Lions fans start early, boo Stafford BEFORE the pick
Hey, Bruce: Can Stafford lead the Lions to the Promised Land?
First, my apologies. I did not file a Countdown last week. I was still recuperating from the Masters, when one of Angel Cabrera’s playoff shots bounced off two trees, a moose, a rooftop, a drain pipe, two Democrats (how did they get through the gates?) and then off the side of my head just before rolling into the hole, just as Bobby Jones envisioned.
Sometimes things don’t go as expected. Like NFL drafts. Early picks for splat. Late picks turn into Pro Bowlers. And whatever the Detroit Lions do usually ends up a punchline.
Which leads me to Matthew Stafford. Did you know Lions fans apparently don’t want him?
I dunno. Maybe they saw the Florida game.
Details follow. But first, a disclaimer: This Countdown is a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, who plays Philips Arena on Sunday. I’ve seen him countless times over the last 28 years. Really. I don’t count. Somehow, it makes me seem less obsessive.
Did I tell you I own three of his broken guitar strings?
10. Brilliant Disguise
Can Matthew Stafford throwing to Calvin Johnson be bad? (Brant Sanderlin / bsanderlin@ajc.com)
It’s NFL draft week. So, as always, assume everything you hear is a lie. As Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said Tuesday: “I think the overriding theme in most draft rooms is how important being clandestine is. You just never want to play your hand.”
So in that sense, it’s not surprising the Detroit Lions have not yet made a public declaration about Matthew Stafford. But why suddenly all the hate? Lions fans at a function Monday chanted, “Don’t draft Stafford! Don’t draft Stafford!”
Read on.
9. Your Own Worst Enemy
I’d be miserable if I was a Lions fan. For starters, that would mean living in Detroit. The Lions have had eight straight losing seasons. They were 0-16 last year. They’ve had so many draft blunders — Joey Harrington, Mike Williams, Charles Rogers, Terry Fair, Drew Stanton — you’d think Pete Babcock was hiding in their war room. So it probably wasn’t surprising Monday when the Lions unveiled their new logo and uniforms that their fans chanted, “Curry, Curry,” as in Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. According to Detroit Free Press writer Nicholas Cotsonika, team president Tom Lewand tried to crack a joke: “I’m going to pretend that sounded like Barry,” as in Barry Sanders. The anti-Stafford chants followed.
8. Working On A Dream
This sums Joey Harrington as a first-round pick. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)
Look, I understand the trepidation when it comes to drafting Stafford No. 1. He failed to come up in some big games. But I have a hard time seeing how Matthew Stafford throwing to Calvin Johnson doesn’t translate to success – even if it does make Georgia and Georgia Tech fans a bit queasy.
7. Living In The Future
Overall, here’s the “duh” of the Falcons’ weekend: They’ll draft for defense. Dimitroff’s decision to part with Lawyer Milloy and Keith Brooking sent the message that the team needs to get younger and faster. (Milloy, by the way, has yet to be signed by another team, and he showed up as a “guest secondary coach” at the University of Washington’s spring game.) But mock drafts are all over the board. The most prevalent names of late have been Illinois cornerback Vontae Davis or Southern Cal linebacker Clay Matthews. But of NFL.com’s four experts, including former AJC staffer Steve Wyche, three have the Falcon taking Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew (the other: Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. If your Dimitroff, you love the confusion. Dimitroff: “Some [mocks] are close. Some throw out players in the mix.” But we’re most interested in what we feel as a team.” Well. That didn’t give away too much.
6. (They’re) Going Down
After the Braves started the season 5-1, I’m sure I heard somebody on the radio talk about the playoffs, and winning the division, and possibly overthrowing Lichtenstein. But they’re 1-6 since, they just lost to the 1-10 Nationals, the remains of reliever Blaine Boyer were traded to St. Louis and catcher Brian McCann has blurred vision, which I’m pretty sure is a significant problem when part of your job description is catching every pitch. Wow. And it’s only April. Might want to grab some Dramamine before May. UPDATE: McCann is heeeeeeealed! A link to Carroll Rogers’ story.
5. Radio Nowhere
The NHL playoffs are underway. Somewhere else. (Oh look! Transition!)
4. The Price You Pay
Don Waddell once was a promising prospect. Also a promising GM. But 10 years later...
Thrashers general manager Don Waddell says he fully expects to be back with all of his powers intact. Silence from ownership seemingly confirms as much. OK, look. The team made a nice little run late in the season with some young players. But they still finished with the fourth-worst record in the NHL. They allowed the second-most goals. (Oh wait. That was an improvement. Never mind.) They’ve missed the playoffs in eight out of nine seasons. There’s a word that seems to have escaped some people: accountability. The franchise has a significant marketing problem. Results and marketing problems usually mandate change. But I guess that’s only when somebody cares.
3. She’s (Not) The One
Mentioned a while back I was going going to follow some celebrities on Twitter. Added Kim Kardashian, underground video star and I think still the girlfriend of Reggie Bush, just to see how many brain cells I could burn. She hasn’t disappointed. She has 408,888 followers, only slightly ahead of me. Among the recent “Twits,” are: “PLEASE HELP ME! I am so sunburned! I fell asleep with huge glasses on yesterday! This tan line is not ok!!!” And: “I’m in love with Britney Spears!!!” (hey, now!).
Just another day in the life of Kim Kardashian (via Twitter).
And then there’s this picture, which she too of herself on a recent typical Kim Kardashian day. Wonder if Reggie Bush has introduced her to a “Thighmaster.”
2. Waitin’ On A Sunny Day (and TV)
The first three games of the Hawks-Miami series are stretched ridiculously over seven days, as the NBA bows to the demands of television executives and their desires for the most weekend games possible. But if you’re counting dollars for the Hawks, you’re not complaining. The three days between Games 1 (Sunday) and 2 (Wednesday) means more time to sell tickets, which isn’t easy in a down economy. The Hawks have a hot product but a low season-ticket base. Coach Mike Woodson and players would love a sweep. But the accounting department wouldn’t mind a seven-game series and four home games.
1. No Surrender
Turner attorney Jim Lamberth called a jury’s recent award of $281 million to once potential Hawks and Thrashers owner David McDavid “drastically wrong” and “grossly excessive.” Just one question: If Turner attorneys didn’t spend so much time thumbing through a thesaurus to craft an argument, would they have done a better job in the original court case over the franchise sale? And speaking of “grossly excessive,” what do their billable hours amount to?
Jeff Schultz can be reached via email (jschultz@ajc.com), Facebook, Tweeter (SchultzAJC) or carrier pigeon (make a right off 400).
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121 comments Add your comment
Cuz
April 22nd, 2009
7:17 pm
So BigMike you are saying bring in Reggie Bush? Does that mean Kim Kardashian will be up in the stands in a pink Reggie Bush Lions Jersey? Eight years of Reggie Bush will still not cure the Lions.
NRBQ
April 22nd, 2009
10:01 pm
Ted:
That sister’s rigging deal? Brilliant.
B Pitt
April 23rd, 2009
1:25 am
People that are saying we’d be crazy not to take Stafford do not understand that there is nothing in place that resembles a team like Atlanta, or anyone else that drafted a good QB had in place. Even a serviceable QB will not survive here. Our line on both sides of the ball is relatively nonexistent.
That being said, even as a QB I think Stafford is over-hyped. I think his arm motion, though strong, makes him take too long to get the ball out of his hands. With Georgia being on TV all the time, despite nobody up north here caring about them, and him playing MSU in a bowl, we have seen plenty of him to know that he’s not a game-changing QB. Without a line, he’s completely useless. Honestly, anyone that just thinks we’re gun-shy because of Joey Blueskies may be right, but still, if this were the 2002 draft, Stafford would be the guy you pick AFTER Carr and Harrington, where Carr was leading Fresno State (who?) over BCS teams, and Harrington had big wins without all the stat-padding throw-away games.
The thing is, even if Stafford was a good QB, the type of team he fits in isn’t the type of team we want anyway. Lions fans want to see a tough, blue-collar team that dominates on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We want an offense than runs over people and a defense that destroys people. Even if the west-coast offense would have had success here, people would have hated it. I’d rather be the guys that ruin your pretty boy QB than the guys that win with one.
Cuz
April 23rd, 2009
7:04 am
Roy Orbison playing for the lonely.
Voice of Reason
April 23rd, 2009
10:40 am
stafford has a very short throwing motion so you are wrong on that one.
UGA had a line full of freshmen, yet stafford has games of over 300 yrds. and went 10-3 (much better than 0-16) so you’re wrong again.
stafford is a prostyle type QB (meaning he played in a run heavy offense and plays mostly under center) so therefore he does fit into your description of what Detroit wants alot more than Culpepper or any other QB you have, so once again you are 0-3. Maybe it is the low intelligence of the people of Detriot that is the problem with the Lions and the auto industry!
Bitter
April 23rd, 2009
11:38 am
Stafford deserves what he gets. There is no way in hell he was ready to leave early, him or Moron-o. You can call me bitter if you want but neither of those boys are ready. Stafford and Moreno could’ve stayed another year and gained VALUABLE experience. Stafford still would’ve been the #1 pick next year (not having to go to the first winless NFL franchise, or if he did because they still suck he at least would’ve had more pieces around him) and Moreno would’ve only improved his stock. You can’t honestly say that those two are ready. Moreno only played two years. Can anyone name the last QB to come out early? I’m seriously asking. They both will get what they deserve.
Voice of Reason
April 23rd, 2009
1:59 pm
Bitter— Ben Roethlisberger came out early and it worked out quite well for him.
Gen Neyland
April 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
Sports Jeopardy for 1 mil : Cleveland, Detroit and Oakland… What teams get it wrong more often than right..?
Sports Jeopardy for 30 mil : Pittsburgh, New England, Tennessee, NYG’s, and a few others…Which teams are doing things right more often that not..?
Blackberry Cobbler
April 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Talentwise, Stafford wasn’t even among the top 3 QB’s in the SEC, much less a #1 draft pick. Way, way, way overrated. It takes more than arm strength to be an NFL QB much less a #1 pick and Stafford is no where near.
B Pitt
April 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
He has a short throwing motion with his snap throw when throwing within 10-15 yards, maybe. Otherwise, every time I’ve seen him throw long he winds up about as long as your typical MLB pitcher. True he’s probably better than anything we have now, but we don’t have anything right now. There’s no point in having anyone this year, either, when, regardless, the most we will win is 4 games. That’s fine, though, if we want to build long-term. I don’t want a winning season next year. You can bring any QB in here, though, and he will fail right now. If you want to talk about Rothlisberger, that works out well because of the team around him. Ben makes some great throws here and there, but the Steelers win games with defense and controlling the time of possession with a team that was in place before Ben even got there.
10 and 3 is better than 0 and 16, though. So good job on that. My point is that by the time we have a team that is built up enough for a decent QB that we would choose this year, his contract will be up, and we will have spent 40 million for nothing. We’re paying too much for Culpepper as it is. I would have rather kept Kitna for this year, because he was a cheaper tackle dummy, and that’s all a QB will be here while it takes at least 3 years for us to straighten out the rest of the team. Until then, I’m all about picking all defensive players and offensive line players with leadership qualities, and I’m sorry, I don’t see Stafford as a leader in this league for another 5 years (and that’s if he even pans out…70% of them don’t)
Voice of Reason
April 23rd, 2009
4:56 pm
actually the fact that he is about to be a top pick means that he is a #1 draft pick. No matter if you think he is deserving or not, it obviously takes exactyl what Stafford has to be a #1 draft pick because that is what he is about to be. That is therefore a dumba$$ statement.
Voice of Reason
April 23rd, 2009
4:59 pm
no matter if you pick a QB or a LB, the statement that “by the time we have a team that is built up enough for a decent (whatever) that we would choose this year, his contract will be up, and we will have spent 40 million for nothing. AAron Curry’s contract would be up at that time also
B Pitt
April 23rd, 2009
5:26 pm
Curry will contribute much more to the team, right away, and by the time his contract is up, we may have something in place due to his leadership. Stafford will just get beat up that whole time and contribute nothing, and you won’t see any noticeable change. Curry would aid in stopping the bleeding of the worst defense of all time, and I’d be more inclined to renew the contract of a linebacker who made a difference than a QB whose confidence will by shot by then. Our team destroys quarterbacks.
Also, don’t blame the people of Detroit for our team’s poor draft choices. If they had listened to fans at all we wouldn’t be in this mess. For example, if they did any scouting at all, or asked any random student at Michigan State, they could have told them Rogers had substance abuse problems. Maybe this time they should listen to us, because more than 60% of us do not want Stafford. Let Culpepper and Stanton get shredded until we have a team where the QB is the missing piece.
Tell the truth, I hope we deal this pick somehow. If it were me, and we’re stuck with #1, I’d take Curry for his potential leadership, or Orakpo (especially if we could trade a few picks down and grab him) for his size and disposition. I may even take Smith and move Backus to guard, but it’s obvious that it’s a two horse race between Stafford and Curry.
FLADAWG
April 25th, 2009
11:40 am
bama12titles is right. I too have visited Detroit more than once and have yet to leave with a positive impression of the place. No doubt Stafford is talented – I expect him to perform more consistently with NFL caliber coaching compared to our On The Job Trained OC at UGA. Stafford will be doing Detroit a favor if he goes there.
Ed
April 25th, 2009
12:58 pm
Springteen’s a typical left-wing, sanctimonious, phony. I agree, the “working class hero” b.s. got old a long time ago. He should be exiled to some remote island with Sean Penn and Danny Glover so they can take turns preaching to each other about the virtues of socialism and the evils of capitalism.
I love how Reagan turned the anti-American “Born in the USA” into a rousing, patriotic campaign theme in ‘84. Ticked off Springsteen something awful. I loved Reagan – he annoyed the right people.
On another note, I watched Stafford play at UGA for three seasons, like the kid, and wish him all the success and happiness in the world. Having said that, the Lions are freakin’ INSANE. I may be proven wrong, but he’s just not that good. I don’t know how you objectively evaluate his 3 seasons at Georgia and come to any other conclusion.
Pitbull
April 25th, 2009
6:47 pm
Is Reggie Ball still on the Lions’ roster?
That would explain a lot about their 0-16 record, failure, and fan displeasure.
Maybe he will go back to Tech and become a coach like Joe Hamilton. On second thought….
B Pitt
April 25th, 2009
8:15 pm
I can understand possibly not having a great experience right downtown being from out of town and not knowing where to go. There are places to go down there, but they’re not necessarily obvious. As far as the noise factor, I’ve never been to a city where there weren’t sirens constantly going off. It’s been like that in Chicago, New York, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and pretty much every other city I’ve been to. Detroit’s downtown suffers from most of the people and money being in its surrounding suburbs rather than downtown, and even the good things within city limits being on the outskirts, except for what businesses are in place for our sports crowd. So the city is kind of inside out in comparison to many cities. More things are moving downtown, though, and you can have a good night out whether you’re looking for cheap drinks or a sushi bar or whatever.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy it, but I hope if you’re ever here again someone will be nice enough to give you some pointers on where to go. I know it’s not the easiest place to get around as a visitor either, and I hope that’s something we can work on, because our little toy train people-mover downtown doesn’t cut it.
For those of you worried about Stafford and feeling sorry for him, he’ll be alright either way…he has 41.7 million for sure. To everyone that loves Stafford and defended him as a #1 pick, I hope to god you’re right, and I hope we can give him something resembling a team to help out.
Steven
April 27th, 2009
7:44 am
Trust me not all Lions fans are upset about the pick of Matt, I have watched him come up through college and am very happy to have him with the Lions. Its always easy to BOO so you can say I told you so, Great draft Lions management (love the pettigrew draft also)
dan
April 27th, 2009
10:21 pm
Ed
Springsteen is awesome.Screw Regan, he was so corrupt! It’s a joke that his presidency is remembered fondly by the right wing. He was so overrated.
On to football: I think the Lions overpaid for Stafford. And regardless of how well Stafford performs, I think we can all agree that the Lions have nowhere to go but up. The odds of going 0-16 again are astronomical.
As for fans booing Stafford: all I can say to Matt is get over it. A guy who makes 41 million isn’t going to get a lot of sympathy from residents in a city where 40% of the population has left due to unemployment and where you can buy a house for under $18,000. That’s a car payment folks!
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May 14th, 2009
8:07 am
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Yyywmewj
June 22nd, 2009
5:33 am
WLibNU comment3 ,