Schwartz Stubborness Loses The Game For The Lions

In Thursdays game the Detroit Lion's made a startling decision to go with Matthew Stafford coming off an injured shoulder over Duante Culpepper. Stafford was coming of a career day vs the Browns and they hoped he still had the magic touch. Stafford who was injured in the final plays of that game and showed true grit in coming off the injury the throw a TD in the waning seconds, however he was not up to the challenge facing one of the NFL's best defences he threw pick after pick in yet another loss. He finished with 1 TD and 4 INT 46% accuracy .

Schwartz kept Stafford in late in the game after it had turned into a blowout when Stafford was clearly growing more uncomfortable with the shoulder and seemed to be hurting the team more than helping. Later confidently Schwartz claimed to have no doubts in playing him. Makes you wonder if you had a new car and it was making strange noises and not working right, wouldn't have it looked at instead of letting it get beat up more and risking permanent damage. The guy was limping and his left arm was hanging at his side he was making quicker and quicker decisions to avoid the hits. This wasn't a playoff game and Willis Reed coming in to inspire the team. The game was getting out of hand, they were not going to win, they have no playoff aspirations. Stafford is clearly the franchise right now, talented and their best chance to win in the future. Why do you want to risk him getting further injury?

When I looked Culpepper pouting on the sidelines I came to the answer. Schwartz didn't want to put Culpepper in the game. Culpepper acted out badly upon getting the news that he would not be the starter and had been obviously disappointed about not starting. He clearly thought this would be his big break to show what he could do and felt justifiably robbed of that opportunity. He has been a pro bowl QB and every year that passes without him as a starter is a missed opportunity that won't return, anybody would be angry and frustrated. Schwartz played Stafford because he didn't want to say that Culpepper was right and should have got the start. With Stafford's ineffectiveness combined with his injury and it up and once he had almost no chance to win know one would have blamed him for pulling Stafford, but he had to be right.

In the little sideline drama two people put themselves ahead of the team and one person who was put at risk to settle there dispute. It was Schwartz decision to play whomever he felt gave him the best chance to win and he went with Stafford, and who could argue that, at first he seemed to do alright. Culpepper could have showed he is a man and not showed the disappointment. We know he's a competitor but the idea is to help the team win, pouting and making it uncomfortable for your coach doesn't help anyone.

Nobody wants a player who has to start, who are you Allen Iverson? You're in one week out the next, that's the game sometimes being a good supporter can be the best thing for your team. What would have been better than seeing Culpepper be enthusiastic about the game and have the announcers fight his battle for him? If I'm a GM I thinking, I want this guy he's going to come in fighting for us. But now after his "disappointment" do I want a guy who is going to give us a hard time if he doesn't win the job.

Schwartz put himself first in that deal with Stafford struggling and the team not winning, are you going to roll the bones with his career and the teams future to prove you were right. Yes it's a little embarrassing to go over to Culpepper in the corner and tell him "get in there" then if he lights it up and wins or comes close people will look at you and say, "he should have been in there from the beginning".

Looking back at the game is there anyone who would say if Culpepper had been in there he would have had an awful game like that. Maybe he wouldn't have won but he would have given them at least a chance.

A player or coach has to put the team and winning first, not their own personal aspirations or pride. But for me both of them blew it Culpepper for pouting and Schwartz refusing to get Culpepper in and trying to win it.