It’s great that he’s finally garnering the attention he’s due. Matt’s always received high praise from Mel Kiper, as he continually points out, and even predicted that Matt would be the #1 pick in the draft when he was a high school senior.
Speaking on a conference call, Kiper reiterated his view — first expressed when Stafford was a high school senior — that Stafford has the “physical gifts” to be the No. 1 pick. In fact, Kiper said, “very few quarterbacks” have ever come out of college who can throw the football better than Stafford. And Kiper’s latest mock draft has Stafford going No. 1
I guess being courted in the press as the hot new franchise QB-in-the-making has it’s privileges too. Stafford just got back from a trip to the Super Bowl, was interviewed recently on Dan Patrick’s show, just signed a mega-marketing deal with IMG, and hired uber-sports agent Tom Condon as well. Yeah, that’s the same Condon that worked Matt Ryan’s $72 million dollar deal with the Falcons & reps both the Manning Brothers. In addition to being crowned King of the NFL Draft Prom, Matt’s being filmed while training at the famous API Center in Tempe, Arizona.
For those that don’t know, API (Athletes’ Performance Inc.) is the premiere training center for elite athletes in a variety of sports. Their ground-breaking NFL Combine preparation program is considered the best at assisting athletes with a focused training regimen geared towards improving draft position. It’s also where the NFL’s best athletes train in the off-season. Ironic such an exceptional facility was founded by a Yech grad. Despite that one minor flaw, Matt has the opportunity to train with famed QB Coach Terry Shea. Hopefully Coach Shea’s relationship with the Chiefs will benefit Stafford. I’d much rather see him be taken at the #3 spot & go with a team like the Chiefs than get saddled in God-forsaken Detroit.
All of this press and buzz surrounding Matthew is terrific for him, but it’s also fantastic for UGA. Our reputation for sending and keeping top talent in the NFL is among the best in college football. Adding two top talents like Matthew & Knowshon to that elite list is definitely a bonus & a source of immense Georgia pride. It’d be incredible to know that the next Elway once wore silver britches, right?
Go Dawgs!
*Note: Be sure to click on the link for the Dan Patrick show btw-it’s a great interview & Matt’s comments about Teblow are pretty interesting. Trust me.
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For some reason I can’t get the DP link or podcast to work at all. Love the ESPN videos though. I miss him already…in a very masculine football & red meat sort of way, of course.
The DP interview was very good. Stafford seems to be getting more comfortable dealing with the national media.
I give him credit for recognizing Tebow’s greatness as a college QB. He didn’t get defensive or irritated. Just gave the devil his due and moved on. Definitely a product of product of Coach Richt and the Georgia way.
He’ll do all of us Dawgs proud.
RidgeDawg
[...] should not take former Georgia QB Matthew Stafford. Mel Kiper Jr, is not one of them. Ally at A Road to Copacetic has the full breakdown. 3 videos worth and plenty of interesting links. Definitely worth [...]
Eric: I’ll email you the link & see if that works for you. Maybe you’re pop-up blocker/firewall is interfering? I dunno.
Ridge: Yeah, I totally agree. The part I thought was most interesting about his teblow comments involved his opinion on teblow returning to floriduh for his senior year…especially when talking about competing for a title. Pretty illuminating.
“Definitely a product of product of Coach Richt and the Georgia way.”
Should be “Definitely a product of Coach Richt and the Georgia way.”
I was a typo machine last night (this morning). After 2:00am my brain loses it’s connection to my fingertips.
Ridge
[...] Road to Copacetic notices a lot of love being directed toward one Matthew Stafford from ESPN. Complete with all the Stafford video from it’s draft [...]
He has been very well coached on how to interview or deal with the media. He didn’t miss a beat in that Dan Patrick interview. The only negative thing he really said was concerning Georgia Tech.
Bill,
Yeah he’s definitely poised and well schooled, but he hasn’t had to deal with tough media in his face yet either – as Dan Patrick pointed out. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles himself when media from a northern metropolis or the national media hounds him . Right now (as in the Dan Patrick interview) it’s still all fun & games. Wonder what will happen if he’s thrown to the wolves in Detroit & they continue to lose w/ the new $75 million franchise QB?
The Detroit Media isn’t exactly a bunch of push overs but its not like its the New York media either. I really think he will be fine. The reason Jeff George or Ryan Leaf were failures was not their stats specifically, it was their attitude. Stafford seems like a good level headed kid especially considering all the hype he came in with. He could have easily pulled a Ron Paulus/Chris Rix and wilted under pressure; but he didn’t. He doesn’t appear to take himself too seriously either which is good.
I think Stafford and Calvin Johnson would make a great combo. If Reggie Ball can complete 10 or so passes to Calvin at Tech. Matthew Can Complete 10 or so balls to Calvin in Detroit!
One thing to remember- the Detroit Lions may be the laughing stock of the NFL right now, but until Peyton Manning came to town , so were the Indianapolis Colts. Jeff George was Indy’s Joey Harrington. Maybe Matthew Stafford can be their Peyton Manning.
Stafford could be Detroit’s Peyton Manning and I meant 10 passes/catches a game to Calvin Johnson. Sorry for the confusion.