Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Matthew Stafford to Indy?

Episode Date: January 25, 2021

On today's episode, Matt Dery of Locked On Lions joins to go over the breaking news from this past weekend on Matthew Stafford. The Lions' franchise QB officially requested a trade, so what happens next? Well, there's a lot of smoke around Stafford possibly becoming the Indianapolis Colts' new QB1.How would a Stafford to Indy trade go down? There's a lot of deciding factors, including the possibility Indy is Stafford's preferred destination, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Would Stafford take the Colts to a legit title contender over the next five-plus years?All of this, plus so much more, in a jam-packed episode revolving around the Stafford to Indy rumors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Colts, your daily Indianapolis Colts podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello, everybody. This is Matt Derry, the host of Locked On Colts,, host of Locked On Podcast Network. Today's audience is your host, Evan Sidery. I'm joined by Matt Derry, the host of Locked On Lions here for a very special episode. Even though Matthew Stafford is not a Colt, there's a lot of smoke around this, Matt. We actually got a report earlier this morning from Jeremy Fowler, BSPN, saying Matthew Stafford

has his eyes on the Colts. It could be his preferred destination. But before we dive into that, after he requested a trade on Saturday, let me get your overall thoughts on the situation in Detroit right now, Matt. Why right now is Stafford wanting to leave Detroit? It's just time, Evan. It's time for him to make that change. It's been 12 years in Detroit. He's had some, you know, some very high moments and good moments when it comes to his personal performances and the way he's played, the way he's led the team. It's been remarkable. He's done a very good job, but he's been in the playoffs three times, three playoff losses.

This organization is starting over. And I think it's just after 12 years, he's had enough. He's had enough. and now the new GM and Brad Holmes new head coach and Dan Campbell I don't think there was going to be anything to really sway him to to change his mind I think the organization tried very early on to impress him with a nice shiny toy and Matt Campbell that didn't come to fruition and I think after that they they hit him back up and said hey are you still't come to fruition. And I think after that, they hit him back up and said, hey, are you still, what are you still thinking?

And I think he told them, look, please trade me. I love you guys. Everything's great. But it's time to go. I need 32, 33 years of age. I need to change. Yeah, Stafford right now is entering the twilight of his career. There's maybe around six, seven years of good football left for Stafford.

And a lot of good fits out there for Stafford as well, you have to imagine. But let me ask you this. For those out there outside of Detroit, Matt, who don't really know much about Matthew Stafford, they see the win-loss record. They're like, oh, he's not a great quarterback. Or they see the arm talent. Your jaws drop on some of the throws he makes.

For those who don't really know much about Matthew Stafford, can you give a quick little synopsis on who Stafford is and the type of quarterback he is? Yeah, sure, Evan. I mean, he's tough. He's played through some really, really gruesome injuries, some tough injuries. He was picked overall number one 12 years ago. And has he performed to a superstar elite top five, top seven, eight level?

No. But he is known for come from behind wins, big time drives at end of games. He does have a great arm. He's a very good leader. He's a very good person. His wife is a little bombastic on Instagram and opinionated and sometimes it's gotten her into trouble. And he just sort of brushes it off. He's not a Philip Rivers cry at the podium microphone type of guy. He doesn't say much to the media, but he's a perfectly good person, perfectly good guy, can be fun loving at times. And he's had some really, really good games and some really, really good seasons. There have been some seasons and some games where he's let them

down. And he hasn't lifted them and carried them to great heights. And he's had some pretty good receivers along the way. Calvin Johnson, you know, Golden Tate, Nate Burleson, Kenny Galladay. So he's had some weapons around him. He's never really had a great running game. The offensive line, he's never had a pro bowler up until this year that he's played with. And Frank Ragnow. But he's very solid. And I think he'd be a great fit in Indianapolis.

He's been up here in the Midwest now for 12 years. He's put his roots down here in Detroit. He's great in the community that way. And I think the Colts fit him very well. When it comes to getting or staying in shape, nothing feels as good as that feeling of accomplishment, of hitting your fitness goals and feeling great about yourself. You can also talk about hitting your new goals this upcoming year.

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per our betting partners here at the Locked On Podcast and our betonline.ag, the Colts, they are our betting partners here at the Lockdown Podcast and our betonline.ag. The Colts are the favorites to land Matthew Stafford. Right behind him is the 49ers and the Broncos and the Washington football team. Matt, I know you're on GMV. I know our listeners here, Andy, I know who that is. He's a radio host at Tencent, he's a fan in Indianapolis. You were on there and you gave some great points in that show as to why Stafford really would want to go to the Colts.

And even your last episode on Lockdown Lions this weekend, if Colts fans don't go and listen to that gave some great points in that show as to why Stafford really would want to go to the Colts. Even your last episode on Lock on Lions this weekend, if Colts fans don't go and listen to that, some great stuff on why you think Stafford will be a good fit there as well. What do you think, Matt, just about the overall fit between Stafford and the Colts? It just feels like, to me, honestly, this is a perfect fit from all angles.

It is. I think he would be fantastic working with Frank Reich. What he's looking for is a ready-made playoff contender. What he has had to go through in Detroit with all of – when he was with Jim Caldwell, I think that's where they were at their best. Jim Schwartz had his moments too. But the last three, four years under Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia has been an unmitigated disaster.

And he has seen a lot of veteran players and teammates of his leave town and be ticked off leaving town. Whether it was Snacks Harrison, Darius Slay, Quandre Diggs, Clover Quinn, you know, Patricia and Quinn alienated a lot of veterans. Stafford stuck to his guns, stayed here, didn't ask for trades, tried to lead this team as best he could. But you go to Indianapolis, you have good ownership there, a guy like Jim Irsay that cares. You've got some weapons, good use of the tight ends with the Cox and Doyle, you know, as good an offensive lineman in the game as there is Quinton Nelson. And a defense that's good. And, you know, the defense that he's had to deal with

and have to go out on the field and have to score in certain possessions because the defense couldn't hold, you know, he won't have that with the Colts. And it's just – it's a good program there in Indy. And you see the guys that have left because they've been, you know, Nick Sirianni being the latest because they've gotten other opportunities elsewhere. It's a feeder for organizations, and that's pretty cool. And I see that fit being good for him.

I think he wants to win right away. He's got two more years left on this contract. He's been banged up the last few years with rib injuries and everything else. And now's the time. Now's the time for him to win. And the Colts are ready to win right now, and they need him, and he needs them. Yeah, Matt, another thing, too, with this Colt offense, you had Jonathan Taylor really emerge in the last second half of the year.

He had 1,100 yards of rushing, third in the NFL behind Delvin Cook and Derrick Henry. You have the offensive line as well, but Quentin Nelson, you have, like you mentioned, the vertical threats with T.Y. Hilton, Michael Pittman, Paris Campbell, the top 10 defense as well with Forrest Buckner, Darius Leonard. That window is just now opening for the Colts,

in my opinion, with all the young talent they have for a Super Bowl run the next five to seven years. I mean, they also have, I think, something that's very important to Stafford, I imagine, Matt, is the stability in the front office. You have the best GM in football, in my opinion, Chris Ballard. You have a creative head coach in Frank Reich,

like you mentioned, a great owner in Jim Irsay. Do you feel like those types of factors with Stafford really are going to play into where he wants to go? And do you also think that at this point, with the way the Calvin Johnson situation went in Detroit, do you think if Stafford wants to go somewhere, the Lions will oblige on that? I do.

I think the Lions are looking for the best fit, certainly for themselves. They have to be selfish and say, hey, if someone's going to give us three first-round picks or something crazy, yeah, if that's not Matthew's first choice, screw it. We're going to do what's best for the organization. But with his relationship with the previous owner, Martha Firestone Ford, her daughter, the current owner, Sheila Ford Hamp, I think they want to take care of him. I think they want to make him happy.

They love him. There was no way on God's green earth that this organization was looking to trade him. This is him and his wife saying, we got to get out of here. We've, we've sat through so much losing. We've been through, you know, now with, with, with Patricia the last three years, you know, three straight years of not making, four straight years of not making the playoffs. We want to get to the

tournament in January. We're running out of time. And I think that, I think that's a good, that's why the Colts, I think, fit well, like you said. Look, the Lions interviewed Ed Dobbs, Colts assistant GM for their general manager job. He didn't get the job. I don't know how that interview went. The Lions have some familiarity with the Colts. They've talked to Dodds, so they know what's there. And it's just, you know, like I said, I just think the fit is the right one, and I think he wants to compete for a Super Bowl next year right away.

You know, there's talk of Denver. There's talk of Washington. Those teams aren't ready to win right away. You know, there's talk of Denver, there's talk of Washington. Those teams aren't ready to win right away next year. The Colts, the Niners, those teams are. Yeah, it's gonna be really interesting what happens here at the Matthew Stafford trade talks, how fast they're going to go, Matt, because like you mentioned, I think San Francisco and Indianapolis are the best two fits on paper for Stafford, really all around. But let me ask you this as well before we dive into maybe what the Lions will look for. Just from the Lions fans' perspective, is it surprising at all to them that Stafford wants out?

I mean, he's given his all for 12 years. I think at this point, I think Lions fans want to see Stafford get that ring, right? They do. He's very popular here. There are some Stafford haters, just like there would be anywhere. But there are some people here that said, look, he's been our quarterback and he's the best quarterback that we've seen in this era here. And probably the best quarterback in Lions history going back to Bobby Lane in the 50s. But has he not delivered enough? Has he delivered enough? And the answer is no. You go back to Jim Schwartz's last season where Stafford played so poorly in the last few games of that season that Schwartz was fired and the team hired Jim Cald, and he hasn't delivered. Then there's other times where he's had to carry the team. The Atlanta game earlier this year where the team was playing a bad Falcons team. The Falcons made a mistake in scoring a touchdown and not just taking three

knees, kicking a field goal and winning. And Stafford made him pay, went down the field and 75 yards in two minutes and won the football game. So he's been clutch, and he is good in late-game situations. But if you say everybody in Detroit just adores him, no, that's not the case. He's very well-liked. He's very popular, yes. But there are some that said, look, we drafted this kid number one for a reason.

We gave him Calvin Johnson, too, and played with Indomitian Sioux and guys like that, and he kind of fell short. So I think getting a chance to go somewhere where he doesn't have to carry the team is a good thing. The other factor which we can get into is the last few years of this Lions offense under Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Daryl Bevel, they stopped letting Stafford throw the ball down the field. It became a dink and dunk, just don't lose the game for us type of mentality,

and let's run the football. And I think if he goes to Indy, Frank Reich, well, while they want to run it with JT and everybody that you have there, they have to let him throw the ball a little bit downfield. He still has that rocket for an arm. He's still in very good shape and takes care of his body. He's been a little bit banged up lately. But I'd be interested in seeing if he goes to Indy,

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BetOnline, your online sportsbook experts. Yeah, it would really be fun to see that, honestly. I know Frank Reich, before they played the Lions earlier this season, he was talking about Stafford, the reporters. He said, Stafford's one of those guys who has not only the elite arm talent, but just the elite intangibles. He's one of those guys in the league that's hard to find. So I feel like, honestly, if the opportunity is there, I think the Colts are going to try to pounce on Matthew Stafford. But let's get into that for a moment, Matt. I mean, what do you think about this situation with Stafford as far as trade negotiations go from the Lions perspective? From Peter King, his football morning in America article was posted on NBC Sports each Monday

morning. It sounds like the Lions are going to at least get a first round pick, but it might not be the bounty they expect it to be. What do you overall think the Lions are looking for and what their eventual price they'll get will be? That is interesting. Let's say the Lions two days ago had to make this trade, like gun to their head had to make this trade. You're talking about a rookie general manager in Brad Holmes who's never made a trade before. You're talking about a rookie head coach in Dan Campbell. You're talking about another front office executive that they just hired in Chris Spielman, the former Lion legend, who's never done it before. A big addition to this staff is going to be John Dorsey.

John Dorsey knows quarterbacks. John Dorsey knows trades. John Dorsey knows all that stuff. It'll be interesting seeing what John Dorsey thinks, because if Brad Holmes says, let's trade him to Indy for the 21st pick and a few other picks and maybe a future two or three, it might be Dorsey that steps in and says, let's get more.

I'm not taking just a 21st pick. Let's, you know, so that's going to play a role the next few weeks is what Dorsey thinks of Stafford and what Dorsey thinks he can help Brad Holmes get for Stafford. So that factor is going to play into it. I think the team absolutely wants to find a number one pick for him. But the Dallas Cowboys decide we're moving away from Dak. And Jerry Jones says, I want to bring the local boy home, the Dallas native, Matt Stafford home. Who knows what Jerry could throw at him. But, you know, Jarrah, he could throw the number 10 pick at him, whereas you guys are picking 21st. So that's a big difference. You know, Denver's got nine. So I think the Lions absolutely have to get a number one pick for them at minimum

and then see what else you can get. Could there be a defensive starter that you guys have? The Lions are probably going to be blowing out nine of their 11 defensive starters from this past season for next year. That's going to be a brand-new defense. My guess is Trey Flowers will be back. My guess is Jeffrey Okuda will be back. Maybe Amani Oruwari, but the rest, you can have them.

And if they can re-sign Romeo Okwara, that'd be great, but I don't know why Romeo would want to stay here. So other than that, they're going to need all new linebackers, and I'm not saying that Darius Leonard is getting traded, but it wouldn't surprise me if the Lions asked about Okariki or somebody like that, along with a pick. Just that wouldn't surprise me at all. They need players.

They need bodies. Yeah, and they really do. It's really an overhaul there in Detroit. With officially Matt Stafford running out, they're going to maybe do like a three- to four-year rebuild the long way and see how it goes for this Detroit team. But from the Colts' perspective, ironically enough, they can mention John Dorsey.

That's one of Chris Broward's best friends. Maybe that actually helps the Colts out a little bit they used to work together in Kansas City he worked with Dorsey so that can maybe give the Colts another advantage there with that relationship those two have together but with Chris Bauer he's very prudent in his negotiations he doesn't want to really bid much as far as free agency goes he has a price and if someone goes above that he doesn't do it I think the Landon Collins situation a couple years ago is a really good example of that the Colts were all in on Landon Collins to be their starting strong safety, and then Washington blew him out of the water and they didn't go for it. I think the same thing

could go for Stafford here. Let's say San Francisco or another team goes out and they offer two future first-round picks. I don't see Ballard doing that, even though the Colts need a quarterback. Ballard's mentioning once we prune the search, it's not like an urgent, dire matter to get a franchise quarterback in the building right away. It has to be the right guy. I think Stafford is that right guy, but we'll have to see how it goes, Matt. But I think from the Colts' perspective, they'll probably offer 21. Maybe they might offer as well a future second-round pick on that. Let's say it's 21 in a 2022 second, and let's say Stafford, his preferred destination is India. Do you think they'd pull a trigger on that if that's the case? Just those two picks, I think they would want a little bit more.

But, again, if Stafford tells them, I really want to go to Indy, let's do this. Like I said, I think he's got some pull with the Ford family. And I think that maybe they would do that. You know, it depends. Great call by you on the Dorsey thing with Chris Ballard. That certainly should help Indianapolis. What about this Aaron Rodgers situation?

That's another thing. I don't think Aaron Rodgers is going to Indy. I think Aaron Rodgers, if he goes anywhere, is going to the West Coast where he grew up. But that adds another, you know, sort of layer to it. Because if that move happens and he gets traded, then you compare and contrast with how the Stafford thing goes, and that's another quarterback coming off the market.

The Saints, I think, would be a great fit for Stafford, but again, they don't have any cap space. You guys do. You just lopped off $25 million with Phillip leaving, so Stafford's only against the cap $20 million this year. I don't know. That's a good question. I definitely think that we'll see how this goes. But also working in the Colts' favor is that this is a rookie front office in Detroit.

This is not a front office that has a lot of experience right now. Yeah, very valid point there, Matt. And last one I had before I let you go, appreciate the time here for this special edition episode of Locked on Colts. These Matthew Stack rumors, which are red hot right now, all the Colts parents talk about the last few days let me ask you this what do you your personal view is of matt stafford overall as a quarterback in the nfl do you put him in like that top seven top 10 range is he more so in the top 15 range for a quarterback and if you were to

go to a team like indy think that would that that would boost his value of more on a national spotlight where let's say the lions fans view him as a top seven quarterback and others view him as a top 15 quarterback. If he goes to a strong situation like the Colts, maybe that really changes the viewpoint nationally for him. You know, mostly nationally, people think nationally more of him than people think of him here, if that makes any sense. Dan Orlovsky, the former Lion, and former Colt, by the way, and I think Dan will talk to Matthew about Indianapolis and say good things

because Dan has experience there, albeit during the lean year that he was there. But nationally, I think a lot of people say he's special. You hear Steve Young on ESPN talk about Stafford's special. You hear Louis Riddick on ESPN as well say he's special. Orlovsky has said that. Here in Detroit, I don't think fans view him as a special quarterback. I think they view him as very good to great, close to great, that needs to have some stuff put around him.

This is not a guy – you know, he's mobile enough, and he can move better than Rivers. But I think because in Detroit he's fallen short, and you look at maybe the games, you look at the last few playoff games that he played in, you know, the game in Seattle a few years ago and Jim Caldwell second to last year, I think that was 2016. He didn't have a good game. And I had some drop balls early, Eric Ebron,

who you and I have both seen drop plenty of passes. I've been the year before two years before that, New Orleans in 2014, when they got blown out in New Orleans. He didn't play well there. I'm sorry, 2011 in New Orleans. 2014 in Dallas, the infamous Brandon Pettigrew pass interference flag gets picked up game. They scored three points the last three quarters of that game.

And Stafford didn't deliver in that game, but Romo did. So those are the things where people locally say, how come our guy didn't deliver, but their guy did? How come Breeze outplayed him in 2011? How come Romo outplayed him in that game? How come Russell Wilson outplayed him in that game? So they expected more, especially of a top pick, especially a guy that was making 1.28, 29 million a year. The numbers come down because of bonuses and everything else and things that he's deferred. But nationally, no people view him as a top 10 guy in Detroit. I don't know if people do. Matt, always appreciate the time.

We'll probably definitely have you on again. If this sign does happen with Matthew Stafford and the Colts, you guys can go listen and subscribe to his podcast, locked on lines for the locked on podcast network. He has to go follow him as well over on Twitter at Dairy Speaks, also at Locked On Lions. Matt, appreciate the time and this insight

for those Colts fans out there. Thank you, Evan.