Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford are headed for a divorce and fans are literally in pain

Detroit Free Press

Tyler J. Davis
 
| Detroit Free Press

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Get in line, NFL teams: The greatest quarterback in Detroit Lions history is on the market. 

Matthew Stafford and the Lions, who drafted the QB No. 1 overall in 2009, have agreed to part ways, according to multiple reports. Stafford, 32, still has two years left on his contract so Detroit is exploring trade options.

Lions hit on personality, miss on real expectations with Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes ]

Stafford’s career with the Lions has been marked by heroic comeback efforts, record-setting performances and, of course, losses (74-90-1 in the regular season, 0-3 in the postseason). Hard to blame Stafford for many of those L’s; he’s the franchise’s all-time leading passer by nearly 30,000 yards and has thrown 165 more touchdowns than any other Lion.

The Texas native has also played through a list of injuries that, if diagrammed, would resemble the board game Operation

Matthew Stafford wants more ‘big-time moments.’ He may need to leave Detroit to find them ]

All while dealing with unreliable defenses and even worse run games. Not to mention his very best passing targets were not usually long for Detroit (Calvin Johnson retired in his prime, Golden Tate was traded and Kenny Golladay is likely headed for free agency).

With a new front office and coaching staff welcoming in a rebuild, the move isn’t exactly surprising, but that rationale is meaningless to the Lions fans who already miss their QB1. 

Trading Stafford sounds like ‘Same Old Lions’ but here’s why that’s wrong ]

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that Dan O. knows (about Matt Stafford). 

I’m sure many Lions fans feel you. 

Other teams’ fans are already trying to poach Staff. 

Classic.

Follow the Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.

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