Stafford Pick Official
NEW YORK--NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell just stepped to the podium and declared the draft under way.
Moments later, he announced the Detroit Lions' selection of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford with the top overall choice.
Stafford agreed Friday night to a six-year contract with $41.7 million in guaranteed money and a maximum total value of $78 million, including incentives.
The announcement of the pick was booed by the crowd, which chanted, "Over-rated!"
Goodell only allowed five seconds of the Lions' 10-minute time allotment to expire before announcing the pick.
The St. Louis Rams are up next, with talk here on the draft floor that the New York Jets could trade up for the selection.
Stafford was at dinner with his family Friday night when he got a call from his agent, Tom Condon, informing him that the deal with the Lions was completed.
"I'd been waiting to hear," Stafford said. "It was definitely a relief last night."
Stafford joins a team coming off the first 0-16 season in NFL history.
"All you can do as a rookie is put your nose down and go to work," Stafford said. "That's what I plan to do, try to earn the respect of my teammates and win some games."
By
Mark Maske
|
April 25, 2009; 4:08 PM ET
| Category:
Draft
,
Lions
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Posted by: wylenehayes | April 25, 2009 5:53 PM
They should be chanting "over paid!"
Posted by: ozpunk | April 25, 2009 4:24 PM
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Matt Stafford is a good quarterback and he will give the team his best. I have watched him throughout his college career and he is one of the hardest working players in the draft. When referring to over paid, you may be surprised. Go Big DAWG!!!!!
Congrats!!!