Lions Picked For Last Place; Mike Valenti Doesn't Agree, Blames Stafford [VIDEO]
By: Evan Jankens
@kingofthekc
The first time the football is snapped at Detroit Lions training camp, fans have a sense of relief. Their team is 0-0, they haven't been let down, no one has been injured and they still believe this is the year the Lions will go to the Super Bowl.
Then publications come out with their season predictions and crush all their hopes and dreams.
Profootballfocus.com has put out their NFC rankings and put the Lions dead last tied with the L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers with a prediction of a 4-12 record.
On offense, the Lions lost most of their highly-graded players. While some might consider 2015 a down year for Calvin Johnson, he still graded in the top-10 for wide receivers, at 89.4. The Lions also let running back Joique Bell and offensive linemen Manuel Ramirez leave. Ramirez had the highest grade among the Lions' O-linemen in 2015. The defense should improve with the return of DeAndre Levy. His run-stop percentage of 14.1 led all 4-3 outside linebackers in 2014. They will miss retired cornerback Rashean Mathis, who only allowed seven touchdowns in his three years with the Lions. Detroit is a team that is now missing their star power, and they'll hope new stars develop in their absence.
Believe it or not, afternoon host on 97.1 The Ticket Mike Valenti doesn't agree with this ranking, but says if the Lions were to have that poor of a record the blame should fall on the shoulders of QB Matthew Stafford. "If this team goes 4-12 with Matthew Stafford how could you possibly justify a $135 million extension? Are you kidding me?," Valenti said. "It's almost like Stafford gets this permanent pass, for years, oh "he's only 25," now he's headed into his eighth season and people are still talking about him like he's a third year player."
"Why does Matthew Stafford get this pass?" Valenti asked. "Tell me what magic resides in him?" Stafford now has a new offensive coordinator in Jim Bob Cooter and this should be the year that he shines. "It's never been about Stafford, blame the talent, blame the organization, blame an injury, blame bad luck, try to spin his numbers, it's never about him, it's never been about him. Nobody ever just looks at it and goes you know what? He's not that good. Here's what happens when you do it, oh but he has a big arm, or oh he still has potential, oh remember 2011, uh blame Millen, uh blame Mayhew. It's never about him. No player gets more excuses made for him than Matthew Stafford."
"The bottom line is I don't think it matters it's how he plays, there's no way they go 4-12, I just don't see them being that bad. They have somewhat of a defense, they have some good players, they probably have one of the top 10 corners in the league, they have arguably the best defensive end in the league. They have a linebacking crew as a unit which is probably very, very attractive to most teams. They have a couple of good safeties, they have people. At some time you have to let go of this potential thing. "
Mike wants to know do the fans still have a level of expectation with Matthew Stafford and what is the best you can get out of Matthew Stafford?
