One of the Patriots’ potential quarterback options came off the board over the weekend when the Rams acquired Matthew Stafford from the Lions.
From a New England perspective, the even more interesting development came on Sunday when Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston reported that Stafford was willing to go to any team except the Patriots.
While that initially might seem like an indictment of Bill Belichick and the Patriots (not to mention Matt Patricia, who coached Stafford in Detroit and is now back in New England), CBS analyst and WFAN host Boomer Esiason offered a different take on The Greg Hill Show Monday morning, saying that if Curran’s report is true, it tells him more about Stafford, specifically that perhaps Stafford didn’t want to make the commitment and put in the work that it takes to play for Belichick.
“That doesn’t surprise me. There’s not too many people who really want to go all-in and play at a level that he probably couldn’t handle,” Esiason said. “If it’s true, that’s what my speculation would be. Whoever goes there knows what Tom Brady feels and why he left. I think we all understand why a bunch of guys probably opted out when they found out Tom wasn’t coming back.
“It’s not easy playing for Bill. Then again, it shouldn’t be easy. The game is hard. I have nothing but the greatest amount of respect for Bill Belichick. I know this: That at the age of 33, if I could have played for Bill Belichick, I would’ve in a heartbeat. … If that’s the case, then I wouldn’t want him as my quarterback anyway.”
Hill then asked Esiason if it’s possible it’s just about Patricia and not Belichick or New England in general.
“Maybe. I don’t know how they got along,” Esiason said. “But here’s the deal, guys. It’s pretty simple. If you trade for a quarterback or you sign a quarterback, does he raise the temperature in the locker room? Is he a difference-maker? Is he a guy that when other people see him, they react positively to the way that he carries himself? And there are so many obvious examples of it, with Tom Brady being the latest. Peyton Manning going to Denver and bringing them to two Super Bowls. Players that have that aura about them.
“I’m not so sure that Matthew Stafford has that. I think he’s a tremendous athlete. I think he’s got a great arm. He’s only played in three playoff games for the Detroit Lions over 12 years. I think he was part of the issue there. That’s why they wanted to split and Detroit wanted to get away from him. So, good for Matthew going to L.A., but if I would’ve had the chance to go to New England, I would’ve taken it. I hope that’s just a rumor and that it’s not true, because if it is, then I think it’s a bad look for him.
“…If in fact he did say that, I wouldn’t want him as my quarterback. That’s not the guy that I need. I need a guy that’s going to be all-in, that’s going to show everybody else how to play, that’s going to lift up everybody else on the roster.”