The Detroit Lions have begun cleaning house. In the past week or so, the team has fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, general manager Martin Mayhew and team president Tom Lewand.
Could the starting quarterback be on his way out of Motown, too?
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Matthew Stafford’s future with the Lions is “very much in doubt” beyond the 2015 season. Stafford is partially responsible for Detroit’s 1-7 record, as he has thrown 11 interceptions — tied for second-worst in the NFL behind Andrew Luck — compared to 13 touchdowns.
Earlier this week, Stafford came to the defense of Jim Caldwell after the Lions coach complained that the media in Detroit is too negative. But it wasn’t the media that started all of the talk of opponents knowing what plays the Lions are going to run before they run them.
Detroit signed Stafford to a three-year extension worth $53 million in new money two years ago. He is under contract through 2017, and his base salary jumps up to $17 million with a salary cap hit of $22.5 million in 2016. The Lions will likely have to eat money if they find a way to get rid of him.
Stafford is capable of playing well and is just 27, so it would be premature to write him off. Heck, his wife thinks the refs have been part of the problem this season. But if the Lions are truly blowing everything up and rebuilding, moving on from their highly-paid quarterback would make sense.
