It was less than a week ago that then-Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew said it was “comical” to suggest quarterback Matthew Stafford wasn’t a part of the future with the Lions.
Of course, Mayhew was just fired, so that means everything is up in the air in Detroit.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Stafford’s future there is “very much in doubt” after the rash of firings that have most recently claimed Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand.
And while you can debate Stafford’s merits on their own, there’s no reason his future should be secure. He’s under contract through 2017, and there would be a significant dead money hit if they cut him or traded him after this season. But Stafford will also have value to others (the law of supply and demand dictates), which could bring back pieces needed for the rebuild.
But dead money can’t be the primary concern for a dysfunctional franchise, not if they want to fix it.
Just as any new G.M. will want a say in his next head coach, he’ll want to pick his own quarterback as well. Any time there’s change at the top, incumbents become scarce.
Lions coach Jim Caldwell is safe for now, but that might be as simple as needing someone to coach ‘em up for the remaining eight games, and darn it, Jim Bob Cooter can only do so much. He has three names, but he’s just one man.
