Schwartz talks Stafford on WRIF

Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was guest in the Mike in the Morning radio show. In this candid interview he talks about what he saw in Matthew that led him to rate him as the number one player in his board.

Detroit's mini-camp takes place this weekend

According to DetroitLions.com, their mini-camp will take place this weekend. The rookies, free-agents and other players will begin arriving on Thursday. We'll get to see Matthew in a Lions uniform for the first time. After seeing him in red and black for the last three years seeing him in blue and silver should be interesting.

Also, nflauctions.nfl.com is auctioning off some items autographed by Matthew. Net proceeds go to the Detroit Lions Charities, a non-profit foundation.

Plus an older video I found on YouTube
Matthew at the Madden Bowl

E60: Extreme Makeover

E:60.com has posted the entire video of Matthew's extreme makeover with Maria Sharapova. It's very entertaining so check it out.

NFL.com posted the last segment of Draft Journey.

And TMZ.com has posted two more videos of Matthew in New York. The paparazzi seem a bit annoying, but I think Matthew handled it very well.
Top Draft Pick Is Finger Lickin' Good
Top Draft Pick - Watch Your Wallett!

ESPN

Detroit TV stations videos

I found these two videos from the Detroit TV stations.

WXYZ ABC 7 Detroit Action News


WJBK FOX 2 Detroit

One hour long Draft Journey documentary tonight at 8:00 PM

Draft Journey: Road to the NFL is an hour-long documentary that will air tonight at 8:00 p.m. on the NFL Network.

Also, the E:60 segment in which Matthew gets a makeover from Maria Sharapova airs tonight at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Listen to Matthew's interview with ESPN radio after he was selected No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions.

Peyton Manning talks about Matthew to Kravitz and Eddie of 1070 the Fan in Indianapolis. Click here to listen to the interview.

AJC.com: How has $41.7 million has changed Stafford?
Timesfreepress.com: Durham basks in draft spotlight

I posted a link to this article from TampaBay.com before, but since then they have added several photos.
Here's one of Matthew and his older sister, Page, on St. Pete Beach.

Stafford on Letterman tonight!

Matthew will present the Top Ten List on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN tonight. The show airs at 11:30 PM on the CBS. You can watch the video of Matthew's appearance on Letterman here.

Even more from Draft day and Sunday's press conference

Visit the Detroit Lions official draft web page. There's video, audio, photos, press conference transcripts, etc.

DetroitLions.com: Selecting Stafford was a smooth process
USAToday: Thumb's up reaction
NFL.com: Unfazed by harsh crowd reaction
FreeP.com: Coach has open mind on starting Stafford
FreeP.com: I'll fight to start

Photos
Getty Images
LIFE.com
FreeP.com
ICON Sports Media

More video
NFL.com: Stafford interview
NFL.com: Being introduced by head coach Jim Schwartz
NFL.com: Welcome home

Happy to be a Lion


Stafford top pick in NFL draft

Draft Day recap

There's lots of stuff from Matthew's big day. Here is some of it.

Articles:
Online Athens: No. 1 as expected
Sporting News: Q&A with No. 1 pick
Macon.com: Ready to take next step
DetroitLions.com: Pleased to announce...
FreeP: Making time for fun
FreeP: Ready for the pressure
FreeP: Lions fans waste no time showing support for Stafford
MLive.com: 'I want to get ready as quick as possible'
Denver Post: 'I think he's going to do just fine'

Audio
MLive: Talking to the Detroit media
MLive: Lions GM Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz addressed the media

Photos
SI.com
FOXSports.com
US PRESSWIRE
Zimbio
FreeP 1, 2
DetNews.com

Video
NFL.com: Lions No. 1 pick
NFL.com: Interviewed by Deion Sanders
NFL.com: First round breakdown
ESPN: Schwartz excited about Stafford
ESPN: Stafford's reaction

ESPN: Lion in wait no more


Post-draft press conference


NFL Play 60 in Central Park

Number 9

As you can see I've changed the site title to reflect Matthew's new number. He will be wearing No. 9 in Detroit. You can already buy your Stafford jersey over at the official Detroit Lions online store.

Breaking News: From No. 7 to No. 1

According to ESPN, Matthew and the Detroit Lions have reached an agreement to make him the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft. ESPN's sources say that the deal could be worth $78 million with $41.7 million in guarantees. The deal with the Lions is the richest given to a draft choice in history.

Congratulations Matthew!!!

According to NFL.com's Thomas George, Matthew will be drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 1 pick regardless if contract negotiations have been finalized or not before the draft starts on Saturday. Solomon Wilcotts, also of NFL.com, stated that he's hearing that both sides have already agreed on the amount of guranteed money, and that negotiations of how the guranteed money will be handed out are still going on. Click here to watch the whole news segment.

Articles
NFL.com: 'It's been a crazy ride'
NFL.com: Kids at play in Central Park
Tampabay.com: Stafford has ties to St. Petersburg
NFL.com: A cure for what the Lions have been missing

Photos
Getty

Video
Fox Business Network

ESPN


Sirius NFL Radio


Signing autographs in New York (April 16)

Video, audio, articles, etc.

Boring title, I know. I'm really bad at coming up with witty titles so I might as well just get right to the point.

Here are some articles that I think are worth reading.
USAToday: Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry belives Detroit will pick Stafford
Yahoo Sports: Stafford savoring the moment
People Newspapers: Allen to attend draft at Stafford's request

Georgia head coach Mark Richt was a guest on MLive.com's The Huge Show on Thursday. He talks extensively about Matthew. It's a very good interview so I recommend listening to it.

Matthew will be featured in TMZ tonight. Check local listings for times. Click here to watch video of Matthew arriving in New York for the draft.

OffTheBaseline.com has posted a video of Matthew and Maria Sharapova at the E:60 photo shoot. Check it out.


E:60 Maria Sharapova and Matt Stafford Preview from ESPN Communications on Vimeo.

The latest regarding contract negotiations

Matthew was interviewed by the NFL Network earlier this evening, and he said that he doesn't know if he's close to being a Detroit Lion, and that he's letting his agent handle it. Matthew is already in New York for Saturday's draft. Click here to watch the interview.

Makeover Time with Maria Sharapova

A few days ago I posted that Matthew was going to be featured in the 2009 Athlete's Issue of ESPN The Magazine. The issue will be edited by tennis star Maria Sharapova. Well, according to Tennis-X.com, Matthew received a makeover during the photo shoot, and it will be featured on the next edition of ESPN's primetime news magazine, E:60, on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m.

'They love him.'

Matthew was on the Mitch Albom Show on Tuesday. He talked with hosts Mitch and Ken Brown about the possibility of being the first pick in the NFL, why he thinks he's the best QB in the draft, trading his Chevy Tahoe for a Ford if he's drafted by Detroit, what he would buy with his first paycheck, his family and much more.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constiution, Georgia head coach Mark Richt told the Roswell Bulldog Club that contract negotiations between Matthew and the Detroit Lions are taking place right now. He also mentioned that he has been talking to Matthew and Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, and according to Richt the sentiment among the Lions' staff towards Matthew is that 'they love him.'

In contract negotiations with the Lions

According to Steve Wyche of the NFL Network, the Detroit Lions are in final negotiations with Matthew, and an agreement for who would be the No. 1 overall pick could be reached as soon as tonight.

ESPN

Ready to trade in the Chevy Tahoe

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew held a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday. Read here what he had to say.

According to Chuck Cox of Park Cities People (PeopleNewspapers.com), Matthew will be joined in New York by Randy Allen, his high school coach. Park Cities People will feature Allen’s story later this week.

Here're a couple of articles that I think are worth reading.
Birk's Eye View - Sanchez: Lions 'in love with' Stafford
DetNews: Ready to trade in the Chevy Tahoe

Stafford featured in K'Naan's video "Dreamer"

According to Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post, ESPN's Rachel Nichols is in Georgia taping a segment on Matthew. No word yet on when it will air.

Matthew is featured in K'Naan's new video "Dreamer". The video is featured in the NFL draft commercials.

First Draft video and breaking down film

NFL.com has posted several videos that feature Matthew. Just click on the links below.
First Draft: Matthew Stafford
Stafford ready to start?
Final QB evaluations

Here are a couple of articles from a a pair of journalists that cover the Detroit Lions on a daily basis. Very interesting to say the least.
MLive
The Oakland Press

MyFoxDetroit.com has posted a video of Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. He talks about the draft prospects at the top of the Lions' draft board which include Matthew.

Football Skeet Shooting with Jimmy Fallon

Here's some video of Matthew's appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The segment is very funny, and Matthew's throwing was impressive.

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Click here to watch the entire segment.



Matthew was a guest on the Dennis Miller Show.

Upcoming NFL Network appearances

According to the NFL Network's Programming listings, Total Access will feature an interview with Matthew today at 7:00 p.m. Also, Matthew's First Draft segment will be featured on Path to the Draft on Monday, April 20.

Making the rounds in the Big Apple

Matthew was interviewed by the NFL Network while in New York. Some of the things that he talked about were the Detroit Lions, meeting with San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary and why he thinks he's the best quarterback in the draft.

NFLN has also posted a video titled Stafford Film Sessions. It's basically Matthew and NFLN analyst Mike Mayock breaking down film of UGA's 2007 Florida game. This video is not recent. It's from 2008.

Here's the transcript from the ESPN SportsNation chat.

Matthew was a guest on some radio shows today. Here're a couple of links.
66AM WFAN with Boomer and Carton
Dan Patrick Show
Mike and Mike in the Morning

Video from CNBC's Power Lunch


Video from ESPN's First Take

ESPN chat with Matthew at 3:30 p.m. today

Matthew will chat on ESPN's SportsNation at 3:30 p.m. today.

Possible NCAA Football 10 cover

According to ESPN personality Erin Andrews, there's a possibility that Matthew might be one of the athletes featured on one of the four covers of NCAA Football 10 which hits retailers on July 14. The four athletes will be announced on ESPN's College Football Live from April 20-23.

More guest appearances and bracing for the draft

According to Marc Weiszer of Online Athens, Matthew will appear on ESPN's First Take on Thursday. Also, Matthew will appear in the June 19 Athlete Issue of ESPN The Magazine. The issue will be edited by tennis player Maria Sharapova.

Dean Legge, editor-in-chief of DawgPost, has posted a very good article in which Matthew talks about his visit with the Detroit Lions, the alleged Bobby Layne curse, Jay Cutler's trade to the Chicago Bears, the situation with the San Francisco 49ers that got blown out of proportion, dispelling the strong-armed quarterback stereotype, his love for blitzes and exploiting defenses, his feelings towards his hometown Cowboys and more. It's an excellent article so I recommend heading over to DawgPost to read it.

Matthew will be a guest on CNBC's Power Lunch

Matthew will be a guest on CNBC's Power Lunch on Thursday. The show airs from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Matthew will also be a guest on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. That airs at 12:30 a.m. on Friday.

Will visit the San Francisco 49ers

Matthew told Brandon and Woolvey of 790 The Zone that he will be visiting the San Francisco 49ers this week.

More photos from the G-Day game.
From Online Athens

At the G-Day game

Georgia's G-Day game took place yesterday, and Matthew was in attendance. He was an assistant coach for the day. He was interviewed by ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit during halftime, and he talked about the draft process. Video of the interview is posted below.

The AJC, Scout, Georgiadogs, and UGASports have posted photos from the G-Day game.

Also, the NFL Network aired Matthew's First Draft segment during their Week in Review show. It will re-air through out the day today.

At The Masters and the G-Day game

According to the AJC, Matthew attended the the second round of The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club yesterday.

Matthew will also be attending the G-Day game which takes place in Athens today. The game will air on ESPN at 1:00 p.m so keep an eye out for Matthew.

Going to New York

According to ESPN analyst Chris Mortensen, Matthew is one of the ten players who will attend the draft in New York on April 25-26.

Stafford visits the Jets

According to Erik Boland (Newsday) and Eric Allen (NewYorkJets.com), Matthew visited the Jets on Thursday. No word yet on how the visit went.

Former Georgia Bulldog and recently re-signed Detroit Lion George Foster talks about Matthew to the Detroit press.

NFLN: The Carucci Report - Vic Carucci gives his take on the Lions' impressions of Matthew.

I also found this video of Matthew at P. Diddy's Super Bowl party. Matthew is at the 3:17 mark.

Magazine covers

Matthew is on the cover of Pro Football Weekly's 2009 Draft Preview. He's also on the cover Sporting News' NFL Draft Preview issue.

Draft Journey: All-Access

NFLTA: Draft Journey - Go all-access with Matt Stafford, Michael Crabtree and Brian Cushing on their path to the draft.

From David Hale's Bullodg Blog: Georgia head coach Mark Richt talks about Matthew's ability to throw in cold and wet weather.

On Late Night TV

Matthew will be a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on April 16.

Matthew talks about the upcoming draft to 790 The Zone's Mayhem in the AM.

Falcons Insider has posted an inteview with former Georgia CB Asher Allen. He talks a little bit about Matthew.

Matthew Stafford: Radio Guest

This interview with Buck and Kincade of 680 The Fan is a few days old, but I had not posted it so here it is. Matthew talks a little bit about his pro day, his visit to Detroit, and his signability among other things.

Matthew was a recent guest on 97.1 The Fan's The Big Show with Chris Spielman and Bruce Hooley. It's a really good interview so check it out.

Plus NFL.com has posted a draft vignette of Matthew. This is basically an inside look video.

With former Georgia QB Buck Belue

Will visit the Jets

According to Brian Costello of the NY Post sports blog, Matthew was on Sirius radio earlier today and he mentioned that he will visit the New York Jets in mid-April.

Stafford talks about his workout for the Lions

Matthew shared his assessment of his own workout for the Detroit Lions with Dave Birkett of The Oakland Press.