The Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford are divorcing in an amicable way. Stafford is getting an opportunity to go to a contender in sunny Los Angeles, while Brad Holmes gets the draft ammunition he may need to kickstart a rebuild in Detroit. There should be no animosity on either side, and that includes fans.
Stafford gave 12 years to this franchise and helped pull them out of their worst era in history. He made football in this town entertaining again, and despite the overall losing and significant dysfunction over the past three years, Stafford’s commitment to the team and the game never wavered. Every minute he was out there, he gave it his all. After going through all of that, it’s hard to fault him for wanting out.
But that now puts Lions fans in an awkward position. Stafford’s future success undoubtedly hurts the Lions. The more the Rams win, the worse the Lions’ draft pick haul gets. But the more the Rams lose, the worse Stafford’s legacy gets.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Are you rooting for the Rams to win or lose with Matthew Stafford?
My answer: I refuse to give a binary answer here. I am a Detroit Lions fan, but I am forever a Matthew Stafford fan, too. He was too good to this city and too good to this team for me to wish him—or his team—any ill will.
And, yes, there will be a part of me that feels vindicated for defending Stafford against hater after hater if he lifts a Lombardi Trophy with a team that was actually capable of surrounding him with talent.
But I’d be lying if I wasn’t drooling at the opportunity for the Rams’ plan to completely backfire. If the Lions were to somehow get a top-10 pick from this haul, that would make this entire transaction a huge win for Detroit. And for as long as Stafford has been waiting to be part of a great franchise, I’ve been waiting nearly three times as long as he has.
That’s all to say, let’s split the difference. The Rams can go ahead and win the Super Bowl with Stafford next year, but then let’s just have everything implode in 2022 for the Rams. The Lions get the 32nd pick next year and the fifth overall pick in 2022.
There. Everybody is happy.
Poll
What are you rooting for?
This poll is closed
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53%
Matthew Stafford to win as much as possible
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29%
Rams blow it, Lions get higher pick
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17%
DON’T MAKE ME CHOOSE