Detroit Lions: What if Matthew Stafford magically disappears?
Imagine Detroit Lions quarterback, Matthew Stafford, disappearing. Some relish this idea, while some cringe. We discuss the realistic options available.
Training camp is about to start. If I were to grant the football wish of many Detroit Lions fans, it may involve quarterback Matthew Stafford retiring, or just disappearing in some magical way.
Put on your wizard hat, we’re going to explore what might be. Also, how each option may play out.
Fan note: I get bad flashbacks just thinking about our best player retiring right before camp. Uuuugghhh….
A new quarterback often makes the season feel like it is full of possibilities. Plus, Stafford is in the process of getting a pay raise. The amount, some feel, may limit the ability of the franchise to field a great team around him.
I’m not sure what has stopped them prior, with him barely being in the top 20 salaries, but I digress.
Contract Views
Recent reports have his contract parameters possibly stacking up at a $30 million dollar per year figure. Franchise tags from each of the next two years would guarantee him big paydays already. Albert Breer, NFL reporter for Sports Illustrated said in his Four Downs piece:
"Stafford’s franchise tag number for 2017 is $26.4 million, which means the total to tag him twice would by $58.08 million and makes it reasonable for him to ask for a deal closer to $30 million per."
Thirty million per year would be a hefty figure and a new standard for NFL salaries. These kinds of a pay raise also would add pressure to Stafford. Many fans would call him greedy.
Many fans already believe he is overpaid due to his 0-3 playoff record and the team’s 5-46 record against winning teams with him under center.
Derek Carr, quarterback of the Oakland Raiders, recently signed for $25 million dollars per year. His $125 million dollar extension for five years currently makes Carr the NFL’s highest paid player.