Stafford-Goff deal ‘in principle’ has out clauses for either team

Despite the announcement of the LA Rams agreement to send draft picks and QB Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions in exchange for QB Matthew Stafford, nothing is written in stone. Quite the contrary. The deal is not officially recognized until the 2021 NFL season begins at 1:00 pm PT on March 17, 2021. So from now until then, the two teams have only reached an agreement ‘in principle’. And that means that both teams can still find out clauses for the deal.

If you are waiting for an ‘official announcement’  from either the LA Rams or the Detroit Lions about the trade? You will be waiting. While both teams have agreed to the transaction, neither side can make a formal announcement until the deal is recognized by the NFL.  In the meantime, both teams can begin to communicate with their respective new player and facilitate their onboarding process. Hopefully, nothing will derail the deal.

Of course, neither LA Rams GM Les Snead nor Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes wants anything of the sort, but it’s out there. The deal is ‘pending’ until it is officially recorded. And so, it’s not final. That means that both teams can pull out of the deal with no recourse.

That doesn’t mean that either side will do so. But there are still conditions that must be met. First and foremost, there is a small matter of passing team physicals. If you don’t recall, a failed physical was the reason given for the Baltimore Ravens negating an agreement to sign LA Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers.

That could prove to be a bit of a hitch for both sides. After all, Matthew Stafford had suffered a fractured tailbone in November 2019. Of course, he played the full 2020 season, but for the physical of a new team, that injury could be problematic.

Of course, Jared Goff is no guaranteed pass on any team physical either. He fractured and dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand. To correct that injury, he had surgery to reassemble his thumb with three screws. While he was able to play less than two weeks later, full healing for this type of injury can require two or three months. That means that the injury site may not be completely healed in time for his medical examination.

LA Rams GM Les Snead and Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes are very familiar with all of the circumstances, and will no doubt do everything possible to ensure this deal goes through without a hitch. But it’s not over just yet, so cross your fingers and hope nothing happens between now and March 17, 2021, to prevent that from happening.