DEL.ICIO.USNFL
Matthew Stafford shaky in first practice with Lions
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, May 01, 2009
ALLEN PARK, MICH. — Matthew Stafford’s quest to win over the jaded hearts of Detroit Lions fans started in earnest on Friday.
The former University of Georgia quarterback and No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft was booed in New York and in Detroit — at a team-sponsored function, no less - when he was selected last Saturday.
With William Clay Ford — the team owner and the man who signed off on Stafford’s six-year, $78 million contract — looking on, Stafford got off to a shaky start before settling down during his first professional football practice on Friday.
“Overanxious, I guess you would say,” Lions coach Jim Schwartz said when asked to describe Stafford’s first practice. “It’s Matthew and probably 90 percent of the guys out here. When you go through a first practice as a rookie, you are so anxious to get going that you’re out of control.”
Stafford had a plausible reason for his early errant throws.
“I hadn’t thrown to live receivers in a while,” Stafford said. “So that was kind of a part of getting back into it. As the day went on, I felt a little bit better.”
Once Stafford settled down, he started zipping passes all over the Lions indoor practice facility. He even fired a few in the direction of a familiar target, former Bulldog teammate Sean Bailey, who was invited to the rookie mini-camp for a tryout.
“It was good to play football again,” Stafford said. “It’s been a while. It was just good to get out here and run around with the guys and be a part of a team again.”
Stafford appeared to bond with rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who the Lions took with the 20th pick of the first round.
“He was awesome,” Stafford said. “He’s a big target with great hands.”
Stafford wasn’t distracted by Ford’s presence at practice.
“I didn’t notice,” Stafford said. “I was just trying not to screw up out there.”
Schwartz cautioned against reading too much into Stafford’s first practice.
“He was chomping at the bit early,” Schwartz said. “He was wild with some throws, but then he started settling into a groove and started working together with some of the wide receivers. Then all of sudden, you started to see some better things later in practice.”
For the most part, Stafford was technically sound throughout.
“His foot worked looked good,” Schwartz said. “His release is excellent. You just get those first practice jitters.”
Safety Louis Delmas, the Lions’ second round pick from nearby Western Michigan, nearly intercepted one of Stafford’s passes.
“I told Matt that I’m going to be the first one to pick off your ball today,” Delmas said. “I tried, but I dropped it.”
Bailey — who was in camp with Carolina last season, but was released — said he was impressed with Stafford’s first pro practice.
“He went through his progressions very well,” Bailey said. “He didn’t look like a regular rookie out there. He’s incredibly intelligent and very smart. He has all of the talent in the world.”
Stafford is comfortable around the Fords.
“The Ford family is awesome,” Stafford said. “You see them in the hall, and they act like owners of the team and just walk by. They say, ‘Hey, how’s it going.’ It’s great that everybody has that kind family atmosphere here.”
Stafford was not taken aback by the booing.
He doesn’t plan to put any additional pressure on himself.
“Just trust yourself, because I got to this point for a reason,” Stafford said. “A lot of hard work has gone into it. I have to just be myself, trust what I have, go play and have fun.”
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