Danwillhor

July 9th, 2013 at 8:10 PM ^

He has all but said as much. When asked about the Lions he was quoted as saying something like "winning is winning when you're making money". (butchered it but admittedly wants only to have a backup plan for the family as opposed to fielding a winner that would MAKE HIM MORE MONEY...lol)

is the son any different? real question as I stopped caring when Barry retired and then he said that.

Smoked Gouda

July 9th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^

This is actually 2nd tier quarterback money. This deal earns him 15.6 mil through the remainder of his contract, where the top 10 qb's are now signing deals worth 20+ mil.

Clears immediate cap space though, and is the closest thing the Lions have to a franchise qb in god knows how many years.

MGoVoldemort

July 9th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^

Can we then take the best offensive weapons away from the best QB's in the league and see where they are? Also, Stafford has had no where near the offensive line some of the other great QB's have/ Also, Calvin put up no where near the numbers he has now when someone other than Stafford was throwing him the ball.

Derek

July 9th, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^

Would you really put Stafford in the same class of quarterback as Brady, Brees, and Rodgers? If not, he is indeed second-tier. He has oodles of talent as a passer, but he is merely a good (not great) quarterback.

Ali G Bomaye

July 9th, 2013 at 9:34 PM ^

Stafford has led the NFL in pass attempts each of the last two years.  Last year he threw 727 passes, a NFL record.  However, he only averaged 6.8 yards per pass, which was 20th in the league and behind such luminaries as Jake Locker, Carson Palmer, and Josh Freeman (none of whom have a weapon like Calvin Johnson).  Stafford puts up high yardage totals because he does nothing but throw, not because his throws are unusually productive.

Reference: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/passing.htm#passing::16

m83econ

July 9th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^

Stafford's stats are a function of a pass heavy offense with a dynamic receiver and a league with rules that encourage passing.  Last year, a record 11 QBs had over 4k yards; the year before it was 10: 

http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1330

5,000 yards?  Was only done once before before 2008 and has happened 5 times since:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_yds_single_season.htm

Stafford has the potential to be a great QB and it's been that way since high school.  For all his ability, it hasn't really translated to winning games.

 

DK81

July 9th, 2013 at 10:37 PM ^

Yea but Stafford has had zero run game or offensive line. So if were playing what ifs then you have to consider that. I guess we should find out this year with Bush and a somwhat improved Oline.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

July 9th, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^

Not to take any blame away from Orlovsky, but looking at that play I just realized: what idiot** called a five-step drop from a shotgun snap with the ball on the one-inch line?  If Orlovsky was any taller he'd have stepped out just with his plant foot.

**This is probably why Purdue was such a shit football team under Jim Colletto.

Ben from SF

July 9th, 2013 at 6:05 PM ^

Here is the glorious list of QB's during my fandom.

Eric Hipple

Gary Danielson

Chuck Long

Bob Gagliano

Erik Kramer

Rodney Peete

Andre Ware

Scott Mitchell

Dave Krieg

Charlie Batch

Joey Harrington

Dan Orlovsky

Jon Kitna

 

Yes, Stafford is the best QB the Lions have had in my lifetime too.

Baba Booey

July 9th, 2013 at 10:05 PM ^

They beat the Bills by a fg in the last game of the year because Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas didn't play. Buffalo probably would've had their elusive Lombardi trophy had they played the Leos in the big game. As good as '91 was, the Redskins beat the Lions in the first game and the last game by a combined score of 86-10. Yikes!

Controversialidea

July 9th, 2013 at 9:40 PM ^

The QB for the Bears that holds the career passing yards record as well as the highest single season Quarterback rating is a man who retired from professional football in 1950.

Also, one of the QBs on your list for Detroit holds two single season records for the Bears: most passing yards and most passing touchdowns (Erik Kramer)

Naked Bootlegger

July 10th, 2013 at 8:37 AM ^

My goal in the next 5-10 years is to accumulate as many Lions starting QB jerseys - complete with names - to hang in my man cave.  I think it will be a huge conversation starter and a constant reminder my painful life as a Lions fan.   I need to go back further than you, though, on the QB list.   I'll also include Greg Landry and Jeff Komlo.