It's been a few weeks since Matthew Stafford was traded from the Lions to the Rams, but it doesn't mean the storyline from the trade hasn't gone away in New England.
Stafford reportedly told the Lions he did not want to be traded to the Patriots, which has been discussed at length in these parts.
There have been a few theories as to why.
One, he didn't want to reunite with Matt Patricia. And two, he was looking to go to a winning team and the Patriots are not that right now.
It appears it was more the latter.
“[Patricia] and I had a good relationship, no matter what anybody wants to say,” Stafford said in a recent interview with Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press. “I could go into his office and talk to him, he could get me on the phone whenever he needed to. I think we both grew in that relationship. I have a lot of respect for him and who he is, as a football coach and an unbelievable mind.”
And although he didn't mention the Patriots by name, it appears he does not believe they are a championship contender.
“What’s accurate is — and this is an incredible thing by [the Lions] — I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship,” Stafford said. “And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. There were a few teams that were not on that list. And they were respectful of that and understood completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each one of them.”
With all this being said, the Patriots may not have been all that interested as it was reported they only offered Detroit a second-round pick.