LIONS WISE TO TIGHTEN PURSE STRINGS
Let QB Stafford play his way to new deal next year
Bob Quinn made it official. The Detroit Lions general manager blurted out one of the NFL’s worst-kept secrets at the team’s annual mock game when he said “there’s a long way to go” in signing quarterback Matthew Stafford to a contract extension.
The most interesting, and perhaps surprising, part of Quinn’s comments was the location in which he made them: during a live interview with radio play-byplay announcer Dan Miller on the massive video screens. It was literally an announcement to fans.
Sure, Quinn said neither side is bothered by the protracted negotiations. But the question is why did he feel the need to publicly announce the gap? Did he just want his own say after NFL.com reporter Tom Pelissero tweeted last week that there was “still a pretty substantial gap” in contract talks? An NFL GM rarely says anything without a calculated purpose.
After the game, Stafford spoke with reporters but declined to address Quinn’s comments on how far apart they were. I’m sure Stafford is tired of all the contract questions from pesky reporters. But not giving any answer at all? Well, sometimes silence speaks volumes. My guess is Stafford is growing frustrated with the entire process.
Of course, that frustration might be based more on the way the contract stalemate is starting to play out publicly, rather than any personal grudges with the team brass. As team owner Martha Ford was being driven off the field in a golf cart, she stopped and got out to shake hands and share a brief hello with Stafford’s wife, Kelly. It sure looks like they’re all on good terms.
Who knows where the sticking point is in the contract talks? Is Stafford simply looking to break Derek Carr’s record of $25 million a season? Does he want to break Ndamukong Suh’s record of $60 million in full guarantees? Does he want to ask for $29 million a season, which would roughly be the average for the franchise tag the next two years? Did he feel he left too much money on the table during his last contract extension and wants to make up for it?
Very few people know the answer to these questions. But if the Lions are negotiating tough with Stafford, I say this to Ford: Nice job! Keep those purse strings tight.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The Lions shouldn’t pay Stafford this year. They should let him prove himself in the final year of his contract and, based on his performance this season, give him a new deal next year, or franchise him.
I do believe the Lions and Stafford are mutually interested in getting a deal done this year. The question is who’s going to cry Uncle Rico first?
Will it be Quinn? Does he want to go down as the GM who failed to keep the franchise’s best quar- terback in 60 years, especially with the premature losses of Barry Sanders, Suh and Calvin Johnson still fresh in fans’ minds?
Will it be Stafford? Does he want to risk trying to prove he deserves the NFL’s largest contract this season when, frankly, the team doesn’t look great and is widely predicted to finish well out of the division title race?
Again, I would prefer to see the Lions wait and force Stafford to earn a new contract based on his play this season.
But maybe there’s another option Stafford isn’t considering and one that could benefit him greatly.
If he takes less-than-record money, he could spin the decision as a selfless one that would help the team sign better players. He could talk about believing in the Lions and in Detroit.
It’s the kind of move that would endear him to everyone and almost guarantee him a job for life with the Lions. It also would deflect a lot of the blame for losing on team management.
There are different ways of winning, and they’re not always measured by the biggest numbers. I wonder if the Lions and Stafford understand this.