The second the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl win over the Bengals was closing on Sunday, the narrative about Matthew Stafford’s Corridor of Fame candidacy took off and hasn’t slowed down since.
Everyone seems to be chiming in with their takes on Stafford and the Corridor of Fame, together with former Legion of Increase member Richard Sherman. Sherman weighed in on the concept Stafford is already sure for the HOF, stating his’ lack of particular person accolades, and even in contrast his resume to that of Falcons QB Matt Ryan. Feels like Sherman isn’t fairly able to carve out Stafford’s bust for Canton.
First, Stafford nonetheless has an extended method to go in his NFL profession. He turned 34 lower than per week earlier than the Tremendous Bowl and has proven no indicators of slowing down and hanging up his cleats. The best way it’s trying, he would possibly play till he’s 40, enjoying one other six or seven years earlier than retiring. Ought to he try this, he’ll be assured a Hall nod; since he’ll be prime 5 in so many passing classes, it is going to be onerous to maintain him out.
Stafford is simply shy of fifty,000 passing yards proper now. He’ll go that milestone briefly order, along with his first go of 2022 as he’s simply 5 yards shy. In 13 years within the NFL, Stafford has handed for lower than 4,000 yards simply 4 instances. Two of these seasons had been shortened by damage, the place he performed in simply three video games in 2010 and eight in 2019. One other a kind of seasons was Stafford’s rookie 12 months of 2009, the place he performed 10 video games. So, it’s protected to say if he’s wholesome, he’s throwing for at the very least 4,000 yards for the foreseeable future. Ought to he play a number of extra years, Stafford might find yourself with round 75,000 passing yards, and over 400 TD passes. At present, solely eight guys can say they’ve thrown over 400 NFL TDs of their profession.
However that’s the longer term, and none of us understand how the subsequent few years will play out. I perceive Sherman’s sentiment on Stafford, though he does have some gaudy statistics from his days in Detroit and now in L.A. It’s powerful to evaluate Stafford as a result of he performed for such a clumsy franchise for thus lengthy. Stafford nonetheless produced to a sure extent, although he performed in simply three postseason video games in 12 years with the Lions. However I’m not almost going to hold all of that group’s shortcomings on Stafford. No, he couldn’t carry the Lions out of obscurity, however not many QBs would have.
Sherman’s argument that Stafford’s accolades are similar to Ryan’s is a good. Stafford is a one-time pro-bowler, whereas Ryan is a four-time choice. Ryan additionally has an MVP, Offensive Participant of the Yr award, and All-Professional choice on his resume. Stafford has none of these particular person accomplishments on his. However the one Stafford does have that Ryan and the Falcons let slip away is a Tremendous Bowl victory. And everyone knows relating to the QB place, that’s what strikes the needle. What number of rings does a man have? In case you’ve acquired the gaudy numbers over a profession and may add Tremendous Bowl champion to the combo, then you definitely’ve acquired an awesome probability on the corridor.
I do know one individual that undoubtedly disagrees with Sherm’s tackle Stafford’s HOF worthiness. That might be Matt’s spouse, Kelly Stafford.
Even when Stafford isn’t a Corridor of Famer now, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than he crosses that threshold, particularly if he can put collectively one other Tremendous Bowl marketing campaign with the Rams. Win a second ring, and there’s no query about Stafford’s HOF candidacy. Eli Manning will make the HOF on the again of two Tremendous Bowl runs the place he gained the MVP each instances. That’s just about all Manning has on his resume apart from being a Manning, after all. Take away the 2007 & 2011 postseason runs for Eli, and he’s simply one other man named Manning.
So, if I needed to resolve on Stafford proper now, I’d say no, he’s not a Corridor of Famer. Not on the primary poll anyway. He wants somewhat extra time, a couple of extra successful campaigns, and a few extra deep playoff runs earlier than I can go there. However Stafford’s definitely lots nearer than Sherman is giving him credit score for.
