Matthew Stafford Talks About the Lions Past ... and Brighter Future

Will Brinson is in Miami blogging the Super Bowl. Follow him on Twitter.

During Week 11 of the 2009 season, Matthew Stafford led an amazing comeback against the Cleveland Browns en route to the all-time NFL single-game record for passing yards and touchdowns by a rookie. Unfortunately, it was time the Detroit Lions would win in '09.

On the bright side, it was Stafford's first year in the league and he has developing weapons in Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew, along with a team that is still recovering from the horror that was the Matt Millen era.

Thanks to the good folks at Axe, Matthew was available for a lengthy sit-down interview with FanHouse on Wednesday morning in Miami where we talked about the Lions' season, his offensive weapons, the Week 11 comeback, the upcoming NFL Draft, who he likes in the Super Bowl and exactly how I can tame my clearly outrageous 'Bama Bangs.

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Will Brinson: Morning, Matthew, thanks for talking to FanHouse, hope you're doing well, man.

Matthew Stafford: Yeah, thanks, Will, you too, man.

WB: So, let's get down to it -- without putting you on the spot too much, if you had to put one word down for the Lions season, what would it be?

MS: I mean, obviously, I think, "disappointed." You want to win more games than we did and you want to play better than we did and as a team I feel that way, personally I feel that way -- getting injured twice and having to get through all that was tough. And I think for me personally, it was a great learning experience. I got two wins under my belt -- I know it's not a ton, but we tasted a little bit of that and I obviously know what it's like to lose and how bad that sucks. And I just think it's a good starting block.

WB: What about the Week 11 game, which probably had mixed emotions for you ...

MS: Cleveland?

WB: Yeah, you set the NFL record for most touchdowns in a game and most passing yards in a game and I watched the whole thing ...

MS: [Laughs]

WB: Seriously, not trying to be funny, but Lions-Browns, it wasn't a marquee game, really, and yet it was the best game of the week -- can you walk us through that final play ... did you demand to go back out there?

MS: Well, what it was, it was a Hail Mary and I was just gonna try and find some time and get Calvin in the end zone and I got planted on my shoulder and I wasn't expecting the pass interference in the end zone so I was on the ground just trying to get the guts to stand up and my center told me what happened so I got up and tried to move and it was just killing me, so I went to the sideline and once the trainers come you're out for a play ... and then I heard the timeout from the sideline ...

WB: Which [Eric] Mangini called!

MS: Yeah! So I was like, "Thank God" and pretty much didn't ask and just went out there and did it ... you know, it's better to ask for forgiveness, right?

WB: Ha, yeah, definitely -- is that one of those moments where it's all just moving fast ...

MS: Right, right, yeah I know it's only one play, you go out there, win or lose.

WB: Well how big was going out there and making that throw for you, on a team that's trying to establish a new identity, towards becoming a leader in the locker room?

MS: Obviously I didn't do it for that reason, but yeah, I think it goes a long way in the locker room, and the city of Detroit too ... it's a tough city, a lot of people going through a lot and I think to see something like on their team probably helps a lot.

WB: What about [Brandon] Pettigrew -- I think a lot of people questioned why the Lions didn't go defense there, but how good is he going to end up being?

MS: I think he's going to be great. He'll come back off his knee and be fine. The second half of the year, he started playing great football, he was doing a great job for us, so, I think nothing but good things from him from here on out. And it's great to have a tight end and I was starting to get a relationship where it was -- in the Cleveland game, I remember on one of the third downs, we were running a route where he was the second or third read and I was like "Listen, I'm coming to you," and he caught it, ran for two yards and got a first down.

WB: Cool, cool ... Is Calvin Johnson -- I feel like some people outside Detroit, and maybe even fans inside Detroit -- think he looked kind of disgruntled out there. Am I reading that wrong? Or is he just

MS: Yeah, I don't think he's disgruntled. I think it's just his competitive nature and he's just as upset about losing as everyone else. It's, he's obviously where the camera goes during our games, you know? And I think if you went through our locker room and did that to everybody ...

WB: And he's got 16 more losses too ...

MS: Yeah, exactly -- he's been through some rough times here. Obviously he's not shutting it down or anything and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get to winning, which is good. You'd rather have a guy a like that or us lose every game and he's like, "Whatever" you know?

WB: Fair enough -- both those guys present a pretty cushy situation for you, target-wise. What's the franchise looking at in the draft?

MS: Early in the draft, I wouldn't be surprised if we took a defensive lineman. There are so many in this draft that are really good and then maybe second round if we took a skill position guy. I think our big need on defense is on the line and our big need on offense, which we'll probably try to fill through free agency, is a guard, maybe a couple skill guys.

WB: Word -- you played against Tim Tebow in college and because people hate to stop talking about him, I'm gonna ask. What do you think about his pro prospects?

MS: You know, I think he's a heck of a football player for sure. Great college player, one of the best, and, I don't know, I think it'll be interesting to see -- I think a lot of teams will probably have a lot of different grades on that guy. I think there's been consensus with some guys here and there and I think Tebow's the kind of guy that's going to have teams on the poles, you know? Some teams say "no way" and some teams will say "absolutely" -- it's gonna be different.

WB: So who you got in the Super Bowl ... 'cause you're a "Manning guy" right? Peyton's told me before about you being at their camps and how big a fan he was ...

MS: [Laughing] Yeah, of course, but I like Brees too, because I met him at the Super Bowl last year. I think it's gonna be a great game ... [Awkward/humorous exchange about 'the over' from my interview with DeSean Jackson ensues] I don't know, man, I'd love to see New Orleans, obviously the first time they've been there, but I'd love to see Peyton win another one too ... it's just too tough to pick right now.

WB: That's cool -- seems like no one's picking right now ... but on that Saints note, Detroit kind of strikes me as a possible "second Saints" if you guys progress and the economy starts, hopefully, recovering -- is Detroit the next kind of "great story"?

MS: Yeah, I think so, absolutely. Hockey's always been good there for a long time, and they love hockey, but I think they're sitting there waiting on football and hopefully we can get it going and get some pieces in there and play well and really get it going.

WB: Right on, right on. I gotta ask too -- do you bother trying to stack up rookie seasons with Mark Sanchez?

MS: No, I don't. I think we're in completely different situations and I think a lot of people know that too. He's a good buddy of mine, I'm really happy for him and I think he played great football this year, but at the same time, I think we're in different spots.


WB: Fair point. Speaking of different spots, for me at least, let's talk about Axe. And you're from Texas, which is maybe more inclined towards using product than Georgia ... but from what I understand, you've got some hair stuff that's maybe more acceptable for the gentleman with 'Bama Bangs, right?

[Knowing laughter all around]

MS: Absolutely, though, you know, because it's not necessarily a gel, it's not gonna make you greasy or anything like that. Pretty much, I've been using their product for a while and getting "hair action" which is what they call it, where girls are getting all up in your hair, smelling it, getting their fingers through it ... and I challenged a bunch of guys on the internet and every two weeks or so they're going to put a new deal up there and Axe is going to give out a bunch of really good prizes to stuff like sporting events ...

WB (Suddenly intrigued): So, what you just like ... upload a video?

MS: Facebook.com/Axe and you upload a video -- I've uploaded some, shot a video a video from me getting some hair action. One in a crazy position, one ...

WB: Wait, wait -- qualify hair action though.

MS: It's ... it's girls that can't resist your hair, getting all up in it, rubbing their fingers in it, smelling it ... and hopefully it leads to something else you know?

WB: Alright -- so what do guys ... everyday joes like myself stand to gain from uploading these videos?

MS: Well, if you can beat me, there's a day-to-day winner where a guy is gonna get, you know, a prize package, some shampoo and conditioner and style products. And if you win a contest with a costume and props or in a position or a crazy way of getting hair action, if you win one of those two or three week deals, you can get some tickets to a big sporting event in 2010. If I was a guy, I'd be trying to get it, that's for sure.

WB: Ha, nice, well, hey, Matthew, thanks again for taking the time to talk with FanHouse, again, man -- great luck next year and good luck with any future hair action.

MS: Alright, Will, thanks man, take care.