Rams’ Matthew Stafford opens up about relationship with former Lions head coach Matt Patricia

The divorce between Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions was an amicable divorce that lacked the usual grudge that currently prevails with Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles and, more relevant for Stafford, between Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams. . The latter is now settling down where Stafford once sat as a starting quarterback for the Lions, while Stafford is swarming for the Rams – one of the “few teams” the Pro Bowl quarterback was willing to take on. be exchanged. One of the few he was rumored to refuse to play for was the New England Patriots, which left Matt Patricia with plenty.

Stafford has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor that he doesn’t want anything to do with Tom Brady’s former side, but he has tried to crush speculation about his relationship with Patricia – who returns to New England in 2021 as an assistant head coach after leaving their defensive coordinator. vacant in 2018 to join the Lions as head coach. Patricia was fired midway through the 2020 season, having collected a meager 13-29 record in Detroit.

Despite his failures, Stafford says he has no ill will towards his former head coach.

“[Patricia] and I had a great relationship no matter what anybody wants to say, ”he said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I could go to his office and talk to him. He could phone me whenever he needed to. I think we both grew up in this relationship.

“I have a lot of respect for him and for who he is, as a football coach and amazing spirit.”

This hints at his alleged decision to stay away from the Patriots because of his disbelief in their ability to be a candidate in 2021, and not necessarily because of fear of finding Patricia.

“What is precise is – and it is an amazing thing by [the Lions] – I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship, ”added Stafford. And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. There were a few teams that weren’t on this list. And they were respectful of that and fully understood. I had thoughts and reasons for each of them. “

That’s quite acute for an organization so used to winning, but also a reality check when you consider how far they’ve fallen in 2020 following Brady’s highly successful decision to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. . As head coach Bill Belichick works to return to the winning stack, he will need to address his quarterback situation elsewhere in free agency or in the 2021 NFL Draft.