Lions Will Live or Die With Stafford

Detroit tried to pretend that it could live without Matthew Stafford. The Lions let rumors swirl about them trading out of the No. 1 pick, taking an offensive tackle, even being satisfied with Aaron Curry.

Their deal with Stafford, announced late Friday night, makes all that seem ridiculous now. A 6-year contract potentially worth more than $70 million is not a deal struck out of reluctance or uncertainty. For better or worse, the Lions have made it known that Stafford is the guy they believe can turn around their franchise.

There is no turning back now -- the next six years of Detroit Lions football will be judged on what Stafford does.

You think that's unfair? That it puts too much emphasis on a single player amongst a roster of 53? Forget it.

You don't take a quarterback No. 1 in the draft, and you certainly do not make him the highest-paid draft pick in NFL history, if you don't expect division titles and playoff wins to come out of it somewhere down the road.

Detroit's franchise knows better than most how damaging a failed QB pick can hurt: the name Joey Harrington still conjures up looks of disgust and anger in the Motor City, even after the 2008 Lions left a near-infinite list of players to be fed up with. Harrington was supposed to be the savior when the Lions drafted him out of Oregon in 2002. Seven years later, the Harrington pick ranks just behind Barry Sanders' sudden retirement announcement and the last play of an 0-16 season on Detroit fans' list of moments they'd like to forget.

So Stafford not only will have to carry the weight of a moribund franchise and a massive contract, but also the lingering stench of Harrington's struggles.

And all this before his name's even been called at the draft.

Those in charge of picking Stafford are, mercifully for Detroit, different than in 2002. Instead of Mariucci and Millen, the Lions have Jim Schwartz and Martin Mayhew who have, at least in a very short window, seemed competent while attempting to rebuild. There are already Lions fans clamoring that this contract undoes that progress. After all, Detroit postured for weeks with Stafford, tried to play it firm, and then ended up handing out the largest contract ever to come out of the draft.

But just pretend for a second that this works. I'm fairly certain everyone in Michigan will quickly forget about the price of Stafford's contract if he happens to bring home an NFC North crown or, dare to dream, a postseason victory.

For Schwartz's and Mayhew's sake, he better. As soon as Stafford's pen hit that paper, and he agreed to his Detroit deal, all the Lions' middle ground disappeared. There is no room to wait around for Stafford to develop for three or four years. He's going to have a few weeks, one season tops, and then he'll be expected to get the job done.

The Lions are apparently confident that he will, and they'll be crossing their fingers and hoping they are right. Otherwise, the NFL's worst team has another six years of very expensive misery ahead of it.

Detroits Turbulent Draft History

Quarterback Matt Stafford is heading to Motown. The No. 1 overall draft pick agrees to a 6-year deal with an NFL-record $41.7 million in guaranteed money. Will the expensive investment pan out for the lowly Lions? Only time will tell. Click through to see how some of Detroit's more memorable picks have panned out through the years.

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The Pick: QB Joey Harrington - Round 1, No. 3 | The Draft: 2002
Harrington had a record of 18 wins and 37 losses during his tenure with the Lions. He posted some of the worst yards per attempt seasons in NFL history and now serves as a backup for the Saints.

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The Pick: WR Johnnie Morton - Round 1, No. 21 | The Draft: 1994
Morton played eight seasons with the Lions, tallying 6,499 of his career receiving yards in Detroit. He retired from the NFL in 2005. In June 2007, Morton, bottom, lost his mixed martial arts debut in 38 seconds via knockout.

Bob Riha, Jr, Dynamite USA II / FEG / AP

The Pick: RB Barry Sanders - Round 1, No. 3 | The Draft: 1989
Sanders was one of the most explosive and memorable running backs in NFL history. The legend racked up 10 Pro Bowl selections in his career and retired suddenly in 1999.

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The Pick: WR Charles Rogers - Round 1, No. 2 | The Draft: 2003
One of the biggest busts in NFL history, Rogers played only 15 games with the Lions before being released in 2006. His lowlights included breaking his collarbone twice and a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He was jailed in March for violating probation following assault and battery charges.

Carlos Osorio, AP

The Pick: WR Mike Williams - Round 1, No. 10 | The Draft: 2005
Williams, who was traded off the team before the 2007 season, is currently looking for work after just three seasons and 539 receiving yards. The 25-year-old battled injuries and weight issues throughout his short career.

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The Pick: LB Reggie Brown - Round 1, No. 17 | The Draft: 1996
Brown played in only 32 games with the Lions. He suffered a spinal cord contusion while assisting on a tackle in the closing game of 1997 season. Emergency surgery saved him from using a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Brown is now mobile and serves as a manager for a motor vehicle dealership.

Bob Broadbeck, AP

The Pick: RB Billy Sims - Round 1, Pick No. 1 | The Draft: 1980
The 1978 Heisman Trophy winner had a short but successful career with Detroit, racking up 5,106 rushing yards over five seasons. His career ended midway through the 1984 season when he suffered a knee injury.

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