Matthew Stafford's salary demands reveals horrific optics to NFL right now

What would Brady do?

The NFL has seen plenty of similar situations in the past. So how have those teams and quarterbacks handled their business in the past? It's not as though the Rams have sought competition in the quarterback room. For as long as the team has started Matthew Stafford, the Rams have declined to find anyone remotely viewed to be his heir apparent.

The team drafted former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett in Round 4 of the 2023 NFL Draft simply as an emergency option for the quarterback room. To fill in the backup quarterback role, the team has managed to sign successive one-year contracts with out-of-favor veterans who need a chance to restore their reputation. So far, the team has not made much of an effort to extend those stopgap backups.

Do the Rams get as much as they give to Stafford? So far, it seems as though the relationship has been mutually beneficial. But when comparing the Tom Brady career to Matthew Stafford, one variance jumps off the page. For all of his detractors, there was seldom a time when the Patriots needed available cap space and Brady was unwilling to yield on his contract.

For Matthew Stafford, his demands appear to be his top priority.

If true, that could change the sentiment of many Rams fans.

I understand how this could be viewed as his last opportunity to set himself and his family up for retirement from the NFL. But this is a Rams roster that is built on the principles of passion for the game itself. There are many young players whose most attractive quality to the Rams football team is the pure love of the game.

Has Matthew Stafford become merely another NFL mercenary, chasing the bag over the glory?

I don't know the answer to that one. But the optics to impartial NFL and even Rams fans may be changing right now. Knowing how close this team had been, and how much better this team could be in 2025, it seems like an odd time to halt the presses just to get paid a 'respectable' amount. If $40 million per year is an insult, how is $50+ million respectable?

Money doesn't buy happiness. Money doesn't buy respect. But greed does trigger a decline of respect. I hope this matter is resolved quickly and with Stafford agreeing to play for the Rams through 2026. I don't want to see the version of Matthew Stafford that values money over a chance of NFL greatness.

But everyone has a choice. It's up to the Rams and Stafford as far as how this all turns out. As always, thanks for reading.

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