Jeff Riger: Matt Stafford Is Fine, But Will He Get Fined?
Chatter at Wednesdays Lions practice was the health of quarterback Matt Stafford. Stafford is dealing with a broken finger and was seen practicing with gloves at the workout, probably the same gloves that he wore the entire game against the Bears in Chicago. Stafford let the media know that the gloves will be back against the Panthers on Sunday at Ford Field and more than likely will be worn on Thanksgiving vs. the Packers as well. As for his injured finger "it's getting better, I didn't have any setbacks in the game as far as hitting it on something, took another x-ray and it's healing" Stafford said. The 3rd year QB claims that the injured finger doesn't affect anything that he wants to do on the field which includes being able to make any throw that he needs to. Stafford also indicated that since he has never broken his finger before, that it has been a process figuring out how to deal with it. "You know the last couple weeks, I think I figured out how to get around it and throw just fine with it" Stafford claimed.
Of course there is more than just finger news with the Texas native, Stafford is also waiting on the NFL to find out if he will get fined for his take down of D.J. Moore Sunday against Chicago. When asked if Stafford had found out yet, he replied "they usually drop the fines off in our lockers, if I get one I get one, Suh told me they come on Thursday or Friday so he knows best." The entire media laughed afterwards. As for if Stafford cares if he gets fines he said "I don't really care either way to tell you the truth, I was doing what I thought was the right thing to do and the best thing to do at the time. You know this is a tough guy sport and if you get tossed around a little bit, you know that's part of the job. They hit me every play, I'm going to hit them every chance I get." Other Lions players like Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and Dominic Raiola also are waiting to hear from the NFL on if they will have to open their wallets and donate to the league as well.
OVERHEARD-
Jim Schwartz was asked about the playoff picture and where the Lions fit in it? Schwartz replied "you want to cue Jim Mora right now?" The head coach refused to do his impression of Mara and called the opportunity a "softball" to rebut using Mora's name.
Nick Fairly stated at the start of the season that he always wanted to hit Cam Newton when he was at Auburn but never got the chance because Newton always had the "red jersey" on. Well today, Fairley was asked if now, because Newton will not have a "red jersey" on if he is excited for a chance to light the QB up? Fairley responded saying "he doesn't have a red shirt on anymore, so now it's a different story and when I get back there in the back field I don't have to mow a path out and get out of his way, I can just run through him now. It's going to feel real good if I get back there and it's just me and him!"
