Matthew Stafford Reportedly Offered Blockbuster Contract Extension
DETROIT (CBS Detroit) Citing a team source, ESPN reported Tuesday afternoon Detroit Lions' Matthew Stafford will sign a three-year contract extension.
The five-year deal restructuring ties the star quarterback to the Lions through the 2017 season.
The blockbuster extension deal reportedly has a value of $53 million, which puts Stafford's total haul over five years at $76.5 million. Several sources are reporting Stafford will sign the deal today.
The team was hammering out a deal with Stafford this spring and both sides were reportedly close. Then it seemed to fizzle for awhile, with Tom Lewand saying they would suspend talks if the deal wasn't done before the season started.
Stafford was drafted first by the Lions in 2009, after the team suffered from years of quarterback woes, and quickly became a fan favorite. He is the fourth quarterback in NFL history to throw over 5,000 yards in a single season. He had setbacks last season, finishing with 20 touchdown passes, down from 41 the year before.
Undeterred, Stafford famously gave a speech at the ESPY awards a year ago when he won "best comeback athlete" where he praised the teammates he plays with and the city he plays for.
"I just want to thank my teammates," he said. "It was a long couple of years and they stuck with me — the coaching staff, the owners, the GM, everybody. I can't thank them enough for sticking with me, trusting me and understanding something great can happen."
And then he deflected personal praise and turned it back on Detroit sports fans.
"I just want to say how thankful I am to share
this with the city of Detroit that's on a comeback of its own. The city has been through a lot and we're just one of the teams there that are trying to make them happy and proud, give them something to cheer for."
