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Lions GM Bob Quinn shoots down Matthew Stafford trade rumors

kalinecountry

kalinecountry

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Posting all this high maintenance Lions drama here and in the Lions team notes thread.
Your comments on Lions planning to trade Stafford or As Bob Quinn says NO, here.

https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/2/13/21135987/detroit-lions-refute-matthew-stafford-trade-rumors
Lions GM Bob Quinn shoots down Matthew Stafford trade rumors.
A local report suggested the Lions are talking about moving Stafford, but Bob Quinn vehemently refuted it.
POD

Overnight, Bernie Smilovitz of Detroit?s Local 4 reported that the Detroit Lions have been in trade talks surrounding Matthew Stafford ?for a couple of weeks.? This is the first substantial report surround Stafford trade rumors that have subsisted for several years now. Smilovitz is a local reporter that has had very intimate conversations with Staffords, which may give this report some legitimacy.

However, Lions general manager Bob Quinn told the Detroit Free Press that this report is ?100 % False!!? with the exclamation points and everything.

At this point, it?s simply up to who you believe. Common sense follows that there is no legitimacy to the rumor. Even if we were to ignore the fact that the Lions would have to eat $32 million in dead cap and that the Lions recently restructured his deal so that it would cost even more to get rid of him, trading Stafford this offseason would also mean they plan on playing the presumed rookie they would draft with the third overall pick.

If that quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, the team would be taking an enormous risk given the Alabama quarterback?s current health situation. Even his own agent told the Detroit Free Press that the best case scenario for Tagovailoa would be to sit his rookie year.

Making such a substantial move like this would also put the jobs of Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia at risk, given ownership expects 2020 to be a year in which the Lions are in playoff contention. That sort of immediate expectations would seemingly put an end to any doubt about Stafford?s future.
But we?ll see.

UPDATE: Voice of Lions radio and FOX 2 Detroit contributor Dan Miller also has sources confirming the trade rumors are false:

https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/02/13/bob-quinn-defiantly-rejects-matthew-stafford-trade-rumors/
Bob Quinn defiantly rejects Matthew Stafford trade rumors.
LionsWire

https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020...s-a-bad-idea-but-its-not-out-of-the-question/
Trading Stafford is a bad idea, but it's not out of the question.
LionsWire

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/s...w-stafford-trade-report-100-false/4747072002/
Lions GM Bob Quinn: Report team is shopping Matthew Stafford '100% false'.
Detnews

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...it-lions-bob-quinn-tua-tagovailoa/4747635002/
Bob Quinn is adamant Detroit Lions won't trade Matthew Stafford. Here's why.
Freep

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...w-stafford-trade-rumors-bob-quinn/4746995002/
Detroit Lions' Bob Quinn shoots down Matthew Stafford trade rumors: '100% False!!'
Freep

While adding a young, cost-controlled quarterback like Tagovailoa would be appealing to most NFL teams, the Lions potentially included, there are plenty of reasons to believe trading Stafford is the wrong move for the Lions.

First, Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia were given a win-now mandate by ownership late in last year's disappointing 3-12-1 season. Stafford gives the organization its best chance to win in 2020, and Tagovailoa's agent, Leigh Steinberg, told the Free Press at the Super Bowl that it's in Tagovailoa's best interests to go to an organization where he can sit and observe during his rookie season.
Second, the Lions did a simple restructure of Stafford's contract late last season, converting a $6 million roster bonus originally due in March to a signing bonus. That move means the Lions will incur a $32 million cap hit if the trade Stafford.

If Stafford plays for the Lions this fall, his cap hit will be $21.3 million.

Finally, with the third pick, the Lions are not guaranteed a chance to draft Tagovailoa (or Burrow). The Bengals are in desperate need of a quarterback and almost certainly will take one at No. 1. Washington could draft a quarterback second, even though it took Dwayne Haskins in the first round last year. And if it doesn't, it would be a prime candidate to trade the No. 2 pick to another quarterback-needy team like the Miami Dolphins if the Lions were to make a move with Stafford now.

https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/02...n-rumors-of-matthew-stafford-trade-talks.html
Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn denies rumors of Matthew Stafford trade talks.
Mlive

https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/02...n-rumors-of-matthew-stafford-trade-talks.html
Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn denies rumors of Matthew Stafford trade talks.
Mlive
 
I didn't even know there were rumors. I don't think anyone really expected Matt to be traded. On the hand that's what GM's say.
 
Mitchrapp said:
I didn't even know there were rumors. I don't think anyone really expected Matt to be traded. On the hand that's what GM's say.
Click to expand...

It would cost something like 20 or more Million in dead cap space. My wording might be off, but most of you know what number it would count against.
Plus iirc he recently restructured his contract?
 
I saw the cap hit would be $32mil. They are stuck with him this year because their jobs are on the line and the restructured his deal. I would have been ok with trading him if they got rid of Quinntricia and did a rebuild but now it doesn't make sense.
 
JScottWriter said:
I saw the cap hit would be $32mil. They are stuck with him this year because their jobs are on the line and the restructured his deal. I would have been ok with trading him if they got rid of Quinntricia and did a rebuild but now it doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...

Tua, and then 2021.
 
This

"First, Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia were given a win-now mandate by ownership late in last year's disappointing 3-12-1 season. Stafford gives the organization its best chance to win in 2020, and Tagovailoa's agent, Leigh Steinberg, told the Free Press at the Super Bowl that it's in Tagovailoa's best interests to go to an organization where he can sit and observe during his rookie season."
 
Nothing would surprise me with this franchise. San Diego has an opening and his back is probably worse than they let on
 
1) if you don't want to be in this position then don't suck so bad as a team that you select 3rd in the draft. That's where top tier qb talent gets drafted.

2) and most important. New cba coming up. Dak is already showing us what that means for qb money by turning down $30 mill a year.

3) if you're not married to resigning Stafford in 2 years at $35+ mil a year then you should absolutely be in exit strategy mode and there is no better time to do that then when you're picking #3 in the draft.

4) paying a franchise qb a couple mil a year into a new cba is probably very enticing when you have as many holes as we do.
 
Last edited:
mhughes0021 said:
1) if you don't want to be in this position then don't suck so bad as a team that you select 3rd in the draft. That's where top tier qb talent gets drafted.

2) and most important. New cba coming up. Dak is already showing us what that means for qb money by turning down $30 mill a year.

3) if you're not married to resigning Stafford in 2 years at $35+ mil a year then you should absolutely be in exit strategy mode and there is no better time to do that then when you're picking #3 in the draft.

4) paying a franchise qb a couple mil a year into a new cba is probably very enticing when you have as many holes as we do.
Click to expand...

the negotiations will start at $35M. Mahomes will have already signed a $40M per year deal.
 
I have been thinking about if we traded Stafford this offseason. This would be if we are in the tank for Trevor sweepstakes. Stafford is the only reason we won games this past season. But I would get it if we went with a vet qb like Case Keenum, traded down to get multiple picks and spent the bare minimum in free agency to try and get Trevor Lawrence.

I know this won't happen because the front office and coaching staff has a win now mandate. It would just be nice if we ever had a true plan.
 
thehippo73 said:
I have been thinking about if we traded Stafford this offseason. This would be if we are in the tank for Trevor sweepstakes. Stafford is the only reason we won games this past season. But I would get it if we went with a vet qb like Case Keenum, traded down to get multiple picks and spent the bare minimum in free agency to try and get Trevor Lawrence.

I know this won't happen because the front office and coaching staff has a win now mandate. It would just be nice if we ever had a true plan.
Click to expand...

Probably havent seen a more complete prospect at QB since Peyton Manning? And he has legs.

I dont think tanking is ever a GOOD strategy. I truly feel the Stafford trade rumors are a smoke screen. They probably even told Kelly to type that tweet or instagram or w/e the fuck it was....it really seemed out of character for her to be honest.

BUUUUUT...if we did trade him im almost 100% certain they would be picking a qb this year at #3. If you get rid of our only hope at winning games...then you atleast need to show you have a plan for the future or else youre are 100% fired.
 
kalinecountry said:
https://sidelionreport.com/2020/02/16/detroit-lions-matthew-stafford-trade-clueless/
Matthew Stafford trade rumors: Are the Detroit Lions really clueless?
SLR
Click to expand...


Oh yeah the Lions are clueless for sure. To me the question is did Smilovitz make this whole thing up or was he really told by someone from the team that Stafford trade talks had been taking place?

If he did make it up then I guess there's nothing here but I don't believe he made it up. I don't believe the team had been in trade talks over Stafford for two weeks but I do believe someone from the team told Smilovitz they had been so why?

I think Quinn was told he can't trade Stafford but he wants to. Since he can't overtly shop Stafford around he had to do something that might draw offers to him. They played Smilovitz but that doesn't mean Bernie was lying.
 
Its smart for numerous reasons to shop stafford...or atleast pretend to.

Smokescreen to build value for Tua.
Create a market incase you take Tua....which shouldnt be off the table entering a new cba.
See what assets you can get for players that continuously underperform should be part of the annual evaluation process. Especially ones that will command 35+ mil a year in 2 years.
 
Ultimatums to a GM is never a good idea before a draft. He won't draft what's best long term but more now because he needs wins.
 
https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2020/2/25/21153067/detroit-lions-bob-quinn-matthew-stafford-no-trade
Detroit Lions GM Bob Quinn assured Matthew Stafford ?we?re not trading you?.
The Lions GM made sure to reach out to his QB to confirm his commitment.
POD

https://www.detroitlions.com/news/quinn-talks-stafford-trade-rumors-slay-trade-possibility
Quinn talks Stafford trade rumors, Slay trade possibility.
Lions.com

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/s...ving-all-options-open-darius-slay/4869844002/
Bob Quinn: Lions not trading Matthew Stafford but leaving all options open for Darius Slay.
Detnews

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/...-bob-quinn-matthew-stafford-trade/4870376002/
Detroit Lions' Bob Quinn to Matthew Stafford: 'We're not trading you. Period.'
Freep

https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/02/bob-quinn-to-matthew-stafford-were-not-trading-you-period.html
Bob Quinn to Matthew Stafford: ?We?re not trading you, period?
 
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