Lions Should Start Stafford, Embrace Bumps In The Road

Let's face it, the Detroit Lions have already hit rock bottom.

You don't go an entire 16-game season not winning a game without being at an all-time low.

Morale, chemistry, awareness, it was all gone before the last game.

Sure, they showed a little heart before eventually falling to Green Bay, 31-21, but what's heart when you can't win?

Needless to say, winning one game next season would be an accomplishment. Even the greatest lovers of debate can agree with that. So, why then, would the Lions even think of handing the keys to this 1977 beat-up Chevy to Daunte Culpepper?

If the bar is already as low as Lindsey Lohan's self-esteem, then why try raising it with Culpepper? The worst-case scenario would play out; having Culpepper somehow magically lead the Lions to playoff contention, or close to a .500 record.

Lions fans probably wouldn't mind, but there's a strong case that doing so would stunt Matthew Stafford's growth much more than throwing him into the fire.

Even Peyton Manning agrees. He suggested the Lions playing him from day one, saying: " There's no way I could have played as well as I did in my second year if I hadn't played that first year."

He has a point. After all, he's won a Super Bowl, and is the closest guy behind Brett Favre in nearly every statistical passing category.

Manning also noted that while he threw a rookie-record 28 interceptions in his first season, he also threw 26 touchdowns. That experience helped Manning lead that 3-13 team to a 13-3 record and playoff appearance the next season.

So, does that mean we're looking at the Lions in the Super Bowl in two years? No, of course not. But history could be on Stafford's side.

Look at Jay Cutler, Ben Roethlisberger, and Eli Manning. At some point in time in their rookie campaigns, they were thrust into action, and all came away as either a Super Bowl champion, or a Prow-Bowl quarterback (or both).

The again, Stafford could take 12 steps back and be the next J.P. Losman, Alex Smith, or even Rick Mirer.

So many different extremes, and only two doors that can be opened.

The fact is, the Lions have Calvin Johnson, and they shouldn't waste any time on introducing him to Stafford.