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Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:22 am EDT

Matthew Stafford delivers the 'Top Ten' list on Letterman

By Chris Chase

While Mark Sanchez is set to take over New York, it's been Matthew Stafford who has been making the late-night talk show rounds in the city. Last night, a few days after destroying Jimmy Fallon's dinnerware, the No. 1 pick in the draft appeared on "The Late Show with David Letterman" to deliver the "Top Ten" list: "thoughts that went through Matthew Stafford's mind on draft day."

Nos. 2 and 4 are the highlights.

Stafford doesn't seem to have the star power that Sanchez does (maybe it's the lack of curls), so it's probably better that he'll be playing in Detroit instead of under the intense spotlight of Gotham. He better enjoy the attention now, though. With little relief in sight for the Lions, it could be awhile before another invite to Letterman materializes for Mr. Stafford.

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54 Comments

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  1. Steve-Ro
    1. Posted by Steve-Ro Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:43 am EDT

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    Sanchez is a better QB. Sanchez will also do much better this year. Stafford will spend more time on the run or on the ground. Perhaps Stafford should give Carr call, and have a serious chat.
  2. *M*
    2. Posted by *M* Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    lions another 5 years of losing awaits u
  3. jason m
    3. Posted by jason m Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:00 am EDT

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    Chris Chase, will you ever write a story about football?
  4. bronzeballs
    4. Posted by bronzeballs Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:43 am EDT

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    Stafford is going to be great. Detroit is not as bad as people think. No one expected them to go winless last year. They will be 7-9 this year and Stafford won't play until week 13. Sanchez will make some plays but he is going to throw 21 pics this year.
  5. First L
    5. Posted by First L Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:35 am EDT

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    They need to start Stafford in all the Pre season games, right off the bat, let's see what they got for their money .
  6. Isaac M
    6. Posted by Isaac M Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:16 pm EDT

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    Stafford looked kind of uncomfortable there...
  7. Eric the Above Average
    7. Posted by Eric the Above Average Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:26 pm EDT

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    Well, Stafford will be the next bust. That's not a knock on Stafford, it's the Lions. They will ruin him. Yeah, there's a new coach and a new GM, but there always is. Joey Harrington had a new coordinator and/or a new head coach every year he was in Detroit. Not to mention Jay Schroeder was his number one receiver when he was a rookie (after Green Bay cut him). I am not saying Harrington was the next Peyton Manning, but we will never know because of what the Lions did to him. If Stafford can throw while laying on his back, then I will be proven wrong. Stafford was smart getting $41 million guaranteed. After the Lions ruin him, he won't ever get another contract.
  8. joby
    8. Posted by joby Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:26 pm EDT

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    Uh, Gotham is Chicago, not NYC.
  9. sunnyliquit
    9. Posted by sunnyliquit Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:33 pm EDT

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    I think #8 should be the #1 in the Top 10 List. "If Lions wins 1 game this year, then I'm a HERO."...LOL
  10. Instant Money
    10. Posted by Instant Money Tue Apr 28, 2009 12:42 pm EDT

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    #1 should have been, "How am I going to throw the ball from underneath a pile of defenders." A good O-Line makes a good QB great, ex. Matt Ryan. A bad O-Line makes a good QB bad, ex. Joey Harrington. I must concur with "Eric the Above Average". Its seems like the League is finally realizing the importance of O-Linemen. It was very evident in this years draft. Those guys aren't big for nothing. They allow skill players to grow and excel in the NFL.
  11. MusicCityDAwg
    11. Posted by MusicCityDAwg Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:04 pm EDT

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    Sanchez has not been tested. He will have a rough year particularly if he gets thrown into the mix early. Culpepper will start for at least the first eight games maybe all 16 if he stays healthy and is playing well. Stafford will get some light mop-up duty in the meantime. When Stafford does finally get the start he will do well. He'll have some bad games like any young QB adjusting to the NFL, but over all he will shine. Probably won't be until the second half of the season though.
  12. john r
    12. Posted by john r Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:16 pm EDT

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    he really thought- "mother f$#@^r!!!"
  13. h k
    13. Posted by h k Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:19 pm EDT

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    It's a do or die for Detroit...the potencial for Stafford is there if the don't ruin him. Bring him along slowly and let him get his feet wet...any young QB needs to adapt regardless of his potencial.If his past is any indication of the future Detroit just may seen the sun in the new season. Wake up and smell the roses....you (Detroit) have a golden opportunity here....don't blow it!!!!
  14. Patito the Mexican Jew
    14. Posted by Patito the Mexican Jew Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:49 pm EDT

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    Re: #9 -- For the other city sometimes referred to as "Gotham", see New York City. -- what a DA....
  15. jake
    15. Posted by jake Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:49 pm EDT

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    That will be all he will deliver could you imagine 0-32 in two seasons that would be funny matt who?
  16. godawgs!!!!!!!!!
    16. Posted by godawgs!!!!!!!!! Tue Apr 28, 2009 1:50 pm EDT

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    Sanchez' huge advantage will be having Stafford's fullback, Brannen Sutherland, knocking pass rushers on their behinds for several seasons to come...Sutherland was a steal as an undrafted free agent!
  17. RMH820
    17. Posted by RMH820 Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:12 pm EDT

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    Sure, Detroit has ruined QBs in the past, but only by trying to change their styles of play to match their offensive scheme. Those referencing Joey Harrington make my point exactly. Harrington was not a West Coast QB, but was drafted onto a team whose focus was the West Coast offense. Had he been drafted into a system that utilized his talents, he would have been a great QB. But Detroit hasn't developed QBs like they should have. The best thing the Lions could do is have Stafford observe from the sideline for the first year, then transition him in during the 2010-2011 season. Culpepper is in better form now, but putting Stafford in before he is ready will do more to harm his development than help him, especially since the Lions didn't do well enough in the draft to put a supporting Offensive line cast together to protect whatever QB they have playing. Once they fill those voids in next year's draft and through free agency, they will have the means necessary to protect Stafford once he does start playing. But by no means is this do or die time for the Lions. They are obviously rebuilding, and people have to understand that it will take time to rebuild from the ashes of the 2008-2009 season.
  18. Jake
    18. Posted by Jake Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:42 pm EDT

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    #8, it's Bill Schroeder.
  19. sam spade
    19. Posted by sam spade Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:51 pm EDT

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    Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing and expecting different results. You say they didn't draft a WR so they did something different. Wrong !!! The reason why drafting another WR is insane is because you can't protect a QB so he can throw to the WR. So drafting a QB is the same insanity because it's the same chain. Stafford is bust and he knows it. He campaigned for the job and the money. Sanchez is the same bust. Does anyone think he's better than Matt Leinart? I don't and he's bust. His coach Pete Carroll doesn't either. Bust both of them. Maybe Josh Freeman will turn out to be a good QB for Tampa.
  20. jake
    20. Posted by jake Tue Apr 28, 2009 3:33 pm EDT

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    maybe at the end of year one of davids top ten will be maybe ( i should have stayed in school another year)( boy this is confusing ) (what was that route) ( umm maybe ill just throw the ball out of balance no on will see) (i dont know the signals) ( hey were is the gorgia mascot) ( it wasnt my fault i threw andinterception) (umm i wonder what new york is like) ( maybe the ref will protect me) (were is the hot route were did he go ) and the last one ( maybe i can find jessica simpson she might be an better read not )
  21. justin b
    21. Posted by justin b Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Where is "gorgia"?
  22. a stranger in town
    22. Posted by a stranger in town Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    Typical Lions bone headed draft pick . Same as the last 30 years . The one thing that's impressive about the Lions is they are consistant . Consistantly stupid ,always drafting players that fail to live up to their billing .Giving the Lions a first round draft pick is like giving a 4 year old a loaded gun to play with . The Lions should be barred from drafting by the leauge and all their draft picks given to teams that know how to draft.
  23. UGADAWG
    23. Posted by UGADAWG Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:16 pm EDT

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    Stafford will be great. i've seen him play in person about 20 times. how many lions fans that are bashing him have seen him play more than one time. that was probably flipping channels on tv. sanchez played one season in the wack 10. stafford will produce, bank on it, the lions ownership has.
  24. ZiadA
    24. Posted by ZiadA Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:20 pm EDT

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    Wow..this guy has 0 personality.
  25. AllMitch
    25. Posted by AllMitch Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:21 pm EDT

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    Sanchez has a better supporting cast, so I wonder what his excuse will be when he doesn't crack the starting lineup. I'm listening 2 all this babble and I wonder where the blog is 4 people who actually watch football. Predictions: Stafford will fall below expectations, but not 2 far (Detroit will win 3 this year), throwing 4 just over 3K w/19 td's & 12 pix. QB rating 4 the season will b in the low-to-mid 70's, w/ a 56-59% completion rate. Sanchez will not make starter till week 3, After that, he'll miss at least 2 games due 2 injury (c'mon the dudes like 130 lbs.) 2100 yds, 11 td's, 9 int's. and a new record 4 the most-sacked rookie qb in history. And yes, I would put money on that....

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