Matthew Stafford: Deep Down, a Part of Every Lions Fan Wants Him

I have to tell you, I am a big opponent of taking Matthew Stafford at No. 1 in the upcoming draft. We have too many other more pressing needs.

I don't think that he had the most impressive stats in college. I know, stats aren't everything, but they have to count for something.

There's the fact that he's coming out as a junior, and most of the "bust" quarterbacks to be drafted No. 1 have come out early.

Now there are reports that he is bragging to his friends about how much money he's going to make. That shows his immaturity, and it might be a problem in the pros. 

He did go 3-0 in bowl games, but they were against Virginia Tech, Hawaii, and Michigan State. Not exactly powerhouse programs.

There's the argument that we can't protect him with our OL. So will we have to take an OT with the 20th pick, and neglect helping our defense, which was one of the worst of all time? God, I hope not.

There's the build a team from the inside out argument. That if we want to be successful, we need to build the trenches first. St. Louis took this approach taking Orlando Pace first overall in 1997. They proceeded to win a championship, and have one of the greatest offenses in the history of the NFL with an undrafted grocery bagger.

Was it a fluke? They were pretty competitive when he left, and they plugged in a sixth rounder behind Pace.

There's the defense wins championships argument. Out of the last 10 Super Bowl champions, I would say, only two were more dominant on offense than defense: Indy and St. Louis.

When Indy won, it was only because their defense (which was terrible in the regular season) got Bob Sanders back, and stepped it up in the playoffs. The Steelers have won two of the last four Super Bowls with defense, most recently beating the high-powered offense of the Cardinals. The Giants beat one of the greatest offenses ever with a great defense. 

The phrase "Defense wins championships" may be cliche, but history doesn't lie. 

There are many, many reasons not to take Stafford in the draft, and in my head, I hope that we don't.

But when everyone talks about us drafting him, I have to admit, I get excited; my heart beats a little faster. I think about what it would be like to have a "franchise quarterback." A guy that, when we're down with two minutes left and the ball is in his hands, you just know is going to take the team down the field and lead them to a win.

He's the sizzle, not the steak, and we've been down this road many times before. But it does get you thinking about what could be, and if it's worse to draft a bust or pass on a Hall of Famer.

We all come here and write about the Lions' past mistakes, the picks that they missed on, the great players they could have taken but didn't. The Lions have done this to us.

They have made us skeptical, and nervous, about every pick they make (not just the first), and every free agent they bring in, and every trade that they make.

Even as great of a deal that the Roy Williams trade was, what did most people say? They'll just screw up the picks that they got.

I feel bad for Mayhew. I really like the moves that he has made so far. But it's going to take a lot for me to not be upset about his hire, and the Lions not going outside the organization for a proven GM.

Here, I am blaming the Lions for this when there is only one person responsible: William Clay Ford. I can't wait until he no longer owns the Lions (one way or another).

If the Lions don't draft Stafford on April 25, in my head, I'll think we did the right thing. But deep down I want that "franchise quarterback" so I'll also be a little disappointed. I believe that most true Lions fans probably feel the same way. Good luck Mayhew, and go Lions! I'm glad I'm not the one that has to make the decision.