The Future Is Now for Stafford and the Lions, But Is It the Right Move?

The Detroit Lions have named their starting quarterback, and in doing so, they have made the decisive move on declaring their path towards the future. They even picked the appropriate day for doing so—Labor Day. For most Lions fans (two words when viewed together tend to suggest irony), this in itself hits the nail on the proverbial head. For Matthew Stafford, this marks the day when the real hard work begins. And for Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz, it represents a curiosity at best. So, why did Schwartz do it? Before the preseason began, Schwartz confronted all the questions regarding his starting quarterback by insisting that the starting quarterback job will go to the player that represented the Lions best opportunity to win. This obviously makes sense.  By starting the best player, you are not only putting yourself in a better position to win, but you also are sending a message to everyone in your locker room that finances will not determine who gets the playing time ...