Sports

Matthew Stafford: 'I'd Like to Be Here a Long Time'

April 19, 2017, 7:37 AM

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Matt Stafford (Detroit Lions photo)

Quarterback Matthew Stafford is the face of the Detroit Lions. And both the Lions and Stafford would like to keep him that for the foreseable future.

Detroit News columnist Bob Wojnoski writes:

At 29, after eight seasons with the Lions, he’s starting the transition from carefree young guy to family man and businessman, entering the prime of his career. And his next move could define him.

It certainly will define the Lions’ direction under second-year GM Bob Quinn. By all accounts, Quinn wants to sign Stafford long term, preferably before the contract expires after this season. By all accounts, Stafford wants to stay, and negotiations are under way.

There’s plenty of time to seal the deal and I think they’ll get it done, as they should. To me, it’s not even a debate. Stafford’s occasional on-field recklessness has smoothed out, and before he injured the middle finger on his throwing hand last December, he was having a brilliant season, leading the Lions to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Look around the league at quarterback-starved teams and you’ll see why the Lions don’t have a choice, unless they want to start completely over.

Stafford says he'd like to stay a long time.

“I’d love to,” Wojnowski quotes him as saying. “I’ve had a really good time playing here, and I’d like to be here long term, but that’s yet to be seen.”


Read more:  The Detroit News


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