More details are coming out about the impetus behind Matthew Stafford asking to be traded away from the Detroit Lions. The longtime Lions quarterback and the team have decided to part ways by mutual decision, though at Stafford’s behest.
His behest might have been different had the team kept former offensive coordinator and interim head coach Darrell Bevell around. So claims NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport in an appearance on the NFL Network on Monday.
After noting that “it should cost at least a first-rounder (draft pick) or more” to acquire Stafford from the Lions, Rapoport veered into an interesting tangent.
“I know this is something Stafford has been considering and his wife has been considering for some time, potentially leaving Detroit and starting somewhere new,” Rapoport said. “Had the Lions retained Darrell Bevell — from what I understand — I do not believe Stafford would have wanted to ask out, I believe he would have wanted to stay there.”
Bevell did interview for the Lions head coaching position, but the team went in a different direction with Dan Campbell. Bevell has since joined Urban Meyer with the staff overhaul in Jacksonville.
From NFL Now: Had the #Lions kept OC Darrell Bevell, QB Matthew Stafford likely would have wanted to stay. Instead, Bevell moves on to the #Jaguars and Stafford moves on to … ? pic.twitter.com/hGcYVFLZ0c
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2021
Stafford certainly meshed well with Bevell’s coaching, both as an offensive coordinator and during the five-game stint as the interim head coach.
It is just Rapoport’s opinion/observation from afar, that needs to be noted.