Pro Football Focus disrespects Matthew Stafford in ‘Foundation Draft’

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NFL: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints Is Jameson Williams the Next Matthew Stafford?
Dec 4, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) celebrates after throwing a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions defeated the Saints 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

If you have followed the Detroit Lions over the past couple of seasons, chances are you agree the most valuable player on the team over that period has been quarterback Matthew Stafford. And it’s not close.

Coming out of the University of Georgia, there was no question about it that Stafford had elite physical skills that would translate nicely to the NFL. Over his eight seasons in the league, the Lions signal-caller has managed to morph into one of the best QB’s in the NFL, yet he still cannot seem quiet all of his haters.

The most recent knock on Stafford comes from Pro Football Focus. On Tuesday, PFF published a piece titled, “The PFF Foundation Draft: Who would you choose to start a franchise?” Here is the premise of the piece:

From Pro Football Focus:

Imagine the world of football was starting over again, from scratch. If you were starting a franchise from square one, who would you use? What old players are still worthwhile as building blocks? How young is too young?

That was the challenge posed to our PFF analysts over the last week. It’s PFF’s first-ever Foundation Draft, imagining that our analysts were each put in charge of one of 32 NFL teams and picking their teams from scratch.

The rules: The player pool is made up of the entire world — NFL players, college players, high-schoolers, some talented player’s toddler. Age matters, position matters, but contracts do not. The game will be played just like it always has been.

After reading that, you would think that Stafford would have been a top 5 selection right? Nope. How about top 10? Sorry, try again. That’s right folks, John Matthew Stafford, who is only 29-years-old was not selected until 14th.

What is even more damning about this “Foundation Draft” joke of a piece is that included in the 13 players selected ahead of Stafford are Andrew Luck (No. 2), Derek Carr (No. 4), Jameis Winston (No. 6), Marcus Mariota (No. 7), Cam Newton (No. 9), Kirk Cousins (No. 10), and wait for it…Patrick freaking Mahomes (No. 13)!!!

Those players do not even include some of the older guys who were selected ahead of Stafford like Tom Brady (not arguing against the GOAT), Aaron Rodgers (getting old) and Drew Brees (Grandpa).

Matthew Stafford has done more with less than just about any other quarterback in the National Football League but continues to fly under the radar amongst the self-proclaimed “know-it-alls” around the country.

Now that I think about it, maybe that’s exactly where Stafford is most comfortable.

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