Eight months later, Matthew Stafford’s contract looks very different

There were many strong opinions about the contract that Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford signed last year. But now, it couldn’t look much better.

Last August 28th, the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford agreed on a new contract that would make him the highest paid player in NFL history.

This not only followed all the local opinions about whether the Lions should or shouldn’t sign him for what had already been expected to be a record setting deal, but there couldn’t have been more scrutiny about his performance from week to week during the season after becoming the reigning all-time highest paid player in the most popular sport in the free world.

Suffice it to say, how many times did we hear a broadcaster come up with the criticism of ‘That’s not the type of pass you’d expect from the highest paid quarterback in league history’? Or even an article saying ‘For what he’s being paid, he should have won that game.’

Now admittedly, as a player if your willing to sign the contract which make yourself the leagues monetary kingpin, then you need to be ready to accept criticism.

The other side of the coin, however, is that the press needed to stop looking for sensationalistic headlines to fry Stafford and be honest with their readers. In other words, football is the ultimate team sport. If the team that is surrounding that player doesn’t play well, then it makes it difficult for him to look like he’s worth the contract.

Realistically quarterbacks are held to a different standard than other players. If a great running back is on a team that isn’t very good, we feel sorry for him and blame the teams lack of success on the other components.

Meanwhile quarterbacks are judged solely by championships.

Matthew Stafford hasn’t even won a playoff game, much less a championship and that’s without even mentioning his extremely poor record against winning teams throughout his career.

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Yet the truth of the matter is that it’s not all his fault. The Lions have barely had any ground game during his time in Detroit and outside of Calvin Johnson, hasn’t had a tremendous wealth of receiving talent to work with until recently.

Not to mention that outside of 2014, the Lions defense hasn’t exactly been good at keeping opponents out of the end zone.

Whether we want to admit it or not, Stafford has been the complete focal point of the team because there has been so little talent surrounding him. Plain and simple Stafford had to win games. Two years ago he set the all-time single season record of eight come from behind victories. Without those late game heroics the Lions would have finished the season only 1-15.

Consider this; last season Stafford was the sixth rated quarterback in the league. He was third in passing yards, fourth in touchdown passes, sixth in completion percentage and only six other quarterbacks threw less interceptions than he did. All while having the worst rushing attack in the league and being sacked 47 times.

Only Jacoby Brissett of the Colts was sacked more times and he’s considered a mobile quarterback.

Yet in the midst of all the criticism, Stafford didn’t give any excuses for losing or poor play.

Now that the season is over the 49ers have inked their prize acquisition, Jimmy Garoppolo, to a deal that surpassed Stafford’s contract. Then the Minnesota Vikings signed former Redskin, Kirk Cousins, who finished behind Stafford in all the statistical categories listed above, to what is currently the highest contract in league history.

In light of all that Stafford played through and the new top contracts that are sprouting up, the Lions should actually be very pleased with his salary.

Whether we all want to admit it or not, Stafford is an elite quarterback in the NFL. Outside of a small handful of amazing passers like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Carson Wentz and perhaps Ben Roethlisberger or  Matt Ryan, who else would you take over Stafford?

This doesn’t excuse him from needing to do better against good teams and in the playoffs, but with a better team being built around him he should have a legitimate chance to do just that.

For the time being Stafford is the second greatest quarterback in Lions history. Bobby Layne was a Hall-of-Famer and led the Lions to multiple championships. Until Stafford can turn things around in the playoffs, despite all he has accomplished, he will continue to be number two.

Next: Matthew Stafford and the QBs of the 2009 NFL Draft

But his contract should no longer be the focal point it was this past season, because he has now suddenly become just another high priced quarterback, instead of being the high priced quarterback.