Rob Sims was watching NFC Championship Game on television when he felt his emotions start to bubble up. Sims was a blocker for many years. Matthew Staffordas a guard for the Detroit Lions. He was now watching his former quarterback in retirement do something that they could not in Detroit.
He saw Stafford with his bright smile, scruffy hair and dazzling eyes reach the pinnacle. Los Angeles RamsAfter languishing among the Lions. Sims, as well as many others who played alongside Stafford over the years, felt that their journey was similar.
“Man, me [Calvin Johnson]Sims stated that they had many conversations about how awesome it was for him to be in this position. “Me and [Dominic Raiola]You are like, “What we believed in was real.” This guy is the real deal, and he’s proving that.
“It’s good for us to see someone that comes from the same place we are, to move up and prove it.”
They watched from Los Angeles and suburb Detroit, cheered in Texas or Connecticut — even Paris. They shared so many things with Stafford, and played alongside him. Some were co-captains, while others were close confidants. They all share one thing in common: they all had a quarterback that once led them to where they wanted to be.
The Super Bowl.
Former quarterback Dan Orlovsky, who is currently an ESPN analyst, said that “this might be strange for people to hear.” “It’s like watching your family member.”
Orlovsky isn’t alone in his support for Stafford. Orlovsky has been a staunch Stafford fan since childhood. Stafford’s journey has been well documented by the Detroit players who played with him from 2009-20.
He turns 34 on Monday. The quarterback may now be a Ram, but his ties with Detroit are strong. Lions fans cheered loudly on their ex-quarterback via social media. A “StaffordCast”, a local radio station in Detroit that often criticized Stafford and the Lions, was held during Stafford’s first playoff game. One of the co-hosts bet against Stafford and Rams and was forced to have a shot Jagermeister and mayonnaise.
They were still talking to Stafford, who was a 12 season player with the Lions, one year after he was traded. This shows how much he is still loved in a place that has not won a division title or a playoff game since 1991.
Stafford’s run to the playoffs was in some ways Detroit’s run. They hope to get there one day. Some are enjoying the success of his team.
Time zones away
Kris Durham, a former Lions wide receiver, loaded up Game Pass International on Sunday night to view the Rams live nine hours before Pacific Time in Paris. Durham and Stafford became close friends when they met as teenagers. They then went on to spend two seasons together at Detroit.
Stafford gave Durham John Grisham’s “Playing for Pizza” book by John Grisham. The story of a former NFL football player who traveled to Italy to play pro-football, which eventually led to his retirement. Durham’s reality. Durham was there for Stafford through many things and made it a point of watching at least 12 Rams games this season. Durham stayed up to 5 a.m. to witness Stafford reach the Super Bowl. Durham was part in a celebration of the win via FaceTime.
Durham stated, “It’s probably the only person that I have been really, really close with that has been allowed to play in the game and possibly win and for it to also be a quarterback, especially since the past 12 months have been so special.” “I’m so excited for him, and I’m thrilled for him,” Durham said. [Stafford’s wife]Kelly and his family only have a minor, but important part in it.”
Durham, who was visiting the United States to work at the time, traveled to Los Angeles earlier in the season. He attended the Rams game against Detroit and was surprised by Stafford. Stafford’s wife Kelly and Steven Cundari, a college friend, helped Durham get a uniform for work from SoFi Stadium.
Stafford entered the suite shortly after the game. He walked by his friend, 6’6″, dressed incognito. After doing a double-take, he realized it was him. Then he hugged him tightly in a bear hug. Durham indicated that he will be flying to Los Angeles in the next few days for the Super Bowl.
Durham stated, “It’s surreal.” Durham stated, “This man has been working towards this his whole life.”
It has been seen ‘a million’ times
The Bucs’ final game as quarterback was the moment that Stafford had to remember most. Tom Brady‘s career. Stafford won the ball at his 25-yard line, in tie game with 42 seconds remaining.
Orlovsky sent a message to his NFL Live chat and said that he had seen it “a million times” before. Sims was a blocker for Stafford between 2010 and 2014. He knew what would happen when Stafford received the ball back in that amount of time. Glover Quin was also a co captain with Stafford over a half-decade.
Quin stated that Stafford is always good in such situations and that’s why there have been so many game-winning, tie-breaking or other game-related wins in the fourth quarter. “So if he gets that ball in the fourth half with so much time remaining, shoot, that’s right up to his alley. “I knew that Stafford was going to make it happen.
Long-snapper Don MuhlbachStafford and he shared two lockers during their careers. During the Buccaneers game, he was on a flight from Stafford to Michigan. Brady was supported by half the flight. Half of the flight was Lions fans.
Muhlbach was there to witness this 38-times in person. It was a Stafford fourth-quarter win drive. He has 42 total in the regular-season, which is tied for seventh. He was prepared for what would follow.
“When we had Stafford we were never short of anything. Muhlbach stated that Stafford proved this many times. “Everyone’s always like don’t ever leave [Aaron]Too much time for Brady or Rodgers — I was happy when they scored. When this happens, it’s not going to shock anyone.”
Stafford finally unloaded a 44 yard completion Cooper KuppThe quarterback ran down the field screaming to set up the game-winning field goal. Sims and Quin experienced flashbacks. In 2013, Stafford was miked against Dallas in a game in which Calvin Johnson had 329 yards of receiving. He was running down the field trying to make a play for a win last-second. He was shouting at tackle and waving his arms. Riley ReiffGet set.
Although he wasn’t shouting at Reiff (now playing for Super Bowl opponent Cincinnati), he was waving downfield to players in a gesture that looked very similar to the 2013 game. Stafford’s early comeback moment, he faked an injury and leapt over a heap of Lions and Cowboys to score the winning touchdown.
He spiked the ball here to set up a winning game Matt GayField goal.
Sims stated, “It’s exactly the same thing.” “I have been there a million times. He knows what he is doing. That is all it takes to be able to flash a glimpse of this.
Stafford’s victory was the moment he dispelled the myth that he could not win a big game. The defining victory was knocking out the Super Bowl champs on the road during the playoffs.
Sims texted Stafford to express his gratitude. Sims noticed his phone lit up 15 minutes after the game was over. There was so much going on around the quarterback.
Sims stated that “that guy could be doing any thing and he’s texting back to say, ‘I love you’.” “Those are the types of relationships that we’ve built over the years in Detroit. He’s my boy more than anything.”
“Wish we had done it here”
Stafford has never been publicly blamed for the success of Detroit’s team over a decade. Stafford was never publicly criticized. It was important back then, and it still is.
This explains why, after each postseason Rams victory, there have been celebrations by a section of ex-Lion players on social media. They had lived with him through football pain, heard the criticisms he received and were thrilled with his current actions.
Muhlbach admitted that he wished he had done it there. It would have been more fun if we could all have done it together. However, I believe many of his former teammates think the same way I do. We are all so happy for him.
“He took a lot here, fair or unfavorable, however you want it to be said.”
Former Lions teammates Sam Martin Marvin Jones Jr. I went to the NFC Championship Game. Many others viewed the event from afar.
Stafford has made them fans of the Rams. Orlovsky’s children wear Rams jerseys, and he was trying out to determine whether he could fly to Connecticut from Los Angeles for Stafford’s Super Bowl broadcast.
Orlovsky stated, “Once in your lifetime, man.” It happens once in a life time.
Orlovsky believes that if Stafford wins the Super Bowl, it will cement his induction into The Hall of Fame. It was this topic that Raiola, Sims, and Stafford discussed last summer at Calvin Johnson’s Hall of Fame ceremony in Canton. Sims shared that Raiola suggested to Sims that Stafford’s induction would be the next time they met. Sims claimed that Stafford’s reaction to the suggestion was “Man, I got a Super Bowl to do this.”
Sims declared, “And here we go.”