As soon as the 2020 NFL season was a wrap, the Matthew Stafford trade rumors started to heat up, and many people bought in that it was a real possibility that he would be dealt.
Thankfully, Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn came out immediately and shut those rumors down, but even so, there was still chatter that the plan was to select a young QB in the draft who could eventually replace Stafford.
Well, the draft is in the books and the Lions did not select a quarterback, as I predicted.
On Wednesday, Lions head coach Matt Patricia joined the crew on Good Morning Football and former Lions WR Nate Burleson asked him about the Stafford trade rumors and about potentially moving on from him in the future.
As you will see below, Patricia made it VERY clear that Stafford is part of the reason why he came to the Lions in the first place and that he is his QB moving forward.
“I do understand when coaches go into franchises, they’re trying to redo everything there and maybe go with a younger or less expensive quarterback. But in our case here, I’m trying to do the best I can to build around Matt Stafford. I think that’s the most important thing. Try to help him out. Obviously, with the offensive line in front of him, get a little bit of a run game, get some skill players out there, and play better defense and try to do everything we can to have a complementary football team with him as our leader. I get really excited to coach him and really fired up to be around him, so I’m not changing.”
“One of the main reasons I came to the Lions was for Matthew Stafford,” Patricia said, echoing a sentiment he’s shared for the past three years. “I have the utmost respect for him as a player. He’s a phenomenal teammate, he’s a great football mind, he loves to talk the game. I just get fired up when I get a chance to sit with him and go over things and talk about strategy, players and the game. For me, it’s kind of a crazy conversation when the trade rumors come up.”
https://youtu.be/SakMU43GiFM?t=76
Nation, do you think it is wise for the Lions to move forward with Matthew Stafford? I do!
