WASHINGTONPOST.COM/THE LEAGUE
Lions Decide on No. 1 Overall Pick Stafford as Starter
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Detroit has named rookie Matthew Stafford their starter at quarterback for Sunday's opening regular season game.
The Lions, coming off the first 0-16 season in NFL history, play at New Orleans.
Jim Schwartz, the first-year head coach of the Lions, made the announcement on Monday.
"This isn't an internship," Schwartz said at a news conference. "This isn't a trial basis, you know. He's our starting quarterback."
Stafford, the top overall selection in the draft in April, had been competing with veteran Daunte Culpepper for the job.
"His command of the offense is very good," Schwartz said. "His command of what defenses are doing is very good. And what he needs to do is play. I think he had a very good preseason."
Stafford completed 30 of 55 passes for 389 yards during the preseason, in which the Lions won three of four games. He threw one touchdown pass and four interceptions and had a passer rating of 52.8.
Culpepper was bothered by a foot injury late in the preseason. He had an 89.6 passer rating during a preseason in which he completed 22 of 34 passes for 194 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions.
The top two quarterbacks chosen in the draft enter the regular season as starters. The New York Jets previously gave their starting job to Mark Sanchez, who was selected fifth overall.
-- CHARGERS: Linebacker Shawne Merriman participated in San Diego's practice on the day after he was arrested following an alleged domestic incident, the Associated Press reported, and denied the accusations against him.
He said in a written statement released by the Chargers that there were "false allegations" made against him by Tila Nguyen, a model and reality television show hostess described in some reports as Merriman's girlfriend. Merriman said in the statement that Nguyen appeared to be in an "intoxicated state" and he "encouraged her to stay until safe transportation could be provided."
