NFC North franchise Detroit Lions endured another tough outing in the NFL over the course of the 2020 season. They parted ways with HC Matt Patricia as the Lions finished at the bottom of their division behind the Minnesota Vikings with a 5-11 record.
Despite a dismal performance yet again, the sole shining light for the Lions emerged in the form of QB Matthew Stafford.
Matthew Stafford career stats
Career starts: 165
Games played: 165
Cmp%: 62.6%
Passing TDs: 282
Passing Yards: 45,109
INTs: 144
Y/G: 273.4
Rating: 89.9
4th Quarter Comebacks: 31#Colts #ColtsNation #ForTheCOLTure— Matthew Stafford Facts (@StaffordFacts9) January 24, 2021
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The experienced quarterback returned to the starting lineup in 2020 after missing the majority of last season after suffering non-displaced fractures in his upper thoracic spine.
He threw for 4,000+ yards with 26 passing TDs against 10 interceptions. Stafford has been one of the most consistent QBs in the league since making his debut in 2009.
Now, after almost 11 years with the Lions, Stafford is on the hunt for a new challenge. You best believe that a lot of NFL teams will be interested in acquiring a proven talent such as Matthew.
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The race for Matthew Stafford heats up as Los Angeles Rams join in
A host of NFL Teams are being linked with Stafford’s signature. The likes of San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts are being touted as the front-runners for the Lions’ quarterback.
But a new party has now joined the race, that too, an unlikely one – Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to tweet that Matthew Stafford could be a potential option for the Rams, in light of Jared Goff’s decline over the last couple of years.
Of course, Goff’s contract situation will be the biggest obstacle to overcome in order to a deal over the line in the coming weeks.
Sources: Matthew Stafford considers the Rams a viable contender in his trade market with the Lions. While it’s unclear what the Rams can do with Jared Goff’s long-term deal on the books, they’ve explored the possibilities with Stafford.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 29, 2021
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His current contract carries more than $43 million in fully guaranteed payments in 2021 and 2022. Matthew is set to rake in $20 million in 2021. However, he could demand more as part of the trade deal. So it is safe to say that this deal is far from ‘complete’.
Of course, this could just be a smart move by the Rams management to let Jared know that his starting spot is far from safe. After all, this is the NFL.
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There are no rules, and tough love is the only language that players understand. Time will tell how this saga plays out.
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