This is completely from memory, so I could be mistaken…..

I could have sworn I saw interviews with Eli Manning, and other players from the Giants, saying that if they would have had Plaxico during the playoffs last year, that they would have been unstoppable.

“The kid will either have IT, or he won’t” Exactly! That has been the crux of my point all along. They drafted Matt because they saw enough to invest their entire future in him. That said, all Stafford needs to do is learn the playbook and it’s time to start. Why do I think that way? I know that question frustrates you just like your insistance on believing in Culpepper frustrates me. Well, I’ll tell you why… because Matt Stafford will be Matt Stafford, today, tomorrow and in ten years from now. That’s why. If he fails, it’s because he’s not capable of playing in the NFL. Not because they started him too soon or anything else.

That’s like Eli, Peyton, Elway, Aikman and every other highly drafted quarterback in this league that has succeeded. Peyton was destined to be a great quarterback regardless of what team drafted him. Never would he have failed. Maybe the win/loss column would be different with lesser talent or better talent, but that wouldn’t change Manning’s ability, intellect, work ethic, etc. Same with the colossal failures. Ryan Leaf would have failed with any team in the league. Regardless of when he started or who was around him, nothing would have changed his shaky mental make-up, lack of leadership ability or horrible decision-making.

So in conclusion of Round 2 with you on this…. Matt Stafford is Matt Stafford. Playing him early or late will have no impact in what he becomes, because he is already who he is. The only thing we can do is delay when he becomes “the Lion’s” Matt Stafford by wasting time with Culpepper. I still say, if he’s not ready… he’s not ready. Then start Culpepper. But let’s not play the “competition” game. There is no competition. As long as Stafford is ready, there should be no argument. Let’s give the kid experience and spend the next few years building his team with the best talent we can. The investment is already made. Let’s not waste it.

I know that I can’t change your view of this regardless of how many different scenarios we throw at each other. I can only try to explain how my point of view originates. Arguing with you is like arguing against myself. We must be two of the most stubborn, opinionated people we know. Congrats! That’s not a compliment I throw around lightly.

dressed up as a pirate for Halloween one year….he was very excited and when the time came to go, he ran down the street to the nearest house and knocked on the door. The door opened and he held out his bag with excitement, not saying “Trick or Treat” since he was worried that it would come out as “Twick ow Tweat” and he would get teased. The woman that opened the door said, “Happy Halloween, aren’t you going to say Trick or Treat”? The little boy shook his head no, and the woman smiled. She said “Are you a Pirate”? The boy shook his head yes. She said, ‘Where are your Buccaneers"? The little boy was so embarrassed, thinking the woman was teasing him, that he ran away. He found the same luck at the next house, and was beginning to get upset because he had no candy and everyone was teasing him. Finally he reached the third house, determined to get some candy. When the door opened he once again held out his bag excitedly. The same responses of "Well aren’t you going to say Trick or Treat and Are you a Pirate" came, just like the last two houses. The little boy was waiting for the lady to give him some candy, fully expecting her to ask the inevitable question. At last, she said “Where are your Buccaneers”? He wanted candy so badly that he shouted “Stop teasing me wady….thew on my Buccin HEAD”!!