What Matthew Stafford s Trade Means for Deshaun Watson
Deshaun Watson. | Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
While Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans engaged in a worthless western standoff this past week, the Lions and Rams were busy actually getting things done. Like Houston, Detroit had a disgruntled Pro Bowl quarterback who wanted out. Unlike Houston, at least to this point, the Lions appeased their franchise leader and got the best deal they could while also helping Los Angeles sort out its quarterback issue.
That s good news for Matt Stafford and Jared Goff, who get the fresh start each needed with new franchises far away from the baggage formerly tethered to them. It s also good news for the Lions, who got two first-round picks and one third-rounder in exchange for a player who didn t want to be on their team anymore. They also pick up a former Pro Bowler in Goff, whose contract and play the Rams clearly just wanted to get rid of at all costs.
Was Rex Ryan Right About Bill Belichick Not Attracting Top Players?
Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan. | Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Rex Ryan s animosity toward Bill Belichick is long founded and based primarily on Ryan s inability to best the Patriots head coach in the AFC East for the better part of a decade. But was the former Jets and Bills coach and current ESPN analyst correct in his assertion that players didn t go to New England because of Belichick but rather because they wanted to play with Tom Brady? Ryan certainly added some ammunition to that arsenal today.
only team Stafford wouldn t accept a trade to. There are many reasons why that may have been the case, from the Patriots lackluster talent on offense to the fact that former Lions coach Matt Patricia has rejoined the Pats coaching staff. But the fact that Stafford singled out the Patriots certainly helps the argument Ryan presented about Belichick last week.
Texans Beat Writer Reveals Asking Price in Deshaun Watson Trade
Deshaun Watson. | Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
When Matt Stafford was traded to the Rams for a king s ransom, I speculated that would increase the asking price for suitors hoping to acquire Deshaun Watson from the Texans. After all, if a 32-year-old quarterback who hasn t been to a Pro Bowl since 2014 can fetch two first-round picks, a third-rounder and a former Pro Bowl quarterback in Jared Goff, what could a transcendent talent like Watson yield?
According to long-time Texans beat writer John McClain, however, the Stafford deal doesn t impact the Watson deal. From McClain s perspective, if the Texans are going to trade Watson, which they said they don t want to, then they want two first-round picks, two second-rounders and two starting-caliber players in return.
Khalil Mack Once Choke Slammed a Bears Offensive Lineman During Practice
Khalil Mack. | James Gilbert/Getty Images
One of the most interesting things about the NFL is, like an iceberg, most people only see a small portion of the full picture. The product displayed for 3-4 hours on Sunday is the result of countless hours put in behind the scenes at practice. As interesting as the games are, there are just as many crazy moments happening away from the prying eyes of television cameras.
Take, for instance, this anecdote provided by Bears tight end Cole Kmet. The 2020 rookie was asked about blocking All-Pro defensive end Khalil Mack for the first time and conveyed his excitement that he did a pretty good job. Then he saw Mack choke slam an offensive lineman and it changed Kmet s whole perspective on things. He quickly realized he wasn t getting the best of Mack. Here s the video: