Matthew Stafford on angry Lions' fans: 'They're not going to run me out of town'

By Tom Kowalski

November 02, 2009, 6:35PM

ALLEN PARK - Detroit Lions rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford downplayed an incident in which teammate Dominic Raiola yelled at fans during Detroit's 17-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday at Ford Field.

In an interview with a Detroit radio station today, Stafford said he was standing on the sideline near the end of the game when some fans starting ridiculing him. Raiola, who was standing nearby, ripped into the fans.

"I like to think I do a pretty good job of letting that stuff go. I've been in tough situations before. It's great to have a guy like Dom on your side,'' Stafford said.

"It did strike a chord,'' Raiola said after the game. "You've got three or four guys yelling at him ... you want to run him out of town already? You know what I'm saying? That just hit home with me. Because I've been through it with Joey (Harrington), I've been through it. They sent him packing and they're not going to do it to this guy. I'm going to be right here next to him.''

"We're losing the game and it's fourth-and-20 and we don't convert,'' Stafford said. "I was standing by the water cooler and just getting it from fans. That's understandable. They want to win probably as bad as we do.''

Stafford said he appreciated Raiola's support but that he can handle the situation.

"(Raiola's) right - they're not going to run me out of town. I'm not too worried about it,'' Stafford said. "They didn't get to me so I'm cool with it.''

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

and so it begins....

TigerLionWings wrote: Why is it that the guys with the best seats in the house act like the biggest douchenozzles?

That's because the drunks leave there orginal seats and sit in the empty ones up front.

It's been like this for as long as I've been alive.  People (media especially), with less than average football knowledge always have given the QB too much credit, and to much blame.  Stafford has been under extreme pressure since he was a freshman at Georgia.  Like some drunken, morons are going to bother him.

I will say he handled the situation better than me.  With the money he's making, if I was him, I would have sent one of the trainer's into the locker room to get my wallet.  I would have then wiped my ass with a couple of hundred dollar bills, thrown them at the baffons, and said, "Here's a refund for your tickets douchbags."

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

This is that "character builder" that so many wanted.

You know what's funny?  Dom never really believe in Joey Harrington which is part of the reason why Joey Harrington failed.  Matt Stafford has players on the team backing him up.  That is a sign of a franchise QB, the one who can lead the team.

Wildcat67 wrote: Yep, the dumbest of fans, don't realize that the most likely outcome of them harrassing a young QB is WORSE QB play. However, I don't believe Stafford is the type of QB to let it bother him.

It's also sad that a few fans can try to speak for an entire fanbase. Just pisses me off.

Really?

I thought a QBs development was predicated on coaching and his personal skills. I now realize that it's ME who determines if Matthew will be a success.

Like you said: if this kid has ANY b***s he will shake it right the hell off. They raz Romo in Dallas, they raz McNabb in Philly....why is Stafford exempt? I just don't see it......

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

I'm sure it doesn't bother Stafford.  I'm not worried about him.  It's the stupid fans that make a bad situation worse.  They obviously have different values than I do.  I don't think it's necessary to pile on somebody when they know that they have played like crap.

And comparing them to Philly fans doesn't make it any better.  They're pieces of **** too.

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

 

This is that "character builder" that so many wanted.

LOL I made the EXACT comparison in another thread regarding Philadelphia.  Seriously, if anyone thinks what these hecklers did was bad, just spend 2 weeks in Philadelphia, or listen to their sports radio stations over the internet... McNabb is run out of town EVERY week, and they actually WIN!  What these guys did was nothing, even if I would have wiped my ass with money and thrown it at them...But I'm a hot head.

lionsbloodNW wrote:

 

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

I'm sure it doesn't bother Stafford.  I'm not worried about him.  It's the stupid fans that make a bad situation worse.  They obviously have different values than I do.  I don't think it's necessary to pile on somebody when they know that they have played like crap.

 

And comparing them to Philly fans doesn't make it any better.  They're pieces of **** too.

No debate there.

Just remember: this kid has TONS of support. Look around. I NEVER saw so many people eager to defend Joey...because we knew he was crap. Just saying if you NEVER think Staff is going to get razzed.....you expect too much out of humanity, my brother.

imissbarry wrote:

 

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

 

This is that "character builder" that so many wanted.

LOL I made the EXACT comparison in another thread regarding Philadelphia.  Seriously, if anyone thinks what these hecklers did was bad, just spend 2 weeks in Philadelphia, or listen to their sports radio stations over the internet... McNabb is run out of town EVERY week, and they actually WIN!  What these guys did was nothing, even if I would have wiped my ass with money and thrown it at them...But I'm a hot head.

It was all over the Detroit radio today and most of the announcers sided....with the fans ripping Staff. Their biggest excuse was McNabb and how he is treated and was the second he was drafted (the dude got BOOED AT THE DRAFT, for god's sake) I quickly saw the point. Character building.....this is part of it, IMHO. It's no thing.

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

imissbarry wrote:

 

VinceLombardisGhost wrote:

 

lionsbloodNW wrote:

Stupid ****** fans.  Actually they aren't real fans.  **** them.  Too bad that they are representing all fans when they do that ****.

I don't agree. Do you really believe what the fans were saying about him was THAT bad? "Throw me the ball?" Who cares? They were making a point today: go to Philly. What would the fans be saying about Staff? They rip McPuke and he's an established QB. The other point I liked? When the announcer said "be happy the fans aren't throwing hand grenades on the field". True and true. Stafford is getting off easy and Detroit fans are tame, IMHO. Again, just depends on who you ask, but I don't believe there was anything wrong with razzing Stafford. It's going to happen sooner or later. If THIS upsets Matthew.....Can't imagine him after losing a game that ACTUALLY matters.

 

This is that "character builder" that so many wanted.

LOL I made the EXACT comparison in another thread regarding Philadelphia.  Seriously, if anyone thinks what these hecklers did was bad, just spend 2 weeks in Philadelphia, or listen to their sports radio stations over the internet... McNabb is run out of town EVERY week, and they actually WIN!  What these guys did was nothing, even if I would have wiped my ass with money and thrown it at them...But I'm a hot head.

It was all over the Detroit radio today and most of the announcers sided....with the fans ripping Staff. Their biggest excuse was McNabb and how he is treated and was the second he was drafted (the dude got BOOED AT THE DRAFT, for god's sake) I quickly saw the point. Character building.....this is part of it, IMHO. It's no thing.

I agree.  I don't get to listen to Detroit radio since I live in PA, but I do hear Philly radio, and I've argued for the last 8 years with my brother and father (both Eagles fans) about McNabb.  I used to always tell them, "I wish the Lions had him.  You won't know what you had until he's gone.  Be grateful  you have a franchise QB."

Of course they came to visit me a few weeks ago when the Lions played the Bears, and both couldn't get over how great Stafford was for a rookie, and saying how lucky the Lions are to have a good QB and not awful McNabb. lol  Friggin Eagles fans...  I can only imagine how bad they'd be if their team hadn't been to the playoffs in a decade...

I like what this says about the character of both Dom and Matt.

imissbarry wrote:

 

I agree.  I don't get to listen to Detroit radio since I live in PA, but I do hear Philly radio, and I've argued for the last 8 years with my brother and father (both Eagles fans) about McNabb.  I used to always tell them, "I wish the Lions had him.  You won't know what you had until he's gone.  Be grateful  you have a franchise QB."

 

Of course they came to visit me a few weeks ago when the Lions played the Bears, and both couldn't get over how great Stafford was for a rookie, and saying how lucky the Lions are to have a good QB and not awful McNabb. lol  Friggin Eagles fans...  I can only imagine how bad they'd be if their team hadn't been to the playoffs in a decade...

haha, Funny story.

me personally im not gonna go to a game a rip the qb cb wr or anyone else if someone else thinks they should thats up to them let em vent .I think it really silly given the guy is a rook but who cares .I think stafford will be good if he practices hard and doesnt lose heart.If something like this is gonna stop the kid from being good he wasn't gonna make it anyhow and he was the wrong pick.