Stafford to Be Top Pick With or Without Contract?

by Sean Yuille on Apr 24, 2009 10:08 PM EDT in NFL Draft

A source inside the Detroit Lions organization told NFL.com’s Thomas George that neither the team nor QB Matthew Stafford believe any differences in contract talks will stop the Georgia quarterback from becoming the No. 1 overall pick in Saturday’s draft.

If the Lions pick Stafford without having a contract already agreed to, my opinion of Martin Mayhew and the new front-office will quickly become negative. All this time they have said that they want the top pick to be signed before the draft, and on top of that, they already have agreed to terms with Aaron Curry as a backup plan. What is the point of having leverage if you let the other party call your bluff and you back down? If Stafford is the top pick and doesn't have something already agreed to, I can envision a holdout, and that is the last thing the Lions need right now. If Tom Condon doesn't like the deal that has been offered, I would say to hell with him and draft Curry.

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This is why...

I wrote the fanpost earlier about us being jerked around. I saw this coming and I think it sucks. Now we are going to be overpaying and will look foolish doing so. We said one thing, that we are going to give Stafford and Condon until the end of today, and now we are backing down and doing something different. The new logo might be fiercer, but if we back down from our word and take Stafford anyway, we will look like a bunch of sissies. Aaron Curry has shown nothing but class during this whole thing, and to disrespect him like this, and basically lie to him is showing a complete lack of class on our part. This is not good.

by damnitdamnitdamnit on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

that the Lions brass will already be making a questionable decision to draft the guy without the contract, when they said that they’d only draft a guy if he was signed.

They still have plenty of time tomorrow, but if they are going to select a guy that they signed already, but select Stafford without signing him, they are making fools of themselves, at least publically.

They are smart to at least try to publically ploy that they will take someone else even tho Stafford was their man all along.

But even if it costs a bit more to sign the guy when they draft him, they had better sign him as quick as possible once they pick him.

There is nothing more that would set the team back than if Stafford was drafted and held out.

by FreeBradshaw on Apr 24, 2009 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

I agree 100%

and I would let the door hit him on the ass on the way out, As a principle I’d let it leak to the press the Lion’s will never draft a player with Condon as his agent,

by Runnin' Rebel on Apr 24, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Can't argue with that, Sean

I’m still a Curry guy but have known for a while, or at least had the feeling, that it would be a Stafford. I do, however, believe that they MUST have a deal in place and have him signed before the draft. I hope they’re working through the night on this one. If they take him without a contract, Mayhew will catch a rash of crap from everyone. Same old, same old.

I has a blog

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Apr 24, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

Im just happy

That as of right now for the first time in a few years that you dont know who is going to be selected for the first pick. Every year these 9 years or relatively, im just happy cause this is going to be a good draft to watch

by Liontotheextreme on Apr 24, 2009 10:19 PM EDT reply actions

Don't put the cart before the horse...

There are still 18 hours to go before the draft. Besides, I generally don’t put much faith in what “a source inside…” has to say.
I’m sure that Condon and Mayhew have got one another’s full attention right now, and I don’t doubt they’ll have a deal done tomorrow morning.

by AZ Yooper on Apr 24, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions

But...

They were supposed to have some leverage to use to get a decent contract, and now they are still going through with a monster contract. All of this because Condon didn’t blink at their negotiation tactics, and now we are stuck. Grow a pair Lions management!

by damnitdamnitdamnit on Apr 24, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

We don't know that it was the Lions who blinked

It could have been Stafford’s camp when they realized he might fall to 8-13 before he was selected. That’s a lot of money to lose.

I has a blog

"A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five." ~Groucho Marx

by Jettero2112 on Apr 24, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I want the guy with the gavel.

This is horrible, I’ve been away from the computer/civilization for the last 8 hours or so.

What happened with the deadline? Only thing I can find is the same quote from the espn guy, Peter King? and the taking it to the bank thing. Thats the only news all day is from that dude.

If the Lions are going to sign him without a contract, isn’t that a bit hypocritical. The front office has been so adamant about avoiding any contractual obligations. Now they don’t care.

We have to take a OT at #20 now, then a MLB at #33. We’ll be lucky, LUCKY to have more than two starters out of this draft.

by BIGWalt2990 on Apr 24, 2009 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

What A Joke....

……Here comes a holdout if We draft him……DONT PICK HIM WIOTHOUT A CONTRACT SIGNED!!!!

by BennieBladesFan on Apr 24, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

still hold out hope

I really hope Mayhew will call Condons bluff and make him look dumb. This draft will set the tone for his GM career and I hope he does not want himself known as a push over when it comes to negotiations. That would not be good for future talks, trade or otherwise. Stand your ground Mayhew, Curry would be a great pick at a great price.

by Lead Hunter on Apr 24, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions

I bet Mahew must miss Millen

This is the first time he’s been lead around by the short hairs and had his berries in a vice since Matty left.

by Runnin' Rebel on Apr 24, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

It's just a bunch of stupid newspapers

I am pretty sure they agreed to the guaranteed money early today and have been trying to agree on all the details since. The contract will be done by 4 tomorrow, and we will probably know several hours before the draft that it’s a lock.

This doesn’t mean we have to take an OT at #20 like some said. I think actually if we take Stafford #1, it cements our draft as being #20 MLB, #33 OG like Duke Robinson or Unger. I am pretty sure that is how they will look to draft unless something crazy happens in trade offers or someone falls dramatically.

by MatthewDC on Apr 24, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions