Matthew Stafford Gets Starting Nod

You know what they call a 4th round pick with 1 TD and 4 interceptions (30-55 completions/attempts) in preseason? Unemployed.
You know what they call you if you are the first pick in the NFL draft with the same stats? Starter!
Matthew Stafford was just named the Detroit Lions' starting QB for the 2009 season. This really comes as no surprise as Daunte Culpepper didn't make much difference in last year's march to the record books (0-16). And with the economy, etc. of Michigan, the Lions need some new blood in the lineup to get some new blood in the seats come the regular season.
I expect Stafford to be a pretty solid player and maybe one day a star, but it is funny how players earn their playing time sometimes based solely on their draft status, even though the coaches will always sell the concept of "whatever gives us the best chance of winning".

Should Rookies Get Paid High Salaries?

The argument has been made for many years by many people, saying that rookies should not get the big money before doing anything for their respective teams. This seems to have some validity on the face of it, but with just a little bit of thought, it is obvious that they indeed deserve every penny that the system will give them.
In America people look for jobs at any company they choose and negotiate a salary. The more impressive your resume, the more money you can command on the open market and in times of lower unemployment, some companies even give signing bonuses to top talent--BEFORE they work for the company (Tom Cruise in "The Firm").
In pro sports there is a draft system, not allowing players to negotiate freely on the open market to the highest bidder. No, Matthew Stafford had to play for the Detroit Lions this year or sit out. Andre Smith sits at home waiting to play football for the Cincinnati Bengals, but they can decline to "play ball" in the competitive marketplace and deny his ability to earn a salary even though other teams would pay him, but he cannot negotiate with anyone but the tight-fisted Bengals.
Same for the flame-throwing baseball player that signed minute before the deadline or he was out of pro baseball for the year. This is not a fair system and that is why there are collective bargaining agreements between owners and player's unions.
We are paid on potential. You can't price-fix in the U.S.A. The NFL has already been sued of price fixing. On the open market or in the closed market, what you might do in the future (based on previous work like college games) is just as valuable to your future employer's sales and marketing teams as the proven pro. Actually many times the next newest star is more valuable.

Matthew Stafford Showing Off Skills for Lions

A couple of things jumped out at me while reading an article from the Detroit Free Press about the Lions' #1 draft pick Matthew Stafford and how well he is doing in practice. The first thing was the quote from the coach that said they didn't know he had such a perfect release (paraphrase). Isn't that what the vetting process and personal workouts and film review of his college career is supposed to determine? You have to find out about his leadership skills, work ethic, etc. from his coaches and teammates, but the one thing you can determine is how he throws the ball!
Secondly, the photo associated with that article and this shows that there is room for improvement in his "perfect" release. Take a look at his left wrist. Breaking your wrist out does not help to creating the most aerodynamic or accurate delivery and very well may expose you to injury. Keep both wrists as straight as possible throughout your delivery.
There may be others, but Troy Aikman is the only other top-notch QB that I have seen throw the ball without the threads in his fingers or fingertips. Aikman kept them in his palm, but Stafford doesn't have them in his hand at all and this will lead to more inconsistencies than a QB that has a consistent reference point on the ball. He could also improve the quickness and consistency of his motion by keeping the ball over his elbow and not letting the tip of the ball go as high into the air as this picture shows. Keeping a strong, straight throwing wrist and putting the ball out in front of your face before release is the best, most consistent and compact way to deliver the football.

Lions Should Shore Up Defense With #1 Pick

I love the quarterback and so does America. Everybody knows the face of the franchise, the one with the ball in his hands on each offensive play, but the Detroit Lions have had so many high picks in recent years and so many busts with those picks, the new management team really should go with a defensive pick to open the 2009 draft.
Another reason they should go with defense is because I really don't believe Matthew Stafford should be a #1 overall pick and if a team uses that expensive pick on a guy that isn't worthy of that valued spot, then you haven't really made your team as strong as it could have been. And the Lions can't afford to do that at this point.
Stafford will probably be a very nice QB for whoever he ends up with, but it shouldn't be the Lions.

QB's Can Use Madden to Improve Knowledge

Years ago I was in an off-season quarterback meeting learning the offense of the new coaching staff, when a second year QB (from the ACC) was asked to draw a defense (X's and O's) on the board. He couldn't do it without a little help. That was lightyears away from what is expected of college QB's making the jump to the NFL in today's world.
Matthew Stafford just had a private workout with the Detroit Lions brass to gauge his mental knowledge of the game, since the arm-strength part has been satisfied.
A good way for young quarterbacks to improve their knowledge of reading defenses is to spend time watching the movements on "Madden". You can't just play it for fun and hope that reading defenses becomes second nature, but check the movements of the safeties on blitzes. If linebackers blitz, the safeties will have to cover the tight ends and backs. If there is no blitz, watch the safety movement and expect to throw away from their slide. If the safeties stay put (cover 2), stay on two receiver side (Rule 1: Don't throw to single receiver side in cover 2).
Madden 09 has too much garbage all over the field (e.g. shields, hand-grenades) for me to concentrate, but the older versions are great learning tools.

NFL Combine and the Quarterback

I went to the NFL Combine in 1989 to show my skills to the powers-that-be in the NFL. I roomed with Troy Aikman who came to get a physical and go home. The combine has grown in popularity over the years and access from a fan's standpoint has increased incredibly. It was top-secret stuff back in the day. Getting to see someone's film to see the drills that they did was Iron Curtain stuff (that is an old reference to the Russia during the Cold War).
Matt Stafford is thought to be the top QB in this year's draft and is not going to be participating in the on-field throwing, running, etc. Hearing executives say things about being scared to compete with the other participants is not the issue for most, I would guess. The issue is that everything is graded and examined and throwing to unknown receivers that you aren't familiar with is not easy and could cost a kid millions. Guys like me that are from small schools and trying to establish themselves have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Matt Stafford, like Troy Aikman and every other top prospect since, should control their environment to guarantee the best showing possible. Not throwing at the 1989 combine didn't drop Aikman's status as his contract was negotiated before the draft began and he was the #1 pick and now in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. I don't think Matt Stafford is worthy of the #1 overall pick, but he is certainly making the right decision not to participate in February in Indianapolis, Indiana.