe he’s much higher on the Lions board than what we are seeing with all the scouting sites. But I think it’s a very, very small chance. That pick might just make the Lions fans storm Allen Park.
by DrewsLions on Apr 23, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Schwartz is for him, thats good enough for me.
Schwartz strikes me as a very intelligent guy who has worked with some of the best in the NFL. I am sure he has looked at this from every angle and reviewed every option and scenario if they would go one way or the other. He also appears to be a coach and person who is not bound by the normal conventions and is willing to think outside the box and challenge the accepted thinking in the NFL.
No matter what happens this draft, I have a lot of confidence in Schwartz. Mayhew is growing on me, but it will take awhile to get the Millenstench off him.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 7:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Stafford is obviously a fine pick at #1
But why the hell would you grab Moreno??
I guess you could say that Schwartz and Jeff Fisher have had a relatively no name defense and made them very good, but they at least had a few first rounders.
by FreeBradshaw on Apr 23, 2009 8:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That is more of the warped thinking of value trumps all.
I’m sorry but any team that just takes the highest rated player on their board is destined for trouble. The rating of players is so subjective anyway that I have to believe they are so close, in most cases, that it is hard to tell who is actually the better prospect.
You need to pick players who will have an impact on your team, not languish on the bench behind an All Pro or two.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
As ridiculous as it sounds?
I don’t think it will happen, but it doesn’t seem to be as catastrophically boneheaded as people think. If the Lions’ first 3 picks were Stafford, Moreno, and let’s say Mack (or Unger/Robinson) we’d all go nuts. But they would have arguably drafted the highest ranking QB, RB, and G in the whole draft.
The Lions say they want talent over position. Check.
The Lions want to run the ball and stop the run. Moreno and Mack add to that. The NFL trend to 2 and 3 headed monsters at RB is in full swing. Does Schwartz see Morris as a ‘monster head’ or just a solid backup to Smith and situational runner? If Smith gets hurt early, is our “run the ball dammit” offense going to be happy all year with Morris?
We’d probably get a MLB and DT/CB with our 3rd round picks in this scenario and end up with an Offense to get excited about and a defense to pray for for every Sunday morning (but they can’t be as bad as last year right?)
As a defensive background coach, it makes sense that Schwartz would be comfortable putting talent on offense and try to work his magic on defense.
Again, probably not, but doesn’t seem as turrible as everyone thinks.
by HoorayForEverything on Apr 23, 2009 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes, you could be right there.
HFE, You reminded me that I have argued that our defence will improve 100% because of the better coaching and scheming that Schwartz and Cunningham will provide.
However, I think using a first round pick [#20] for another RB is a bit much. I would rather see them draft two offensive linemen [at #20 and #33] than an RB. Kevin Smith deserves to be the starter on this team. We have too many holes to worry about our younger starters getting injured.
Ideally we could deal the #20 for a later first round and a second or third and fourth rounder.
by NorthLeft12 on Apr 23, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What's the Point
of having Curry as leverage if we’re still offering $40mil guaranteed? Does that mean without Curry, he was looking for $45 million or more guaranteed plus the rest of the contract?
by HoorayForEverything on Apr 23, 2009 8:05 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Last I heard
Curry will take as much as Long did last year, and Stafford was given something in the range of Matt Ryan’s contract. Also that the Lions arn’t going to budge on the price for Stafford, they’re happy with Curry.
by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 23, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Risky move
not that I don’t like it. Low ball Stafford. Say take it or leave it. If not, take the actual best player in the draft at a lower price. Fingers crossed it doesn’t bite us in the ass.
by WBL on Apr 23, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
But that's my point
The report says our offer on the table is $40mil guaranteed. That’s the “high” number we’ve been led to believe is Stafford’s cost at number one. Matt Ryan was $35mil guaranteed on a 6 year deal, wasn’t it? Our current offer, as reported, doesn’t sound very lowball to me.
by HoorayForEverything on Apr 23, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure that
I believe any actual numbers from anyone yet. But you’re right. My hope is that they are trying to leverage Curry against Stafford. The only practical move they could be making is that they are going lower than the $40mil and saying take it or leave it. Otherwise, what’s the point of posturing with Curry.
by WBL on Apr 23, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another LB
Looks like we just signed another Linbebacker. Looks like Stafford it is. Any thoughts?
by Pistons21 on Apr 23, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We signed a LB?
When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894
by Leapin Lion on Apr 23, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, Sean
The Lions website finished their ten-pick mock draft. They are now voting on who we’d like to see the Lions take at #20. It’s been relegated to a small link on the home page.
by James L on Apr 23, 2009 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Whats taking so long??
6:30pm Thursday night, no news. Only thing I’ve heard(radio, whatever thats worth) this evening is that Stafford has until 4pm Friday, 24 hours before the draft to make up his mind.
Why hasn’t Matthew/Condon taken the deal yet? Is it an incredibly low offer from the Lions? Or are they in negotiations with another team, Seattle maybe. According to everything I’ve read/heard, Detroit isn’t budging on the offer.
Stafford must be confident that he won’t drop out of the top 5 or even top 10 draft prospects, when he declines Detroit.
by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 23, 2009 6:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
....and he's probably right.
If we don’t take him, someone will move up for him.
Drafting a quarterback first overall is like watching your mother-in-law drive over the edge of a cliff in your new Mercedes.
-Brian Billick
by Nate D. on Apr 23, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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