When the Detroit Lions struck a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to trade Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff and draft picks, the quarterback just happened to be in Cabo at the same resort as his new head coach, Sean McVay. It was a complete coincidence that many people find hard to believe, but Stafford and McVay maintain it wasn’t planned ahead of time.
After the trade went down, Stafford and McVay connected at the resort, getting to know each other a little bit. They also took a few minutes to call Stafford’s former teammate in Detroit, Quandre Diggs, who’s now a safety with the Seahawks. Diggs told the story to Peter King of NBC Sports, saying the Rams tandem told him they’re going to throw it deep this season.
Here’s what King wrote in his FMIA column on Monday, recounting Diggs’ funny story.
I think my favorite story of the week comes from Seattle safety Quandre Diggs, the former teammate of Matthew Stafford in Detroit. Diggs loves Stafford, and vice versa. Now that they’re in the same division, the NFC West, the old friends will see each other twice a season. Seems that last winter, the day that the Stafford trade to the Rams was announced, Diggs’ phone buzzed. FaceTime request from Stafford. Diggs answered it. He looked at his screen. It was Stafford and Rams coach Sean McVay, together in Cabo, calling him. Stafford said to Diggs: “Man, better back up! We’re throwing deep!”
If training camp has been any indication of the Rams’ plans for the upcoming season, Stafford wasn’t joking when he told Diggs they’re going to take shots down the field. Stafford has developed a strong connection with DeSean Jackson on the practice field, connecting on numerous occasions for big plays – including on the first day of practice and during Saturday’s session against the Cowboys.
Cooper Kupp will still be valuable underneath, as will Robert Woods and Van Jefferson, but Stafford loves throwing it deep and is one of the best in the NFL at it. Teams didn’t feel threatened by deep passes against the Rams last season, which greatly hurt the offense.
That should change dramatically this season with a new quarterback under center.
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