Notes: Matthew Stafford ‘poised for career year,’ makes CBS’s top 10 list

You’ve already seen our top 10 list of quarterbacks for the 2020 season, or if you haven’t, you can view it here and listen to our discussion. In it, we ranked Matthew Stafford fifth overall in the NFL—perhaps a little hometown discount for our guy, but potentially reasonable given his current trajectory.

But we aren’t the only ones high on the Detroit Lions quarterback. CBS Sports’ Sean Wagner-McGough offered his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2020 season, and Stafford landed seventh on his list, only behind Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson.

That’s right. A national writer ranked Matthew Stafford above Tom Brady (ninth) and Aaron Rodgers (not ranked!!!).

Wagner-McGough mainly points to last year’s performance as evidence of Stafford’s talent. In his first year under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, Stafford was able to unleash his arm talent and challenge defenses downfield.

“With Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones still around, and T.J. Hockenson entering Year 2, Stafford is poised to pick up where he left off,” Wagner-McGough wrote. “Assuming he can stay healthy this time around, Stafford has a legitimate chance to put together the best season of his career. He’s never been better equipped to do so.”

• The trailer for Madden 21 was released on Tuesday, and the only glimpse of the Lions you’ll see is Kerryon Johnson getting destroyed by a Vikings defender:

And here’s the reaction of noted Madden critic, Kerryon Johnson:

• Barry Sanders joined other former Madden cover athletes to congratulate Lamar Jackson for donning the cover this year:

• Since Matt Patricia was hired in Detroit, the Lions instituted the William Clay Ford Minority Coaching Assistantship. John Niyo of the Detroit News has more on what exactly that is and how it has worked in two seasons.

• Tyrell Crosby: Good dude:

• The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett offered his best guess on whether there will be fans in the stadiums this fall in his latest mailbag.

• Want to go to the Pro Bowl, but hate Florida? Good news:

• ESPN has a nice feature on the demise (and potential future) of the XFL.