LA Rams: Did Matthew Stafford trade constitute ‘last call’ for Lombardi?

Stafford saving the best for last

When the 2020 season ended, 33-year old veteran NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford had to make an impossibly difficult decision. Should he surrender to another Detroit Lions’ front-office undergoing sweeping changes, and with it the wholesale changes to the coaching staff, and the entire roster, or should he dig in his heels, and persuade the team to let him get off at the next stop?

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The 6-foot-3 220-pound veteran quarterback from the Detroit Lions is 33 years old, and despite his own share of individual accolades, sustained success has eluded him in his NFL career. He authored just four winning seasons from his twelve NFL years and has been shut-out in each NFL Playoff appearance 0-3. He earned a spot in the 2014 NFL Pro Bowl, and he threw for over 5000 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2011.  But through it all, his personal achievement has been tied to the lack of success by his one and only NFL team, the Detroit Lions.

Stafford has led those Lions to a 74-90-1 record over his career. Some cite that record as to why he is overrated, but others wisely argue the opposite and claim that without Stafford, the Lions would have been far more unsuccessful. Even with the early struggles experienced by all NFL quarterbacks, Stafford has learned how to throw for massive yards and has kept his TD/INT ratio on or above 2/1. He’s done all that without the benefit of a running game. He’s done all that without the benefit of a stout defense.

Well, he will have the benefit of both this year, because the LA Rams have been winning under head coach Sean McVay despite the inconsistent play of young quarterback Jared Goff.  It was that inconsistent play that compelled the team to shop for a new quarterback just as Stafford and the Lions agreed to trade Stafford for the highest bid while trying to do right by Stafford by swapping him with a contender.

Four elite NFL veterans, all at different phases of their NFL careers, all in search of their first NFL Championship ring. Much like the ring verse from J.R.Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy:
“One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them”
These four players are very focused on the course and the ultimate prize this year. All 32 teams are, and they are all in the same boat. Rookies have joined their team with the belief that they have time to build to that ultimate victory. Other NFL players, like these four veterans on the LA Rams roster, know that the number of chances is in fact limited.

Is this the last call for the LA Rams? For left tackle Andrew Whitworth, it very likely could be. For others, perhaps some time still remains. But for this organization, from the owner to the administrative assistants, this is the last call for this version of the team. Whatever the reasons, some who have contributed will find paths that part ways after this year. These LA Rams may never have another chance like this.

As Yoda would say: “It’s time to do, or do not. There is no try”