The divorce between Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions was friendly, without the usual grudge currently prevalent with Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles and, more relevant to Stafford, between Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams. The latter is now living where Stafford was a regular as a Lions defender, while Stafford unpacked for Rams – one of the “few teams” with whom the Pro Bowl quarterback was willing to trade. It is rumored that one of the few for which he refused to play was the New England Patriots, leaving many pointing to Matt Patricia as the reason.
Stafford did not confirm or deny the rumor that he wanted nothing to do with Tom Brady’s former team, but he tried to crush speculation about his relationship with Patricia – who returns to New England in 2021 as a technical assistant after leaving the defensive coordinator vacant in 2018 to join Lions as a head coach. Patricia was fired in the middle of the 2020 season, after setting an insignificant 13-29 record in Detroit.
Despite his shortcomings, Stafford says he is not angry at his former coach.
“[Patricia] and I had a good relationship, no matter what anyone wants to say “, he said, through the Detroit Free Press. “I could go into his office and talk to him. He could call me on the phone whenever he needed to.
“I have a lot of respect for him and who he is, as a football coach and an incredible mind.”
This suggests his supposed decision to stay away from the Patriots, rooted in his disbelief in his ability to be a contender in 2021, and not necessarily out of fear of meeting Patricia.
“What is needed is – and this is an incredible thing, [the Lions] – I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship, “added Stafford.” And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. Some teams were not on that list. And they respected that and understood it completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each of them. “
This is quite painful for an organization so used to winning, but also a reality check when considering how far they’ve fallen in 2020 after Brady’s decision to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So while head coach Bill Belichick works to rack up wins again, he will have to deal with his quarterback situation elsewhere in the free agency, or in the NFL’s 2021 draft.