Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me
Matthew Stafford is being hailed as a folk hero across the NFL for, of all things, a display of heart. I have to confess: As someone who saw Stafford’s first collegiate pass against Western Kentucky and his last against Michigan State, “heart” wasn’t the commodity I felt he had in abundance.
Arm strength, yes. That he threw for 422 yards against Cleveland on Sunday didn’t surprise me all that much — Joe Cox could throw for 442 yards against Cleveland, which hasn’t had a team in any sport do much of anything since the self-appointed mayor of that city threatened me on live TV — but the already-legendary endgame tableau did.
To recap: With Detroit down by six, Stafford runs around looking for a receiver and, after much hurly-burly, slings the ball into the end zone as time expires. (Did I mention he has a big arm?) Alas, it’s intercepted. But wait.
The Browns’ defensive backs, making the Falcons’ DBs look good by comparison, manage to interfere with two different Lions. The foul on Bryant Johnson by Hank Poteat is called. The one on Calvin Johnson, of whom you’ve heard, is not. No matter. It’s pass interference. Ball on the 1. Untimed down. (Game can’t end on a defensive penalty, unless it benefits Florida or Alabama, in which case it’s OK.) But wait.
Stafford has been flattened by defensive tackle C.J. Mosley and is, as they say, in a world of hurt. The Lions send backup quarterback Daunte Culpepper on the field while the medical staff tends to Stafford. But wait.
Cleveland coach Eric Mangini calls timeout to yell at the refs about the interference call — has there ever been a nickname less apt than ManGenius? — and Stafford re-inserts himself into the game. And throws the winning touchdown pass after the game has technically ended.
Miracle comeback. Five touchdown passes by a rookie, the fifth coming after a hit so violent Stafford was left with a bad left shoulder and might not be able to play Thursday, when the Lions stage their annual Thanksgiving gala. Guts, glory and a really big arm.
And I have to admit: The guy showed me something new. My take on Stafford at Georgia was that he was a great talent but not necessarily a leader. I’m not saying he didn’t want to win. (Clearly he did.) I’m just saying I never considered him a particularly inspirational player. He did his job but didn’t necessarily elevate his team, which was a key reason I wouldn’t have taken Stafford No. 1 overall were I the Lions.
Courtesy of YouTube, here’s the whole wild game in miniature. You’ll notice Calvin Johnson doing the usual nice work, and you’ll also notice Mohamed Massaquoi, who used to play with Stafford and now plays for Cleveland, catching a touchdown pass. But mostly you’ll notice Stafford, doing something I wouldn’t have expected him to do. Consider me re-educated.
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114 comments Add your comment
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 23rd, 2009
8:11 pm
Enter your comments here
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 23rd, 2009
8:12 pm
kinda first.
Gawdfather
November 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
Hey Mark, you ready to eat some crow regarding Brett Favre?
tim
November 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
Why don’t we see this out of any player wearing red and black anymore?
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 23rd, 2009
8:13 pm
Yeah Mark, he stood in till they broke his arm off. I’d say thats heart.
Dr. Phil
November 23rd, 2009
8:20 pm
Stafford is, indeed, a tough cookie. It is a shame that he went to such a bad team.
grid_Fe
November 24th, 2009
1:43 am
I think many are now realizing that the whole aloof and non-inspiring appearance that Stafford showed at UGA had more to do with being at UGA and less to do with Stafford. It’s obvious now that the UGA coaching staff held Stafford back. The heart and leadership were always there. It’s plain for everyone to see now that he’s with the Lions, who trust him and let him lead. The UGA coaching staff just didn’t take advantage of it. On the contrary, it looks like they hindered it.
Meanwhile...an apt, if unsettling comparison
November 24th, 2009
1:52 am
At the risk that someone may be eating when they read this, it has to be said that the moniker ManGenius fits Mangini about as smoothly as a mankini would fit Mangini at this point.
Pepto Bismol anyone?
Ted Striker
November 24th, 2009
2:28 am
Nice article, as is your custom.
JSS
November 24th, 2009
2:56 am
I gave “Corky” credit on Sunday’s blog for channeling Staubach and Tarkenton and at least giving his team a chance… Now stay away from Party Boats and NASCAR events and he’ll possibly make ‘em forget Bobby Layne..
Halsey
November 24th, 2009
3:07 am
Stafford was nitpicked to all heck leading up to the Draft because guys like Ryan Leaf and JaMarcus Russell have made people afraid of top rated QB’s. It’s gotten to where people look for reasons to not like a QB prospect and ignore the positives. Stafford had ‘quality NFL QB’ written all over him. Like many good NFL QB’s, he will be even better in the pros than he was in college. He’s made for the NFL.
DirtyDawg
November 24th, 2009
3:10 am
Hey grid…up yours. I suppose that when you’re down you have to expect the naysayers to come out of the woodwork, but to claim that Mark Richt and Bobo and others didn’t give Matt Stafford the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership and heart is asinine. The kid played every down, had the talent around him to exploit and he showed enough of his own talent to make himself a ga-zillion dollars in the pros. If he and Knowshon had hung around for another run at it, this season would have had a lot different outcome for Georgia.
Singletary
November 24th, 2009
4:35 am
Totally agree with you, Mark. I was not on any sort of Stafford bandwagon, but he more than “manned up.” Listening to the field announcements and realizing he could come back it is very strategic, particularly when he was in pain. My spouse, a Cleveland fan, was screaming about the failure to run 10 seconds off the clock for the injury time out.
John DUIberry
November 24th, 2009
4:40 am
Snapshot: November 1985 GT Head Coach Bill Curry says, “We’ll bring the cheaters to their knees!’, meaning teams like the bullmutts.
willie martinez
November 24th, 2009
5:17 am
i hear he wants me to come to detroit to coach that moribund defense.
Florida Dawg
November 24th, 2009
5:17 am
Stafford is what he is…and his performance didn’t surprise me at all. In Stafford, the Lions drafted the best college prospect this year. The lowest paid NFL football player should be motivated.
If I made millions of dollars a year…I would be motivated.
BIRDDAWGONE
November 24th, 2009
6:14 am
not the first time you have been fooled
MR
November 24th, 2009
6:17 am
UGA was not paying him enough to be a leader. He could not take a chance on getting hurt at UGA, it would have spoiled his NFL chances. He went to UGA to go to the pros, no other reason.
Va. Beach Dog
November 24th, 2009
6:31 am
I don’t get all you Stafford haters. The kid has always shown heart. Just because he didn’t strut around after a two-yard gain like Tebow and make rabid animal noises doesn’t mean he didn’t care. I’ve been a Stafford fan from the first time I saw him play and could never understand why guys like Mark were always bashing him. He and Knowshon did take us to #2 in the country a few years back. To read the comments, you would have thought we were 6-6 during the Stafford years (oh wait, that’s this year).
SickandTired
November 24th, 2009
6:41 am
Incredible that he’s doing really well. But wait, he threw 5 picks last week didn’t he. The biggest problem and he just wasn’t thinking when he didn’t avoid that hit is that he can’t press kegs of beer over his head and will be on the Disabled List in the drunk competition at the Michigan state fair.
IKnowEveryrthing
November 24th, 2009
6:51 am
Except the thing about the self appointed mayor threatening you on live TV. Fill me in , Mark!
TJH
November 24th, 2009
6:56 am
I guess I’ve never paid any more attention to Stafford than any other Tech fan would, but after seeing his play from Sunday, I have a TREMENDOUS amount of respect for him. As much as I’ll let any athlete be a “hero” in my view, he is.
david willis
November 24th, 2009
7:02 am
Now we know why your a sports writer and not a coach!
F-105 Thunderchief
November 24th, 2009
7:09 am
Mangoober is more like it. And, what does that make the Cleveland owner for so eagerly lapping up the Jets’ leavings?
IKnowEveryrthing
November 24th, 2009
7:13 am
Your link to the story on the threatening mayor won’t work.
AltamahaDawg
November 24th, 2009
7:16 am
It’s kind of like when you read a sport commentary in the AJC every now and then that wasn’t phoned in just to have something to print.
Inhale, please?
November 24th, 2009
7:37 am
You watch games from a different perspective I guess, but I always felt like Stafford was a leader. He put the team on his shoulders as a freshman against Auburn and led us to an unexpected victory. He led us to several wins over his time there when the defense had collapsed and had not held up their end of the deal. Hopefully he will be able to lead Detroit out of the doldrums – if a city ever needed something to feel good about, it’s Detroit!!!
Rod
November 24th, 2009
7:44 am
As of now, your link to the self-appointed mayor isn’t working.
Teacher
November 24th, 2009
7:48 am
Mark, you wrote: “has their ever been…” Honey, that should be: “has there ever been…” You’re a professional writer. please use the proper form of their/there.
John
November 24th, 2009
7:57 am
Can beat an NFL team but can’t beat GT!!
todd
November 24th, 2009
8:03 am
Bradley is just telling the truth.
Thanks Staff for alot at Ga, but Dude will never be in the MoMass, DJ Shock, Pollack, T Davis, Hersch of course, Old school Zier, Mitch Davis, G Hearse…. you got to throw Moreno in, he was always giving 100%,
The memory I’ll always have about Stafford is that he quit in the Florida game his Sr. yr.
Dude is actually a very talented “knucklehead”.
Recovering Jock
November 24th, 2009
8:05 am
…and for $1.75 I can take MARTA to Perimeter Mall or the Airport. while I do not dispute the toughness Stafford demonstrated on Sunday, let’s not go nominating him for the Medal of Honor just yet. and let us not forget, this is a man who will earn a guaranteed $40 million over the next 5 years, with the opportunity to add another $20-$25 million. “sucking it up” is as important to the NFL – especially at QB – as “arm strength” and “leadership”. and shame on the fair-weather UGA types who were no doubt slamming Stafford last year, but now try to use one (impressive) 2-play sequence in the NFL to illustrate all that is wrong with UGA Football (Mark Richt). as I said, Stafford is a tough – well compensated – kid and plays like the one we saw last Sunday give cause for hope, but NFL careers are measured over time, and only time will tell if Matthew Stafford is the next Manning/Marino or Leaf/Russell.
Dawg 94
November 24th, 2009
8:11 am
UGA will DESTROY GT 49-7.
Go Dawgs.
RedPantsDawg
November 24th, 2009
8:12 am
John-
Staffard was 2-1 against GT. I blame last year’s loss on Willie Martinez not Stafford. 42 points should be enough to beat anyone.
Dawg
November 24th, 2009
8:17 am
John – You have to be kidding me! He went 2 and 1 against your beloved Nerds from North Ave. How short memories you nerds have. I can’t figure out how you can even graduate from a good school like TECH!
SickandTired
November 24th, 2009
8:23 am
Hey red pants, it would have been enough if your boy Stafford hadn’t throw a pick 6 to a Tech guy when there wasn’t a red jersey in the same zip code. Stafford is worshiped by Dawg Fans and perceived to be this great Dawg when he never was. He was there to get his ticket punched and that same Stafford folks think that David Greene just hindered DJ Shockley and would have won a national championship. The Dawgs are so delusional they border on insanity. Paul Johnson has more coaching flowing through his veins than Mark Richt could ever hope to have. Mr. Cool will look calm and collected on the sidelines Saturday while the team he put together, the team he leads, the team he coaches and the program that pays him $3 million a year burns down around him. The over under on penalty yards has been set at 77. True Georgia believers, tell me, would you bet this weeks pay check on the under?
James
November 24th, 2009
8:25 am
This from a huge Tech fan- Stafford was the real thing at UGA and is the real deal at Detroit. A very bright, hard working, talented quarterback. I was, of course, happy to see him graduate but wish him nothing but the best. My guess is that he was a quiet but effective leader at UGA.
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
8:26 am
Mark, If anyone doesn’t have heart its you. Your columns are a bunch of dribble that you churn out only to get hits on your blog. Your abiliy(or lack of there of) as a writer becomes more clear with each column you post. You’ve obviously never played a team sport in your life and it amazes me that you think you are an expert on everything. You always seem to have all the answers (or so you think you do) and rarely do you discuss when you are wrong.(which is more times than not)Why don’t you make a new years resolution,start stating the facts in your columns, quit trying to tell us what you think is happening. Believe it or not the readers of this blog probably know far more than you do about the subjects you write about. Grow up….You are quickly losing more of your readership than you know because of you sophmoric approach to the subjects you write about.
SuperB
November 24th, 2009
8:32 am
Your headline pretty much describes you. “Fool.” You wouldn’t have taken Stafford first because you really don’t know CFB. What do you know anything about?
Techman
November 24th, 2009
8:33 am
Sick and Tired you need to grow up….one good season by CPJ doesn’t mean he’s the second coming of Bobby Dodd. It just means we have a good team this year..that could change quickly next year…just look at Georgia…I’ll bet that they are back in winning form quicker than you’ll ever want to admit. Then you’ll have to eat your words. Try to have a little class..it goes a lot farther than than coming off like a second grade school boy like you do.
Lois Pewterschmidt
November 24th, 2009
8:33 am
dawg 94 – now I see why you think that. You are 94 years old and senile. I think it would be closer to 94-0 for Tech than your prediction.
Recovering Jock
November 24th, 2009
8:35 am
ad man, I’m not defending MB as a columnist, and I know we all fall victim to typos, but I believe the word you are looking for is is “drivel” (senseless talk), as opposed to “dribble” (spittle/saliva). the only chance you have to save yourself is to flag MB for a “double dribble”. I will defer to you writing chops to complete the metaphor.
techie on the coast
November 24th, 2009
8:36 am
lmao…..Ga fans kill me….”he should have went to a better team”….he was drafted you inbred swine…oh and this one too…. I can’t figure out how you can even graduate from a good school like TECH! Dawg has no clue ..lol….85% of UGA fans can’t even find Athens on the map….but think their outfits look cool….lol
Tom
November 24th, 2009
8:36 am
I realize it was tongue-in-cheek and trying to make a humorous point about Cleveland’s ineptitude, but Joe Cox ain’t throwing for 442 on nobody. To be truly effective, a humorous comparison like that has to at least have a toehold in reality, but Cox putting up 442 is like Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
8:43 am
Recovering Jock… Point well taken…I should have used the word “puke” buts its close to Thanksgiving.
Ramguy
November 24th, 2009
8:45 am
Frist of all the Cox could throw for 442 yds against the Browns statement wasn’t funny, it was just plain dumb.Cox couldn’t hit his receivers unless he’s throwing deep and then it’s a rainbow. BTW where is all the accuracy the Dawg coaches told us about? I remember two years ago debating a Fla fan who was saying that Tebow would be drafted ahead of Stafford. I told him not only would Stafford be the 1st QB taken, he would be much better in the Pros than he was at UGA. Looking back at the past two years, I’m inclined to think he wasn’t coached up while he was in College.
Dooley's Cardiologist
November 24th, 2009
8:52 am
If Stafford can stay healthy, then I think he and CJ will make a lethal pair for years to come. Oh, I forgot they have 20 other players on the field that are horrible. CJ, Please don’t sign a new deal with the Lions when the time comes!!! Free Agency!!
PMC
November 24th, 2009
8:52 am
5 TD’s as a rookie. Brandon Pettigrew and Calvin Johnson… They need to improve their OL and thier defense but things are looking up in the D.
Mark Bradley
November 24th, 2009
8:52 am
Didn’t Joe Cox throw for 375 yards in an SEC game this season? (Hint: Hogs.)
Dooley's Cardiologist
November 24th, 2009
8:56 am
Dawg94,
What you been smokin?? GT puts up at least 50, Cox throws at least 2 int. and Uga rolls over in his grave. Oh yeah, almost forgot, Dawgs get the most honorable bid to Shreveport.
James
November 24th, 2009
9:01 am
UGA’s problem is not Cox. It is a defensive coordinator that thinks “bump and run” is a run defense and, just like Miami and FSU, too many 5++ double diamond recruits who think college is a necessary evil on the way to the NFL. Football is and will always be the ultimate team sport.
Big Ten Sleeper
November 24th, 2009
9:02 am
best qb to enter the league in 10 years
bigeasy830
November 24th, 2009
9:05 am
Stafford nor any QB could elevate a team coached by Ritch’s staff. But matbe you people forget the big run he made his freshman year in the GT game. I was in the stands for that game. UGA’s offense did not look ggod for most of the game but Stafford lead them to a score to win it late in that game. Stafford always had heart and the ability to make plays with his arm and his legs. The problem last year was not Stafford or Moreno, it was a soft defense and a undisciplined team. It is the coaches resposibilty to discipline his players not the QB. I guess Mark you are blaming Stafford for all the players being arrested and all the late hits and other boneheaded penalties the other undisciplines players got. Ohh Wait, thats the same problem the team is having this year with a much worst record after Stafford left, so I guess it’s stil lhis fault for UGA being 6-5 so far this year too. He should lead UGA from Detroit.
Come On Son
DP
November 24th, 2009
9:06 am
(Game can’t end on a defensive penalty, unless it benefits Florida or Alabama, in which case it’s OK.)
Mark, is that a weak attempt at humor or are you confused about the ending of the Alabama-Tennessee game? I thought you were smarter than Lane Kiffen.
Given how poorly coached and undisciplined Georgia has been in recent years, it’s possible that Matt Stafford had to go to an organization like the Detroit Lions to realize his potential.
Mark Bradley
November 24th, 2009
9:10 am
Answer: B., a weak attempt at humor.
SadDawg
November 24th, 2009
9:14 am
I’ve asked the question for about 3 years. What heights would Stafford have taken say, a Spurrier coached team? I also believe if you put Stafford at UF and Tebow at UGA, it’s Stafford who plays for the BCS titles and Tebow who spends a lot of time jogging off the field shaking his head. Stafford had heart at UGA, hence the many come-from-behind victories. The gameplans handed him vs quality coaching were usually outclassed, if not from the start, then certainly after halftime…
RIP_Uga7.net (Formerly FireUga7.net)
November 24th, 2009
9:16 am
Good Grief. Is Willy Martinez coaching the Lions DBs? Because MoMass et.al. are wide, wide, wide open for their touchdown catches against the Lions.
ARE you kidding me?
November 24th, 2009
9:20 am
How come Stafford has been mentioned as “graduated” and also “his senior year”? Did I miss something, thought he left early to go to the draft!
The Dogfighter Returns
November 24th, 2009
9:22 am
The lions played cleveland people. relax.
cherokee
November 24th, 2009
9:23 am
Mark we don’t care what you think. Get off the guys back.He is a damn good quarterback.
cherokee
November 24th, 2009
9:28 am
Techman………well said!!
Sautee Dawg
November 24th, 2009
9:33 am
Mark
Hope you didn’t spend too much of your time on this piece. If I were grading you would have recieved a (D).
Your continous Jabs at UGA, It’s players and coaches has not gone unnoticed.
Articles like these is why you can’t do any real interviews. How many times did you sit down and interview Matt Stafford while he was at UGA? None probably,
If your name and AJC weren’t on a name tag Stafford probably wouldn’t even recognize who you were.
Questioning whether a player has heart or not based on your own judgement of them is questionable!!
Mark you can do better than this.
President Obama
November 24th, 2009
9:40 am
Where my teleprompter AT ??
Angus
November 24th, 2009
9:41 am
One thing Dawgs & Jackets can agree on?
We wish neither Calvin nor Matt were in Detroit.
Bob
November 24th, 2009
9:52 am
You don’t think Stafford elevated his team at Georgia? He was burdened with one of the worst defenses in recent memory last year and a banged up offensive line that was different every single week. We still won 10 games, due in large part to his 3,500 yards and 25 TD passes. Matthew Stafford is Exhibit A on how a quarterback can elevate an otherwise mediocre team. If he had had the supporting cast that David Greene had he’d have won 2 BCS titles.
I’ve never understood all this crap about how he doesn’t have heart. He was thrown to the wolves as a true freshmen but never complained or made excuses. All he did was get better every single year he was here. If we had him this year we’d be 9-2 at worst right now. Doesn’t elevate a team? Good grief.
Bryan G.
November 24th, 2009
10:06 am
Mark,
I actually can be counted as one of the folks who thought that Staff didn’t reach his full potential at UGA. However, after seeing UGA without him and with almost the exact same defense this year, I have changed my mind. I think #7 and #24 covered up for a LOT of deficiencies at Georgia last year both on the field and on the sidelines.
Pete
November 24th, 2009
10:08 am
Mark, you’re aging badly and Jeff Schultz is a much better journalist than you.
Paul in RDU
November 24th, 2009
10:10 am
Big 10 Sleeper – Best QB to enter the league in 10 years? Really?
Better than Ben Roethlisberger? Drew Brees? Philip Rivers? Eli Manning?
Only time will tell
Spencer
November 24th, 2009
10:10 am
UGA 13
GT 56
It’s coming
Mark Bradley
November 24th, 2009
10:10 am
I hear you, Bryan G.
Rome Dawg
November 24th, 2009
10:13 am
Mark, your backhanded compliment sounds more like a cheap shot.
rob
November 24th, 2009
10:24 am
Rome Dawg, I must agree. Just because Georgia blew it last year, when Bradley predicted they would win it all, does not mean he should take cheap shots at a tough gritty kid playing hard in a city with a terrible track record. He gave a city with little to happy about something to make them smile Sunday, so don’t be a prick, Mr. Bradley.
AdMan
November 24th, 2009
10:29 am
Bradley…You are a pompous no talent sports writer (I was going to use journalist but thats way above your pay scale)I remember when you thought CMR was the best thing to ever happen to UGA…guess you just hop on what ever band wagon comes your way. The Tech fans love you..why don’t you go tell them how great they are. Just remember when UGA gets it straighten out…and they will …we don’t want you back on our side. Go have fun playing with the nerds they need all the friends they can get.
MAD-DONNA
November 24th, 2009
10:33 am
rob, he can’t help but be a prick! It’ a job requirement!
Bob
November 24th, 2009
10:43 am
Meanwhile, Nesbitt puts up big passing stats against Miss State, vandy, and Duke and Schultz declares Johnson the better quarterback coach than Richt. Schultz apparently has the attention span of a 5 year old and probably can’t remember his wife’s name. Is there a bigger pair of shameless bandwagon hacks in all of sports journalism than Schultz and Bradley? I submit that there is not. There’s a blog topic for everyone to discuss.
Don’t play dumb Tech fans. It wasn’t that long ago that the tables were turned. Don’t act like you don’t remember. Don’t act like these clowns won’t turn on you the second you stumble. They’ll build you up and tear you down. That’s what gets the mouses clicking on their stupid blogs. You’ve been warned.
sh
November 24th, 2009
10:53 am
Stafford always had “heart”. The big difference is that now he finally has coaches that have “football heart”
EnjoyFootball
November 24th, 2009
12:20 pm
Look at College football and tell me how many Redshirt freshman are out there that are 20 or 221 years old. Stafford is a first round draft choice at 21. He has a lot of upside
EnjoyFootball
November 24th, 2009
12:22 pm
Why mention Shultz at all. Your are talking about a guy who just found out about website media matters. That says it all.
Matthew Stafford Is A Man - Wirro
November 24th, 2009
12:47 pm
[...] Mark Bradley of the AJC admits he was taken aback by the brave performance of former Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford in an epic rally against Cleveland. …and for $1.75 I can take MARTA to Perimeter Mall or the Airport. while I do not dispute the toughness Stafford demonstrated on Sunday, let’s not go nominating him for the Medal of Honor just yet. and let us not forget, this is a man who will earn a guaranteed $40 million over the next 5 years, with the opportunity .. read more [...]
techie on the coast
November 24th, 2009
12:55 pm
I like men!
sh
November 24th, 2009
1:02 pm
I love em too techie!
SnuffySmith
November 24th, 2009
1:03 pm
I dont care how good Stafford is. Stafford will NEVER, EVER be anywhere close to as good as Matty “ICE” Ryan. Ice is about the BEST quarterback and the most intelligent quarterback to come into the league in decades. Many people look at ICE and consider him a bust like Ryan Leaf or JaMarcus Russell, but Matty will become one of the all-time greats when his playing days are over. I know this because I know that he took a team last year that was decimated in chaos and disarray (following the Mike Vick and Bobby Petrino debacles) and guided them to an impressive and steller 11-5 record, winning rookie of the year honors.Whats sad is that most fans have forgotten that. They keep judging and evaluating Ryan as if he is a rookie. Matt has 1 1/2 years NFL experience and he will be as good as Peyton Manning by next year. Ice has already developed a legendary standing in the national football league. ICE will never melt as long as he stays grounded.
gdawginkalamzoo
November 24th, 2009
2:04 pm
Yes Stafford had one whale of a game Sunday. Being a Lions fan it was a great game down to the last play. Stafford has always been a team leader and he had a few games at Georgia where he displayed it. Once he gets a solid O-line i front of him he will be even better, count on it. Even though the game was against Cleveland it still counts as a W. Part of his problem this year besides being a rookie is his injury which held him out of a few practices. Same with CJ. That’s why Stafford had that 5 INT game, everybody’s timing was off. Stafford will have a good career in Detroit. Better than any of the previous QB’s there.
drunk guy
November 24th, 2009
2:59 pm
As good as manning by next year? What chu drinkin? He may end up being a good qb- even a star- but he regressed this year-so far.
Diehard
November 24th, 2009
3:41 pm
That’s an asinine headline. Stafford is proving you all wrong. Good for him.
Clayton
November 24th, 2009
4:11 pm
You people are honesty bought by this gosh i hope he gets out to try to win a 2nd game of his uselss career this has shown me nothing
Clayton
November 24th, 2009
4:13 pm
i mean realy you sit there and say gosh he had a great game threw for 420 yards AGAINST THE WORST DEFENSE in the league point is he should have been out there thats his job not a volunteer
bigclaude
November 24th, 2009
4:21 pm
Can we ever have blog comments without someome proclaming that they are first!!! Who cares?????? And even is worse is those proclaming first who aren’t even first!!! What is the fascination with this? Someone please explain it to me because I don’t get it. These must be the same people who trample other fans in the stands to get their hands on a $3 t-shirt just because some mascot shot it out of a cannon.
Guys, are you gonna go crow to your buddies at the bar tonight, “that you were the first to comment on Mark Bradley’s blog?” Somehow I doubt it. Your buddies would probably tell you to GET A LIFE!!!
TurkWindom
November 24th, 2009
4:27 pm
Stafford is having the kind of career that David Greene should have had. David Greene was a CANT MISS prospect and one of the most prolific passers in college football history!! David Greene STILL holds the record for most touchdown passes in a college football career, with one more than Peyton Manning over a 4-year college career. Greene like Shockley came out at the WRONG TIMES, when nobody needed their services. Right now there are a ton of poor teams, like Tampa at 1-9, Detroit and the Cleveland Browns and several other pitiful franchises. If Greene or Shockley were coming out now they would feast at opportunities that are sitting there. Shockley should still get a job because its not that long ago that he was kicked off the Falcons team. Shock SHOULD shock us all and shock the world by landing a starting pro quarterback nfl job. It beats bagging groceries at Kroger or Publix.
Jroc
November 24th, 2009
5:29 pm
I am more interested in seeing your debut on Cleveland television than I am watching this again. Any REAL Georgia fan knew he had heart.
Bawney Fwank
November 24th, 2009
6:50 pm
I knew Stafford had “IT” when he was workin’out at the race track during the summer pressing empty beer kegs over his head to impress the women, while Tebow was back at Gainesville benchpressing 450lbs.
Seriously, Stafford has a wonderfully strong and accurate arm reminiscent of Grossman’s, but like Grossman, he continues to suck if there is much of a pass rush, because he presses and tries to “arm it” off his back foot instead of learning to throw it away.
grid_Fe
November 24th, 2009
7:15 pm
Hey DirtyDawg, playing every down doesn’t mean that the coaches don’t hold you back. With Mark Richt and his staff is always playing it safe, punting or kicking field goals. Rarely taking chances. That’s what I was talking about holding him back. Stafford is not a game manager. He’s a playmaker. At Georgia, the coaches philosophy with Stafford was throw the ball away or let’s punt instead of going for it. The Lions suck, but at least the coaches let Stafford try to make plays instead of playing it safe and holding him back.
Starring Peter Graves as Capt. Clarence Over
November 24th, 2009
9:49 pm
TurkWindom: If Shockley was so great, then why are teams not clamoring to sign him? He was on the practice squad-anybody could have signed him at that point.
College Footbal Fan
November 25th, 2009
1:07 am
We’ll he did beat the Rainbows in HIS and M.R.’s signature win.
And on a night when we black’s em out too. Man that was what being a Dawg was all about
College Footbal Fan
November 25th, 2009
1:11 am
M. S. was the man. The way he beat the Rainbows in his signature win was incredible. I remember when he beat Vandy too. OMG!
Recruitnik
November 25th, 2009
12:40 pm
Turns out Mark Bradley does have a brain. Fooled me.
Paul Johnson
November 25th, 2009
6:32 pm
Stafford’s always been tough. Don’t know why he didn’t go to the Longhorns. He would had a ring or two.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 25th, 2009
7:07 pm
A Dawg QB throwing TDs to two Tech receivers in that game… that’s a performance any college football fan in the state of Georgia can be proud to see.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 25th, 2009
7:09 pm
As far as Stafford’s NFL future, I always liked him as a pro prospect (a lot more than Bradley apparently), but he kinda started regressing after his early-season injury. Hopefully this game is the one that gets him back on track. The long bomb TD he threw to Calvin about halfway through that Youtube video, where he was bootlegging to his left and threw on the run, was a thing of beauty that maybe five NFL quarterbacks could have completed.
Brooking 56
November 25th, 2009
7:47 pm
If he has a heart what happened to his brain? The guy reeks of low IQ.
fr Joe
November 26th, 2009
8:28 am
professional critics are the parasites of life.Can’t do much much on thier own so need to criticize others And how much do they really know?Would you ever hire one as a coach if you had the chance? No way. A sorry group.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 26th, 2009
10:18 am
Man, no Vick posts and the AJC blogs sounds like Crickets
joe
November 26th, 2009
1:48 pm
More idiocy from Bradley, trying to tear down a former UGA player after he had a great game. Keep stealing that money from the AJC…….IDIOT.
Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me | Mark Bradley (matt stafford) | Today's Hot Stories
November 26th, 2009
5:40 pm
[...] 2 Next [...]
Rod
November 26th, 2009
6:21 pm
It is a shame all we hear is how smart and how wondeful Matt Ryan is when we know he hasn’t the heart, the football IQ (just check the wonderlic score), or the physical ability of Matt Stafford. Matt Ryan better perform because people like me are begining to not like a player that the media hypes up and makes excuses for his poor play.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 26th, 2009
11:39 pm
A true leader takes responsibility for his poor play.
It’s time to pull the plug on this season and get ready to dump payroll, wait for the draft and rebuild from scratch.
Draft a quarterback with a “TRUE” NFL arm. It’s really going to be hard because the “brilliant” GM gave away a 2nd round draft pick for an aging tight end. Instead of using that draft pick for a tight end that can grow with the team, it will be 2 holes left open when he retires.
Then the great GM cuts his whole starting defense and leadership and drafts damaged goods in 1st and 2nd round picks. To make matters worse, the players he cut, most of them will be in the playoffs this season………..
Brooking with the Cowboys
Boley with the Giants
Vick with the Eagles
Foxworth with the Ravens
Instead of taking the team to New England style success, he has taken them to Raiders style regression.
The Dimitroff/Smith/Ryan tandem is a bust!
PHIL
November 27th, 2009
2:43 am
The only dumber person that write son this blog than the author is Matt “Choke” Ryan.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 27th, 2009
10:42 am
PHIL
November 27th, 2009
2:43 am
The only dumber person that write son this blog than the author is Matt “Choke” Ryan.
“write son this blog”
And I’m dumb?
Peep at the Deep
November 28th, 2009
9:40 am
I don’t know about you guys, but I got some great deals on black friday.
Brian in Athens
November 28th, 2009
12:27 pm
Stafford is showing heart in the NFL because that is where his heart always was. You have guys like Tebow and McCoy who profess love of the college team BEFORE they chose them. Of course they want to play in the NFL, but their dream was to play QB at Florida or Texas, respectively. Stafford always had his heart set on the NFL. He didn’t choose UGA because he always wanted to be a Bulldog, he chose them because he was sold on the best pro-style offense that would get him pro ready. Growing up in Texas UGA was not his team to cheer for and his heart was never really here, Don’t get me wrong, I am glad he came here but I agree with Mark, Tebow is twice the college player Stafford was because he wanted it more (ever see Stafford cry in front of cameras after a regular season loss?). Stafford will be the better pro for the same reason (plus the big arm).
norris
November 29th, 2009
12:44 pm
Just got around to reading this piece (yeah, piece of what?). The one thing I find interesting in all of the Matt Ryan comparisons to Matthew Stafford is that no one seems to remember that Matt Ryan was a 5 year senior at Boston College and went into the NFl close to 24 years old. Matthew on the other hand turned 21 after he was drafted into the NFL (I believe it was after the draft). Matthew does have a lot of maturing to do in the NFL but I do believe he will become a great NFL quarterback. He really could use some help though. (offensive line, more wide receivers, a better defense)!
Matt Stafford
December 11th, 2009
3:18 am
[...] Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me | Mark Bradley (blogs.ajc.com) – November 24, 2009Mark Bradley of the AJC admits he was taken aback by the brave performance of former Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford in an epic rally against Cleveland. [...]
Matthew Stafford College
December 11th, 2009
4:59 am
[...] Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me | Mark Bradley (blogs.ajc.com) – November 24, 2009Mark Bradley of the AJC admits he was taken aback by the brave performance of former Georgia Bulldog Matthew Stafford in an epic rally against Cleveland. … Stafford is what he is…and his performance… [...]
Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me | Mark Bradley | Football Pro Sport
February 15th, 2010
3:19 pm
[...] Continue reading here: Turns out Matthew Stafford does have a heart. Fooled me | Mark Bradley [...]