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After the Detroit Lions fired Jim Schwartz last week, quarterback Matthew Stafford indicated that he wouldn't be against playing some kind of a role in the team's search for a new head coach. General manager Martin Mayhew suggested that players would not be a part of the coaching search, but Stafford met with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell last Friday when Caldwell was in town to interview with the Lions.
On Monday, during an interview on Mitch Albom's radio show, Stafford talked about what exactly his role is in the Lions' coaching search. Via the Lions' official site, here's a look at what he said:
"It’s something, however much they ask me to be a part of it, I’ll be a part of it," Stafford said on the Albom Show. "I’m not knocking on the door. They asked me to sit in on that one, and as more and more interviews happen, whether I’m in town to sit with them and talk or whether we talk on the phone.
"I’m sure I’ll have some involvement in that process."
Stafford denied that his meeting with Caldwell involved a breakdown of his mechanics. Instead, according to Stafford, he simply talked with Caldwell about "his philosophy in coaching" while Caldwell picked his brain about the Lions.
Who might Stafford be speaking with this week as interviews continue? The Lions are reportedly scheduled to interview former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Munchak on Friday, and they're expected to have a meeting with San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt this week as well. Chances are the Lions will have to go to San Diego for the Whisenhunt interview, so it's unclear if Stafford will actually get a chance to speak with him.
