Reminder: Matthew Stafford is an honorary Wolverine
Yes, I know he's a Georgia Bulldog, but we should have a soft spot for him. That's not just because of his time with the Lions, but because he once did this in 2012: 1) he attended a CS Mott fundraiser at Steve Hutchinson's invitation, 2) he donated a VIP package including six tickets to a Lions game, 3) he paid $15,000 to buy back the donation and gave it to a young Mott patient and her family who happened to be sitting next to him at the fundraiser. He did all this despite having no ties to U of M or Ann Arbor.
Stafford's good peoples and he deserves all of the success that he never would have gotten to experience playing for the dysfunctional shitshow known as the Detroit Lions.
January 24th, 2022 at 9:02 AM ^
Stafford is a good dude. He truly loved Detroit and hated leaving, but, of course, why wouldn't you take the opportunity to WIN elsewhere. I read an article about the trade, how it went down, how Stafford was all class throughout, and how the Lions were surprised but gracious about it (may have been the right move for the long-term anyway).
Anyways, in this article, over the course of several days and many hours spent with Stafford, the writer basically tried to get him to talk about what a shit-show the Lions organization is, how they couldn't win, etc. Stafford refused to take the bait--he never said a negative word about the Lions. He evidently still has strong feelings for the team and the city, and he'll never forget that the team physicians diagnosed Kelly's (his wife's ) meningioma.
I'm rooting for him!
January 24th, 2022 at 9:08 AM ^
I met Matt and his wife a couple of years ago in Breckenridge, CO. Ironically, I met Sarah Harbaugh earlier that same day (and saw her again that evening on the condo shuttle that happened to be filled with other Michigan fans..)
January 24th, 2022 at 9:10 AM ^
I just hope Stafford's playoff run puts away the theory that that Lions haven't had the right players.
They've had good players to build around. It's the organization that is poison. Stafford was there for 12 years and they didn't win a single playoff game? C'mon man.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:49 PM ^
Don't forget to add that they had Calvin and Suh on that team as well. And for those who say 'Well thats enough" don't know. Football is the ultimate team sport. It takes all 45 guys on the roster. Almost any moron could have made the 3 straight - Top 5 picks to get these All-Pro type of players, but that only further exemplifies just how poorly they assemble a team beyond those three.
Those three "SHOULD" have been a foundation of a playoff caliber team for several years in a row, but since it seems they use "throw a dart at the daft board" philosophy for the balance of their draft it is what it is.....
January 24th, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
Yet he rocks Spartan gear and goes to their tournament games…think he’s more of a Sparty.
January 24th, 2022 at 9:51 AM ^
I am a crazy Brady fan who hasn't lived in Michigan for nearly four decades. Am very sad this morning. I am not a Lions fan. Having said that, I have always admired Stafford as a talent and as a guy. He deserves the kudos he is being given today. Good for you, Mr. Stafford.
January 24th, 2022 at 3:53 PM ^
Bill, we're in about the same place this morning. The post-TomBrady era appears to be closer than I thought. The Mahomes / Allen / Burrow era has arrived, with Stafford getting the chance he earned through service and loyalty to the Lions.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
Buying back the donation to give it away is pretty cool. Good on him.
January 24th, 2022 at 10:20 AM ^
Yeah, he seems like a cool guy and the fact he made the Lions tolerable gives him a soft spot in my heart. Glad to see him succeed in the NFL playoffs finally.
January 24th, 2022 at 11:25 AM ^
A multimillionaire with no ties or apparent interest in UofM whatsoever donates $15k+ to a worthwhile local charity run by another NFL player, and this makes him an honorary Wolverine?
Sorry, but that's just... dumb.
By the way, the 49ers have 4 ACTUAL WOLVERINES (Ambry Thomas, Maurice Hurst, Jarrod Wilson active plus Lavert Hill on practice squad) compared to 1 on the Rams (David Long). I won't be rooting for Stafford.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:50 PM ^
I have nothing against Stafford but your monetary arguments are meaningless. That $15k is the equivalent of $20 to someone making $50k a year. Not to mention he probably made it a tax deduction anyway. He makes $27 million a year, $15k is literally couch change. Again, nothing against stafford, but there are a lot of people out there doing a lot more with a lot less and aren’t getting any praise. I’ve never understood the obsession with arbitrary donations by the celebrity super rich.
January 24th, 2022 at 1:47 PM ^
So... would you rather him not donate the $15k? $15k is still $15k more than $0 which is exactly equivalent to someone making 50k and donating $0.
I've never understood the obsession with people getting angry at the celebrity super rich making charitable donations.
January 24th, 2022 at 12:56 PM ^
I was working this event! It was an incredibly kind thing for him to do, and sold me on him from that day forward.
January 24th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
I remember an interview with him during a Michigan -Michigan State basketball game and the announcer asked him to pick, and he picked Michigan State because that's who his wife rooted for. So I don't think he's an honorary wolverine, but is charitable side is cool!
January 24th, 2022 at 1:10 PM ^
Initially I was rooting for the Rams to go out early for the Lions pick, but am definitely in the Stafford for SB MVP camp now.
January 24th, 2022 at 2:34 PM ^
The Rams are the favorites now. I'll be happy if he wins.
January 24th, 2022 at 3:54 PM ^
Totally agree. It's great to see Stafford get a chance to show how good he really is, and it was nice to be able to root for both QBs and see both truly excel at crunch time. Stafford prevailed because he had the ball last.
January 25th, 2022 at 1:39 AM ^
Stafford is good peoples now.
More than a few UGA folks didn't care for him.