I'm hearing lot's of noise this season about how Stafford is fragile and might be a "bust" already because he's missed 9 1/2 games in less than two seasons. Does anybody remember Troy Aikman when he missed 5 games in his sophmore season or know that he had 10 concussions (and numerous other injuries) in his entire career or remember Phil Simms' had multiple injuries in his first few years and was considered a bust early on too? You don't remember that because of the Superbowl wins and personal achievements that both of them had throughout their careers.

It's way too early to label a 22 year kid a bust after only 10 1/2 total games, especially on a team who has won two games with him and absolutely zero without him. He gives the Detroit Lions a chance to become respectable once they learn to fully protect him. He is a grown man, but age-wise he's basically only a senior in college right now and still has to grow into his adult body before he is able to sustain the kind of hits he has taken and not get seriously injured. I believe once he get's a few years under his belt, and they do protect him properly, he will shake that "bust" label pretty quickly. He's got all of the physical tools, the intangibles, the smarts, leadership ability, and most importantly he has "IT", which every great quarterback needs in order to succeed. It's not that I think he's little Peyton Manning already at this stage in his career, but he's definitely not a bust. He started in the NFL at the ripe old age of 21 years old on an 0-16 team with no protection or weapons beside Calvin and Pettigrew (who were both also was hurt all season) and led them to one of the most dramatic and promising wins for a rookie ever in the history of the NFL in that Cleveland game. Throwing 5 TDs and over 400 yards, he got injured again because of a 300+ pound d-lineman dropped Stafford to the ground and he still threw the game winner despite that shoulder injury. Stafford is a stud, his cannon arm, leadership skills, and football I.Q are probably his best qualities.

He probably won't play in the game against St. Louis and may not be back until after the bye week, which seems to be the most likely scenario, but once he does get back and knocks the rust off, those close games that were losses will be turned into wins...and maybe even big ones. Playoffs in 2011 if we have a healthy Stafford with protection. You can take that to the bank.