Lowly Lions sign top pick Stafford in NFL Draft

Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 4:13 AM Posted by Beijing News


Quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a six-year deal worth up to 78 million dollars with the Detroit Lions, who made the college star the first pick in Saturday's National Football League Draft.

The Lions, whose 0-16 mark last season was the worst one-season showing in NFL history, assured Stafford of 41.7 million dollars in guaranteed salary in a deal made just minutes before the actual draft.

NFL rules allow teams with the top pick to sign their man before the annual allocation of college talent, which saw offensive tackle Jason Smith taken second by St. Louis and defensive end Tyson Jackson taken third by Kansas City.

Stafford went to the same Texas high school, Highland Park, as 1950s Lions quarterback Bobby Layne, who legend has it said when he was traded from Detroit to Pittsburgh in 1958 that the Lions would not win again for 50 years.

Half a century later, the 1957 champion Lions have won only one playoff game since, and that was back in 1991. They are 31-97 since 2001, the worst eight-season span by any team in 65 years.

Curses and poor records have not discouraged Stafford, who hopes to become Detroit's first Pro Bowl passer since 1971.

"It's a little bit of a challenge but I'm ready to play football. It's going to be awesome," Stafford said. "I'm ready to go. I'm excited to get out to Detroit and see what's going on."

All-star quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning sent Stafford a text message before the Lions went through the formalities of using the top pick to select Stafford, the third top pick in four years to sign before the actual draft.

"They told me to relax and just enjoy it because you have earned it," Stafford said.

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Stafford was their only choice with the top pick but deflected the question of whether he would start as a rookie.

"It was always him on top of the board," Schwartz said. "When he's ready and he's the best player, he will play."





Supinsky

1 comments:

  ♥♥♥♥♥ Jennifer™® ♥♥♥♥♥

April 26, 2009 at 7:31 AM

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