Matthew, Michael, Matt and Marty -- trekking through the sports world of this week's saints and sins:
Before trying to parse and interpret every word of the non-information statement issued late Monday by Lions management regarding Matthew Stafford's right shoulder, my bottom-line conclusion is this:
If Stafford's twice-injured right shoulder is healthy enough to play again at any point in the last seven games, the Lions should play him.
It doesn't matter if it's a magical cure before the fourth quarter of the last game of the season.
Play him. Give Stafford every snap of every game he can get -- as long as he is cleared medically. Stafford represents the future of the Lions' franchise. They'll go as far as his arm will take them.
Forget everything else. It won't be the coaches or the front four on defense or the marketing program or anything else that goes into building a team. All of that sets the table.
Quarterback delivers the goods, and Stafford's golden arm -- when healthy -- will deliver. No doubt.
But the question for the day, the week, the season, centers on Stafford's right shoulder. He missed five starts when he hurt it in the opening game, and he's out again with a second injury sustained two weeks ago against the Jets.
The Lions' statement was as definitive as the "delayed" sign on the airport's flight status. It didn't pinpoint the nature of the injury or shed any light on when, or if, he will return.
Stafford was examined on Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. The Lions released the following statement:
"Dr. Andrews informed the team today that his evaluation of Matthew's injury (which occurred Nov. 7 against the New York Jets) is consistent with the evaluation and diagnosis of the Lions' medical staff.
"Matthew will continue the rehabilitation process that he began last week under the supervision of the team's medical staff."
Since Stafford was hurt, there have been varying reports, citing sources, about his condition and the prognosis. A source with knowledge of the situation says surgery was ruled out early.
Coach Jim Schwartz was asked at his weekly press conference whether Stafford will play again this season.
"When he's going to be back from this is when he's healthy and when he's ready," Schwartz said. "It sounds like you're passing the buck, but there's really not timetable on it."
Vick for MVP
MV, add the P. Michael Vick's performance in the Eagles' win over the Redskins Monday night is certain to launch his campaign as a contender for the MVP Award.
There is no more dynamic athlete in team sports than Vick. That includes LeBron James.
What Vick did against the Redskins was jaw-dropping. He threw for 333 yards and four TDs, and rushed for 80 yards and two TDs. Vick was a one-man show against a good Redskins' defense in a 59-28 win.
His performance should send the NFL stats-keepers on a mission to redefine how quarterbacks are rated.
The passer-efficiency ratings are fine for what they do -- rate everyone who throws a pass. That includes halfback options, flanker options -- even kickers and punters who pick up the ball on a bad snap and fling it down field. A pass is a pass.
Vick's one-game passer rating against the Redskins was 150.7. After nine games, he leads the league at 115.1.
In 2004, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning got every vote except one in winning the MVP award. I was the one guy who did not vote for Manning. I voted for Vick because of the difference he made in leading the Falcons from 5-11 in 2003, when he missed most of the season, to 11-5 and the NFC South title in '04.
For my vote, I was excoriated on just about every local and national talk show.
I guess I was just a man ahead of his time. Again, I say in all modesty.
Millen doing what he does best again
I like the way Matt Millen calls games as a color analyst on college and pro football. Anyone got a problem with that?
Sure you do. All of you.
Look, Millen failed as president of the Lions from 2001 through early in '08, but he's back doing what he does best -- analyzing games on TV.
I had to laugh the other night when Millen and Steve Mariucci were on the NFL Network set together before a Thursday-night telecast.
Anyone who thinks Mariucci should scowl at Millen for firing him late in the 2005 season is missing a point. Millen made Mariucci rich -- $25 million rich, for winning 15 games with the Lions. That's $1.67 million per win.
Millen hired Mariucci in 2003, after Mariucci had been fired by the 49ers, and gave him a five-year, $25-million contract. Mariucci coached like he'd landed in Detroit on a golden parachute, with a contract that was his early retirement check.
For some reason, none of the blame for the Lions' failures seems to land on Mariucci.
Mornhinweg for coach
Marty Mornhinweg's the offensive coordinator of the Eagles, and whoever plays quarterback under him thrives. First it was Donovan McNabb. Now it's Vick.
Mornhinweg's two-season tenure as head coach of the Lions was historically bad. He had a 5-27 record as Millen's first head-coaching hire and was fired after the 2002 season -- when Mariucci became available.
Mornhinweg has been in Philly for nine seasons.
It's time he gets a second chance as a head coach.
Nov. 16, 2010
