Stafford benched! (Not really, he’s just not starting)
Matthew Stafford isn't concerned about not starting against the Falcons. (AP photo)
And now for something completely different: Two former No. 1 overall NFL draft picks will NOT start for the Detroit Lions in a pre-season opener Saturday night: Michael Vick and Matthew Stafford. (Sorry. For some reason I feel compelled to get Vick’s name in every lead today.)
The Lions announced today that veteran Daunte Culpepper will start against the Falcons in the teams’ exhibition opener at Ford Field. For the record, it will be the first time Stafford doesn’t start a game since his freshman year at Georgia.
But the former Bulldog shouldn’t be too concerned about the ramifications of that decision. Can you remember who started the first two pre-season games for the Falcons last year? Chris Redman.
Matt Ryan took over as the Falcons’ starter in the third exhibition game. Then he was announced as the regular season starter. Turned out pretty well. He threw a touchdown pass on the season’s first play and went 11-5.
By all accounts, Stafford has been impressive in camp. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said, “I don’t feel like I’m coach or talking to a rookie when we work with him.”
Lions head coach Jim Schwartz already has said he’ll enter the game sometime in the second quarter and will start the second pre-season game Aug. 22 at Cleveland. So either he wants to keep everybody guessing for a while or he just hasn’t made up his mind yet on who is starter will be this season.
For what it’s worth, Stafford doesn’t seem concerned. He’s downplaying his pro debut, telling the Detroit Free Press: “I’m not really interested in calling anything my debut. I don’t really care. I’m just going out there and having fun and playing football again.”
The good news is that his first start next week will come against only the Browns — a significant step down from the Florida Gators.
Question: Are you looking forward to watching Stafford tomorrow night. (Tech fans — feel free to weigh in, too. At least Stafford will be throwing to Calvin Johnson.)
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58 comments Add your comment
mike on lake hartwell
August 14th, 2009
3:43 pm
georgia tech still sux.
Zoomie
August 14th, 2009
3:55 pm
It will be surreal to watch Stafford suiting up against the Falcons.
Saint Simons
August 14th, 2009
4:02 pm
((((( 45 42 ))))) hahahahahaha
GeoffDawg
August 14th, 2009
4:03 pm
Stafford to Johnson is going to be a pairing for the ages. Ball to Johnson was just too crotch oriented.
mitch
August 14th, 2009
4:05 pm
Dear Mr. JS–what really impressed me with Stafford was when he said I don’t care, who cares, not me, all I want to do is have a little fun out there aplaying some football. That’s what he said, all I want to do is have some fun and play some football before it gets dark. Your pal, Mitch
Doyle Hargraves
August 14th, 2009
4:17 pm
The real question is, will his head be in the game or the blondes at the lakehouse? Maybe both?
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2009
4:22 pm
Doyle: 1) football first; 2) blondes at lakehouse later.
mitch
August 14th, 2009
4:24 pm
Dear Mr. JS–one time when I was twelve I told mama I forgot my books and can’t do my homework, and she said those who forget the pasta are condemned to re-heat it, and I said, “Pardon me?” Your pal, Mitch
misterwax
August 14th, 2009
4:25 pm
Maybe even good old Reggie Ball will get in on some plays too…How has he recovered from his injuries last year? just curious. Football season should be exciting in many respects this year….BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
GeoffDawg
August 14th, 2009
4:35 pm
Doyle – It depends on which head you’re referring to.
Ted Striker
August 14th, 2009
4:35 pm
Attention Madden NFL Players:
For anyone who enjoys the game — like me — Sports Illustrated is offering Madden NFL 10 (released today) for free with a paid subscription ($49). It’s a decent deal since you’re getting the game for essentially the same price you’d pay at a retail store — and they throw in the magazine subscription for free.
I don’t work for S.I. (I work for the C.I.A.), but if you buy the game you can log online and play me, and I will cheerfully whomp you in between your Jeff Schultz column installments.
Now that i’ve done my public service announcement, I can skip giving blood (they normally tell me my BAC is too high anyway) and go back to drinking.
Nashville4UGA
August 14th, 2009
4:40 pm
Do you guys really blame the #1 draft pick for having a little fun with the ladies this summer? When Tom Brady dates supermodels it’s all glamourous, when Stafford is in some pics with some fine hunnies he is blasted as not being focused..we live in a double standard world.
GeoffDawg
August 14th, 2009
4:43 pm
Anyone blasting Stafford for partying with hot chicks on a boat is either a hypocrite or a tech fan. Also of note is that those items are not mutually exclusive.
Doyle Hargraves
August 14th, 2009
4:45 pm
Jeff, I hope you are right. But you have to give kudos to a man that can locate a harem of young hot blonde women on a lake in Detroit. Guess that’s what a few million $ can do for you. If I was a better guitar player and could get over my fear of midgets and antique furniture, maybe it could be me.
1standGOAL
August 14th, 2009
4:54 pm
That red cup beer always made me hurl.
Bat Masterson
August 14th, 2009
4:55 pm
If one has a much money as Stafford he has plenty of time for football and blondes. Its not like he will be busy doing his laundry or cleaning his house.
Paul H
August 14th, 2009
4:59 pm
Tech fans get jealous anytime they see someone on a boat with hot girls. In this case, it just happens to be Stafford on the boat.
Paul H
August 14th, 2009
5:00 pm
No matter how bad the Lions are, Staff to Johnson will certainly prevent the team from going 0-16 again. Without a doubt.
cb
August 14th, 2009
5:01 pm
Not to knock Stafford’s ability, but his whole “I don’t really care” makes a lot of sense. He rarely seemed to take the losses at UGA to heart and rarely seemed too fired up on the sideline. He seems a little to laid back for the quarterback position–I want someone with some fire (as well as a laser rocket arm)!!!
Paul H
August 14th, 2009
5:14 pm
CB – agreed. He was very laid back at UGA and that made me question where his heart was. Talent wise, I think he was the best QB UGA has ever had, but the heart and leadership of Greene and Shockley were what won those SEC titles.
Doyle Hargraves
August 14th, 2009
5:15 pm
Nothing is wrong with being on a boat with hot women. Nothing is wrong with making lots of $. In fact I highly recommend both. So far Staff is doing a great job.
Actually I graduated from UGA. I left there with a diploma and a sense of humor.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2009
5:31 pm
Doyle Hargaves — actually I’m not sure those photos were taken in Michigan — but for what it’s worth there’s a lot of nice lakes up there.
1standgoal– sorry to hear that.
PaulH — absotively.
cb and PaulH — I think you’re reading too much into that. A reporter says, ‘you’re not starting the pre-season game’ and he says ‘I don’t care’ — I don’t think that means he’s not competitive. But I understand the whole perceived laid-back attitude didn’t go over well with some of the Bulldog Nation.
TWWG
August 14th, 2009
5:33 pm
Calvin Johnson can make any quarterback look good. To bad for Matthew Stafford that he will be just like every other qb that played for UGAY, he will retire in two years (David Greene) and sell insurance or maybe even deliver pizza, that is about all you can do with a UGA education. THWG and GO JACKETS.
chris byard
August 14th, 2009
5:38 pm
Really!?!? A rookie quarterback is NOT starting!? Come on. Who had any thoughts Stafford would start?
And, as for your Vick statement, you’re a better journalist than to have to resort to old news. Write to the people who care, not the ones who likely aren’t reading your column anyway.
cb
August 14th, 2009
5:40 pm
TWWG–how many Tech QB’s are in the NFL??
JS–I did like Stafford a lot at UGA, arguably the most gifted QB we have ever had. I just don’t think he was motivated by the losses–maybe I am wrong as I was not at practices, etc., but I was just baffled sometimes at the post game interviews and other sound bites…..GO DAWGS!!!
David
August 14th, 2009
5:43 pm
Thank god for money otherwise fat, goofy looking guys like Stafford would be really lonely. GET THE BALL TO MEGATRON STAFFORD!
SuperB
August 14th, 2009
5:51 pm
He’s the “next” Lions’ QB– not the current. Detroit, no matter how bad they are, needs to play Culpepper now and groom Stafford for the future.
SuperB
August 14th, 2009
5:53 pm
Hey Dav(GT)id… I bet you wouldn’t say that to Matt’s face. If so, you’d probably end up looking “goofy.” and in the ER at the same time. Only an idiot would say that to a 6-2, 235-pound football player.
origional fan
August 14th, 2009
6:25 pm
TWWG, 2 yrs? what a moron! Does the name FRAN TARKENTON mean anything to you? I love GT AS WELL AS UGA. Any given season I root for the one who has the most to lose. Just for the record, last time I rooted for GT, 1990. NC Year.
origional fan
August 14th, 2009
6:28 pm
And I can call myself origional fan because the franchise was awarded on the day I was born in 1964.
GT-Jake
August 14th, 2009
6:47 pm
DUMMY
F-Dawg
August 14th, 2009
6:47 pm
TWWG…..A risk management career along with a part time radio commentator gig doesn’t sound to bad when compared to some of techs past qb’s career choices. Wonder what the ultra successful Joe Hamilton is doing for income….other than selling dope near your crime riddled campus. Not to mention Reggie “the thug” Ball…
Rod
August 14th, 2009
7:14 pm
It is going to be fun watching two dawg QB’s battle Saturday Shockley vs Stafford. I don’t think we have seen that at the NFL level before.
J
August 14th, 2009
8:04 pm
another proud ugay product.
Jeff Schultz
August 14th, 2009
8:43 pm
Rod — I completely forgot about the whole Stafford vs. Shockley thing. That will be fun to see.
Doyle Hargraves
August 14th, 2009
9:20 pm
I guess I am not that well-traveled in regard to the Northern states. Next time I am in the mood to be around lots of hot half-naked young blonde women, I will book a cruise on Lake Erie instead of Hedonism in Jamaica.
dawgstephen
August 14th, 2009
10:05 pm
Looking forward to seeing Staff in the game. Also looking forward to DJ showing John Jessica Parker Wilson that he can leave now.
http://www.dawgstephen.blogspot.com
Sloan
August 14th, 2009
10:42 pm
TWWG – I graduated from UGA and sell insurance for a living – would you like to compare tax returns a$$face?
Joe
August 15th, 2009
12:20 am
Ken Wisenhunt was a Tech QB, albeit briefly. I think he’s still in the NFL.
Joe
August 15th, 2009
12:21 am
wisenhunt = Whisenhunt
nowyouseeme
August 15th, 2009
12:34 am
Stafford will end-up continuing the great (sic) tradition of UGA QBs in the pros for the last 30 years – end-up being a big BUST. What the hell did Zier, Greene, and Shockley, (as well as Buck himself) do in the pros?? NOTHING. For all the greatness that UGA thinks that their QBs have been while in college – they all sucked in the pros (save Fran the Man).
NRBQ
August 15th, 2009
12:35 am
TWWG: “Calvin Johnson can make any quarterback look good.”
Pray tell, how’d that worked out for Reggie Ball?
nowyouseeme
August 15th, 2009
12:37 am
To mike on lake hartwell – hmmmmm – if GT still sux, what does that make your puppies???? GT kicked (ran over) your little pups last season. Or are you like most other DAWG fans (can’t spell either) – you are in a constant state of denial.
whatever
August 15th, 2009
12:41 am
Hey – wasn’t Zier a VP for a large mortgage company that went billy-up?? Wasn’t he and his company one of the companies investigated for mortgage fraud – taking advantage of people – hmmmm. Couldn’t make it in the pros and couldn’t make it (with out cheating) in business – now he is in the broadcast booth for UGA – Interesting what happens to UGA heros (sic)
Jim
August 15th, 2009
5:06 am
Don’t swat a yellow bee. They are harmless as are there qbs.
Ed-Covington
August 15th, 2009
6:37 am
JS: Ryan threw a TD pass on his first attempt, not the first play. Also, your own paper had an article about Stafford v. Shockley this week. My thoughts on this subject: Stafford will be the next Joey Harrington. Why does every blog denegrate into a GT v. GA pi$$ing contest? I am a GT fan, but it really makes one just give up on trying to read all of this drivel.
AP
August 15th, 2009
6:47 am
Zier was at Homebanc, who went broke, except for the CEO.
greg
August 15th, 2009
8:05 am
Who cares…love to read your posts…live in Atlanta…but not a Georgia fan…I went to Clemson…I am sure that of the 5 million people that live in ATL most did not go to Georgia and are not fans. Any post about Georgia is a non story to me.
Jeff Schultz
August 15th, 2009
10:30 am
Ed — right, first pass. actually third play. stand corrected.
Greg — thanks for the comments. As a Clemson grad/fan, I understand your feelings about Georgia…. But how do you feel about Dabo Swinney? (spel?)
mike on lake hartwell
August 15th, 2009
10:35 am
GREG, u r a non-story. read another paper. clemzun sux almost as bad as TECH.
Pago Flyer
August 15th, 2009
11:01 am
Actually,I’m at Lake Bellaire right now in N.Mich. There are some looking women up here, I’ll see thousands more at The Kid Rock concert tonight in Boyne City,
Fed up
August 15th, 2009
12:08 pm
As a DAWG fan I’d rather see Matt to Calvin instead of Matthew to Calvin.
Clayton Fielding Whitworth IV
August 15th, 2009
3:29 pm
If I were the Lions, I’d be more concerned about Stafford and brunettes at a lakehouse. Brunettes are underrated and tend to fly under the radar when compared to blondes. That makes them more dangerous. Many a rich young man has been tripped up by raven-haired beauties.
Ed
August 15th, 2009
3:32 pm
Stafford’s biggest challenge will be to overcome playing for this generation’s version of the ‘76 Buccaneers. If he can stay healthy long enough for the team to improve around him, he might have a great pro career. Otherwise he might go the way of David Carr. Or that washed-up old geezer who started for the Bucs in ‘76.
Scott Anderson
August 16th, 2009
9:48 am
Stafford did OK for his first pre season game.
Falcons defense looks suspicious to me. Could be trouble when going agains a really good defense that will shut down Ryan and Company.
Did Miami have a good defense last year ? Uh oh
Falcon 228
August 16th, 2009
2:06 pm
Stafford will do fine. The coaching staff that’s with the Lions will give him what he needs.
Mr. Fan
August 16th, 2009
9:35 pm
No UGA fan here, but gotta give Stafford credit. The kid looked good.He put the ball on the mark every time. Its not his fault if those guys can’t catch. He’ll do well in the NFL.
Joe
August 17th, 2009
7:33 am
Same old Stafford…..interceptions…..touchdown…..soooooo Glad he is gone pro!!