Friday Notes: D-Day for Matthew Stafford

by Sean Yuille on Apr 24, 2009 2:10 AM EDT in Notes Comment 30 comments

If Matthew Stafford is going to be the top pick, something is going to have to happen today. The Lions' deadline for Stafford to agree to a contract is today, and so far there is no definitive word on whether or not a deal will happen. I would be stunned if Saturday arrived and no deal was worked out, but stranger things have happened. If the Lions stick to their word -- and there is no reason to believe they won't -- then we are waiting on Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, to decide whether or not the contract offer is good enough for his client. Unlike Curry, who said he would be fine with accepting a lesser contract in order to be the top pick, Stafford doesn't appear to be involved in the process.

As for Detroit, that’s the goal. He isn’t worrying about the money – “I’ll believe it when I see it on paper. There’s nothing I can do about it. Tell me where to sign.”
Based on that, it seems like Stafford is letting Condon have full control over whether or not this deal will happen. Considering that, I guess it wouldn't be all that surprising if Curry did end up being the pick. Condon seems like someone who would decline a lesser or low-ball offer, whether it is because he has something else up his sleeve or based on the principle of it. (I say that coming from an agent's perspective, as I think declining an offer as high as the one Stafford got would just be ridiculous.) Regardless, one thing that appears certain is that Condon knows the Lions aren't bluffing. He reportedly understands that if he lets this go beyond Friday, Aaron Curry will be the No. 1 pick.
I've said this before, but despite my negative opinion of Stafford being the top pick, I like his personality quite a bit. He seems like a funny guy, based on past interviews and his appearance on Jimmy Fallon. Below is more evidence of that via a story about his visit with the Lions (Jim Schwartz seems pretty funny as well).

He went back to his visit to Detroit, where he hit it off with the new coaching staff, saying he “loved” head coach Jim Schwartz.

“He and I have a similar sense of humor,” Stafford said. “On my visit there, I forgot my razor. [In the interview] he was like, ‘What part of making millions of dollars made you think this morning, ‘I just won’t shave when I get up?’

“I said, ‘Coach, come on, I’m trying to make you guys think I’m a little bit older and maybe I can do this.’

“He started dying laughing. He’s just a cool dude. He’ll bust your chops a little bit but he doesn’t mind taking a little. Anyway, it wasn’t like full beard. I (just) wasn’t completely shaven.”

He sat in the back seat, rubbed his still boyish face and smiled.

“It’s not like I can grow a sweet beard anyway. I’m still struggling in that aspect.”
Aaron Curry apparently thinks the Lions will draft Matthew Stafford.
The Lions claimed linebacker Curtis Gatewood off waivers from the Chiefs, who released him earlier this week. Gatewood was a rookie in Kansas City last year and played for current Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. I imagine Gatewood is depth for training camp and a long shot to make the roster, but anything is possible.
Jerry Jones claims that he would rather have Roy Williams than the three picks he gave up to trade for the former Lion. I would have a hard time believing that if it was anyone but Jerry Jones.
Braylon Edwards is apparently no longer headed to New York. At one time a deal between the Giants and Browns that would have sent Edwards to the NY seemed imminent, but it is now reportedly dead.
Tony Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons for a second-round pick in 2010.
The Jaguars also unveiled new uniforms this week. Is it just me, or do their new unis look a lot like the ones the team in ESPN's short-lived show Playmakers wore (minus the stripes, anyways)?

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Comments

I'm surprised that Stafford just let Condon handle it

You’d think if Stafford really want to be #1 he’d be more involved. You’d think he’d make sure he ended up the no.1 pick. I still think it will get done, just seems strange to me that’s all.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 24, 2009 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

re: surprised

I think Stafford may have just been trying to deflect the question. He knows the numbers and I’m sure he and his agent agreed on what they are shooting for. They won’t seriously think of compromising until the last offer is on the table. That’s when the Condon will ask Stafford if he’s willing to settle for less to be #1. The answer is obviously yes, filthy rich is nearly as good as filthy stinkin’ rich. The only question left is do they hold one special press conference for Stafford or do they wait and have both 1st round picks introduced together.

by Coach39 on Apr 24, 2009 5:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe both

Depends when he is announced. If it’s soon I’ll think they’ll have a press conference with Stafford only as well as with all first day picks later.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 24, 2009 7:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

seems like Stafford is only playing for money.

If he had any pride in him, he would have signed that contract the other day. The fact that he’s letting his agent handle which pick he is tells me all he cares about is money, he doesn’t care where he goes. Even though he said he wants to play here, he only wants to play here for 40 million dollars.

So if Stafford does come here..he’s playing for money, thats it(in my opinion). If he really wanted to be part of this rebuilding effort, and wanted his name immortalized in Detroit sports history for turning the Lions around, he would have signed already.

He just wants the biggest check.

Still crossing my fingers for Curry…

by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 24, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, last I heard you guys are still capitalists!

Is there anything wrong with a guy getting fair market value for his services?

This is a business. How would any of us feel if someone asked us to get paid less than we are worth?
Veteran QBs renogotiate their contracts and take less to allow the team to have some flexibility for FAs, but that is after they have a boatload of cash in the bank and are established. That is a very tough thing to ask of a rookie. Totally different situation.

If he gets injured and kicked to the side of the road by the Lions and the rest of the NFL will anyone pay him anything then?

by NorthLeft12 on Apr 24, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!

Then he would just have to take his 35 million in guaranteed money and find a way to survive day to day….

by msivits on Apr 24, 2009 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously North

He’s gonna get more than his value, and then some, even if he was getting $20 mill gauranteed. I know that money does make the world go around (or so they say), but if he really wants to come here, the money shouldn’t be the deciding factor it should be a bonus.

2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).

by Hyperion Ecta on Apr 24, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Playmakers!

That show was AWESOME! Did anyone else watch it? I feel like making a new blog just to talk about the Cougars (they never say where they’re from). If any of you are NFL junkies like me and can’t wait for the season to begin, do yourselves a favor. Go on Amazon, buy the DVD used for 5 bucks, and watch the entire season (it’s only, like, 13 episodes). 100% worth it if you need your NFL fix.

by sgdbw90 on Apr 24, 2009 8:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I hear they are throwing in a DVD of the Lions 2008 Season Highlights for Free too!

LOL

by NorthLeft12 on Apr 24, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That show was on when I played football, and our games were on Tuesdays

So I remember always coming home and watching it. I loved it. Very entertaining. Unfortunately the NFL axed it since it portrayed the league in a bad light.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 24, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looking at that playmakers poster….is it just me, or did anyone else see it and immediately think “CHRIS SPIELMAN!”

blue jersey, #54…y’know?

by ahtrap on Apr 24, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jaguars

I like their new uniforms, and helmet. I am ll for clean, sharper designs. I throw up a little in my mouth when I see Cardinals, Bills, Seahawks new fangled jerseys.

I love our jerseys, do wish the Honalulu blue was a tad darker, like the color of the end zone. But I am a fan of older jerseys, still like the Browns, Colts etc.

Oh, and I will miss the Black Jerseys. They looked sweet on Madden!

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on Apr 24, 2009 9:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I liked the jerseys,

but I thought the helmet was a little much. It’s so sparkly and pretty! (being sarcastic here)
Also, I love the Cards jerseys. I think they’re some of the sharpest-looking in the league.

by AZ Yooper on Apr 24, 2009 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

are you serious...

people are going to accuse him of only playing for the money. I understand not wanting him over Curry or a LT because of development or need, but it’s rediculous to say “oh, I don’t like him because his agent is trying to get the most money for him.” I don’t know if you realize this or not, but that’s the exact same reason that Curry openly said he would take less than Jake Longs contract (which if you read into it, he really says he’ll take the same) is because he’ll make quite a bit more at no.1 overall than no.3-no.5 overall, plus he gets some added pride from being the no.1 guy.

People need to open their eyes and think, if it was you, and someone says you can make 9 million a year for a terrible team or you can make 11 million a year from a team that had a rough year, what decision they would make.

Don’t get me wrong, I hate the capitalist system the country runs on and I think there needs to be a rooking salary cap, but to slight Stafford for this situation is crazy, especially since it looks like he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing, playing football and giving interviews, and his agents worrying about the finances.

by lions_sucker on Apr 24, 2009 10:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's now official...

Jerry Jones smokes crack.

by AZ Yooper on Apr 24, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that was official when he made the trade

Lol

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 24, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What concerns me

is that many are saying that Stafford could fall as far as San Francisco at pick #10 if the Lions don’t take him. What does that say about his true value at #1? According to various draft experts, he’s good enough to be picked #1 by the Lions. If not, he’s not worth it until pick #10? I know that some teams in the top ten seem set at QB but not all of them. Why would Stafford fall so much if he’s such a sure thing? I don’t get it.

by James L on Apr 24, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great point

Let me start off by saying I want Curry, but with that said I will not be to furious if Stafford is picked. I was listening to the radio this morning and there are a lot of people saying Stafford will drop that far. To me a team like ours that needs some absolute no doubt players it doesn’t make sense to gamble on Stafford if many in the league think hes not even the best qb in the draft. We need big time players and if we can shore up Curry we would have that.

by qbdoyle1 on Apr 24, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it says more about the other...

teams needs than his value. My guess is someone would trade up to get him before he got to San Fran. I know I sound like a broken record, but the Lions would not draft him if they had little faith in his ability. The slide thing is simply media fodder. Could it happen? Sure. It does with a player every year. But in my opinion, it’s probably unlikely he would get past 10.

by DrewsLions on Apr 24, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saying the same thing about Curry

If you click through to the article Sean links to that says Curry is resigned to the Lions picking Stafford, it says there that Curry may fall to 8th or lower is he isn’t the first pick. The reason given there is that he’s a better fit for a 4-3 defense.

As for Stafford, the teams below us who need quarterbacks are going on the assumption that Stafford will be long gone by their pick have been taking good looks at Sanchez and even Freeman, and maybe they’ve sold themselves on one of those guys, or another player in a different position of need.

Draft position is not just best guy available, but best guy available that fits a need, plus signability and a whole host of other issues. The fact that maybe Stafford would fall outside the top ten if the Lions don’t grab him, that doesn’t concern me at all. (not that I’m advocating picking Stafford).

This isn’t exactly illustrating my point, but think of the Alex Smith/Aaron Rodgers situation from a few years ago. Smith got picked, thrown into the fire and got burned. Aaron Rodgers fell far down the board, but then got to learn from Favre and will be a servicable qb in the NFL. If the roles were reversed….I’m somewhat of the opinion that Smith may have done just fine if he’d been picked later and had a chance to sit and learn before being thrown out on the field.

The problem is, we pick Stafford, the support pieces are just not in place, it’ll be Joey Harrington all over again, and another 5 years of misery before hitting rock bottom. And an 0-16 team needs help NOW, it needs to not draft a guy and then pay him 70 mil to just sit on the bench.

by ahtrap on Apr 24, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

97.1 The Ticket

is saying that Stafford’s deadline is at 4:00 p.m., today. Has anyone seen anything to back that up? If it’s true, I want to see if Mayhew really sticks to his guns. Stafford aside, I can’t stand greedy little agents.

by James L on Apr 24, 2009 11:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't be surprised

Of course that’s right when I have a final. Looks like you guys will get to break the news.

Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog

by Sean Yuille on Apr 24, 2009 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My issue with relying on the radio

is that, although I find the discussions highly entertaining, I find a lot of knee-jerk announcements that sometimes aren’t anymore reliable than Bernie Madoff’s financial advice.

by James L on Apr 24, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hope so

I hope he sticks to his guns. If nothing else, it would show agents that when Mayhew sets a deadline, he means it. As far as Stafford sliding to ten, it would be interesting to see the teams intrested in Sanchez (Seattle for one) , to see if they take a second look at Stafford because the Lions didn’t take him.

by Lead Hunter on Apr 24, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Ok, i guess ill go to radio

not finding Anything online.

When angry, count four; when very angry, swear. ~Mark Twain, Pudd'nhead Wilson, 1894

by Leapin Lion on Apr 24, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Theres no way

Stafford slides to 10.Teams would trade up for a crack at him

by CR on Apr 24, 2009 12:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I say piss off the rest of the draft world

and take Sanchez.

I think Sanchez is the better prospect

by Boney on Apr 24, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I actually

would be content with that. I’ve gotten so worn out from all the Stafford vs. Curry vs. O-line talk that I really wouldn’t care if they took Sanchez. I’d probably be laughing. The only two problems I think Sanchez would have in Detroit is the vertical Linehan Offense and a blue-collar fan base that doesn’t want a California pretty boy.

by James L on Apr 24, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually

think that Stafford is more of the pretty boy type than Sanchez is. He’s not looking for the hype of sitting in the green room he’s going to be at home with his grand mother, his family is very blue collar and from all accounts he is a very modest person.

by Curse of Bobby Layne 50 Years Strong on Apr 24, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs