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Week One: Los Angeles Rams (0-0) @ Detroit Lions (0-0)


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1 minute ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I can find the comments, but Campbell has effectively said he’s a starter. Not sure if that will still be the case if Reader is a go.

This will be his first season where he is actually healthy and ready to start game one. I can't imagine him getting the start or more snaps than Reader unless they wanted to ease the injured Reader in for week one.

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6 minutes ago, Motown Bombers said:

When the pearl clutching starts about how Stafford will be treated, remember this:

 

I didn't read into this answer when it was given and I don't read anything into it now. He was almost certainly concussed in that wildcard game, but was coherent enough to fake it for the NFL doc. Then after a one-point loss where his coach punted from the Lions 44 with 4:15 left, he had cameras shoved in his face. I really don't think he was thinking "let me send a subliminal message about my thoughts on Detroit fans." He was contractually required to be there, but was pissed and sore and wanted to get the interview over with as quickly as possible.

That being said.... I'm still going to boo him. Just like I will boo Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Trevor Lawrence, and Josh Allen. And I'm probably going to chant Goff's name. Just like I will if the chant starts against the Bucs, Seahawks, Jags, and Bills.

Stafford was here 12 seasons and went 75-90 without winning a playoff game. I loved him while he was here and was never one of those morans who called for Shaun Hill or Dan Orlovsky to replace him. I appreciate him for having put his body on the line for the Lions, just like I appreciate any number of other Lions players who played for the Lions. But he's not some living legend. He's not Brady returning to Foxborough.

The time for flowers will come after he retires. Maybe when all is said and done he will be worthy of consideration for the Pride of the Lions. Maybe when all is said and done he will be worthy of consideration for the Hall of Fame. When those discussions come up, or when he comes back to Ford Field for a Lions playoff game with a Lions cap on, in a seat between Calvin and Eminem, then I'll cheer him.

I don't know why everyone feels like we have to cheer him now, or we will never get the chance again. If he wants a ticket to a Lions game after he retires, I'll bet he probably has a connection who can hook him up (leave the wife and kids at home though, sorry).

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2 hours ago, MichiganCardinal said:

I don't know why everyone feels like we have to cheer him now, or we will never get the chance again. If he wants a ticket to a Lions game after he retires, I'll bet he probably has a connection who can hook him up (leave the wife and kids at home though, sorry).

For a society that is so sports crazy how can so many people, including so many players, have no understanding about how it works. It's very simple to explain:

  • you root for YOUR team
  • you root against the OTHER team

No athlete - including Stafford, would appreciate playing in a city where the fans rooted for the players on the other team.

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I find it funny that anyone feels the need to boo him or not boo him.   For me, if it distracts him a little bit and we get the win, I will boo him.  I am a Lions first fan.  That is all I care about.  The Lions success as of late or the failure for all those years was not because of Stafford.  The difference in the franchise is clearly Holmes and Campbell.  I personally feel like Stafford could of been a success under this leadership.  Although I feel like his trade definitely sped up the rebuild because of what they got in return.  If you ask me who is truly the better QB regardless of wins or championships when their careers are done.  I would pick Stafford (but its very close).  Although for age and circumstances, Goff is the better QB for the Lions at this time.  The trade was truly one of those trades that worked out perfectly for both teams.  I also think both QBs are happy with it as well.

I feel like Stafford is a good guy and I like his family.  I was never one of those fans that thought any of our horrible years was his fault or wanted him traded.  I also was never one of those people that were cheering for the Rams to win the Superbowl because of Stafford.  If I was at the game, I would boo the heck out of him.  Its not personal. 

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9 hours ago, holygoat said:

I reserve booing for a-holes, and I don't think Stafford has been an a-hole. 

agree.  It comes across as petty.  Like something a jealous girlfriend would do when her old boyfriend has a new girlfriend and appears happier, even though the parting was mutual, if not initiated by her.   Aren't Lions fans happier now than they were then?  

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10 hours ago, holygoat said:

I reserve booing for a-holes, and I don't think Stafford has been an a-hole. 

 

1 hour ago, oblong said:

agree.  It comes across as petty.  Like something a jealous girlfriend would do when her old boyfriend has a new girlfriend and appears happier, even though the parting was mutual, if not initiated by her.   Aren't Lions fans happier now than they were then?  

I don't think my thought process is even that deep. There's no calculus for me.

Ford Field boos two groups of people indiscriminately: the opposing team when they come out the tunnel (particularly when Fritzsching says "the Los Angeles Rams"), and officials when they make a bad call (i.e., any call that goes against Detroit). So, I will boo those two groups of people indiscriminately on Sunday Night. (Apologies in advance to Adrian Hill and his officiating crew, I'm sure they will do a great job.)

It's not like hockey, where an intelligent and aware fan base can boo anytime a particular player like Sidney Crosby touches the puck. There are just two noises: loud on defense (including but not limited to booing) and quiet on offense.

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Last year’s playoff game was a unique situation, so I’ll put that aside. 
 

There are few great players that have come through this city and had fairly long careers, and been traded while still near their peak. JV and Chauncey come to mind, though. There have been others that left via free agency, which I think is a different story (Max, Sergei, Suh). And then you have the special situations like Barry and Calvin who chose to quit rather than continue playing for their toxic franchise. 
 

Booing can be a gut reaction in the moment or a premeditated message.
 

In this case, I can’t fathom making a plan to go to the first game of this new season to boo a former franchise icon like Matthew Stafford. I honestly don’t get it. 
 

Go ahead and rationalize why it’s ok to cheer madly for JV of the Astros and Mets, or Chauncey of the nuggets, but I don’t really think it’s much different. 

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If the Tigers were a playoff team and JV came here, he would get booed and it would be loud.

I think with Stafford its a different situation.  He asked to get traded (no one blames him) and part of that trade was you had to take on Goff's contract.  Stafford won a Championship with the Ram's and something very rare happened with Goff.  A throw away player ends up being very good for the team he was traded to.  I think its just as much of support for Goff as it is against Stafford.  If Calvin or Barry asked to get traded (no one would of blamed them either), they would of been booed as well.  Then after retirement and they came back, they would of been cheered.  Same will be the same for Stafford.  Especially if we would of continued to suck.  If we win a Championship or more with Goff, the cheers for Stafford won't be as loud because Goff will be more important to this franchise than Stafford.  Fans want a winning team and that is above all else.  When your team is bad, then you can cheer for individual players that use to be on your team and gave you good memories.

I am pretty sure LA would boo Goff in a playoff game or if the game was at LA and that would be worse because he didn't request a trade and was a home grown hero.

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Lets not forget, there was a very loud group of Lions fans that became Ram's fans the year they won the championship.  So a lot of fans have a place in their heart for him. Just not when the Lions are good.  That takes priority.  Not sure if it mattered although if it got in Stafford's head at all during the playoff game then you should make noise or boo (whatever you want) for your team.  That is what home field advantage is all about.

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Stafford broke up with us. He went to ownership and asked to go somewhere else. The Lions accommodated him. The fans were very supportive of him. It's been three years now. We are over our ex. We have a new QB. Fans were tired of talking about their ex and wanted everyone to know they support their current QB hence the Jared Goff chants. As I recall, the whole Rams team was booed and not just Stafford. It seems like Kelly, and to a lesser extent Matthew, expected some sort of grand welcome with a red carpet and flowers thrown at their feet. I don't recall any lecturing of Rams fans to give a Goff a hero's welcome. He took that team to a Super Bowl after a decade of losing and was discarded like a soiled pair of underpants. 

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