Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has been the subject of heavy criticism for his team’s recurring failures that date back to his NFL debut in 2009.
That didn’t change last week either. During an early morning broadcast of ESPN’s Get Up, former NFL executive Louis Riddick defended the Lions’ signal-caller after analyst Jalen Rose lobbied heavily for the Detroit franchise to select Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the third pick in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft.
Riddick was adamant in his defense of Stafford saying, “Everything around him has been absolutely average, to below average, to mediocre. It’s been subpar. He’s got no help.” Moments later he continued the take and touched on the current perception of the quarterback by adding, “The people around Matthew have failed him. Matthew hasn’t failed Detroit, the people around Matthew have failed Detroit.”
Louis Riddick Believing in Matthew Stafford Could Lead to Lions General Manager Role
Initial Reaction
It’s about time that someone understands what Stafford and struggling Lions fans are going through. Besides his partnership with exiled receiver Calvin Johnson, the former Pro-Bowl passer has been the lone bright spot for this morbid franchise over the last decade.
Stafford, a former first-round pick, continues to shoulder the blame for a Detroit team that hasn’t won a playoff game during his tenure. To make things worse, they haven’t won an NFC North Division title since 1993.
That’s a drought that stretched far back. Way before Stafford ever donned Honolulu-blue and silver.
The Clock is Ticking
Late last season, team owner Martha Ford felt it was necessary to address the Detroit fan base in the wake of yet another abysmal losing season. During a letter released to the public, she re-established her expectations that the Lions need to be competitive in 2020 with the goal of making the playoffs.
Now, with an expanded playoff format on the horizon due to new rules that were brokered in a recent collective bargain agreement between league owners and the NFLPA, it seems that head coach Matt Patricia’s third year at the helm under general manager Bob Quinn will be one of “boom-or-bust”.
If the regime isn’t able to translate their New England Patriots-esque rebuild into on-field success, the feeling among fans and executives around the league is that the duo will be on the chopping block. This off-season, they haven’t wavered from the initial plan to mold the Lions in the Belichickian-way, and essentially have gone all-in by acquiring a handful of ex-New England players to revamp last season’s sluggish defense.
Opportunity Ahead
History suggests that Patricia/Quinn won’t escape this season with their jobs in hand. After all, this Detroit franchise has been living in purgatory dating back to the 1950s. Since the AFL/NFL merger, the Lions have never represented the NFC throughout the Super Bowl era.
Thus, the potential for a regime change in the near future is likely. By supporting Stafford and addressing the issues plaguing Detroit head-on, it would only make sense for Riddick to throw his hat into the ring and begin lobbying to become the team’s next general manager in the event Patricia/Quinn are relieved of command.
Louis Riddick is respected throughout the league as both a player and executive. Most recently, he was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles until 2013. His career in the front office began as a scout for the Washington Redskins and dates back to 2001. Currently, he is an analyst for ESPN.
Final Take
The honest Louis Riddick is one of the more grounded analysts ESPN has to offer up as knowledgeable for viewers. His latest thoughts on the Detroit Lions are spot on and suggest that the former-exec understands the real problems that lie within the franchise.
In order to win, the Lions need to focus on both acquiring and retaining talent. Most of their impact players, like Ndamukong Suh, often leave after the expiration of their rookie contracts. This is an indictment on the losing-culture that exists throughout the franchise, which has been under fire lately due to the surprising departures of Quandre Diggs, Darius Slay, and Damon Harrison.
The first step in reviving the Detroit Lions from their current position on life support is establishing a belief system the franchise is capable of winning with Stafford, and it seems the team may have that at their disposal in the form of Riddick.
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