According to FreeP.com and DetNews.com, Matthew, along with Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and other players, was on hand Thursday at Motor City Casino to give a team helmet to Sprint Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Rookie Touchdown Challenge video

Upper Deck has posted a video of the rookies doing their touchdown dance celebrations at the Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere photo shoot. Some of the dances are hilarious.



Here's a a picture of Knowshon Moreno imitating a lovelorn Matthew. This is what Matthew was laughing at in the video.

The Last Polaroid

Photographer Tim Mantoani posted some Polaroid 55 images that he took at the NFL Rookie Premiere shoot.


The Topps Company has released the basic product information for their 2009 Topps Chrome set. The preview is the first look at its cards showing the NFL rookies in their uniforms. Check out Matthew's card.

Colin Cowherd and SI's Peter King talk about Stafford

ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd and Sports Illustrated's Peter King talk about what Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton think about Matthew. King also talks about his impression of Matthew after meeting him at the scouting combine, and he shares a story involving Matthew, Kevin Youkilis and the 2008 American League MVP Dustin Pedroia. (Starts at the 4:04 mark)

Endorsement challenges

Crain's Detroit Business has posted an interesting article about the possible endorsement challenges Matthew might face due to Detroit's ailing economy. If you have trouble with the Crain's link, here's a link the Detroit Free Press where you can read part of the article.

Plus
FreeP.com - Tream prepares for camp in June and July
SI.com - Athletes and their moms

Video interview from the Rookie Premiere

I'm sorry if you had trouble watching the first video. ToppsTV kept deleting it due to spelling errors and the use of an expletive. Hopefully it works this time, and they don't delete it again.


Plus check out Matthew and Knowshon Moreno at the end of Knowshon's interview. They do the touchdown dance that they used to do at Georgia.

Random stuff

Not much to report, just some random stuff.

Organized team activities resume Wednesday the 27th.

The Detroit Free Press has a section where fans can post photos of their encounters with Detroit's star athletes. Jim Dehem of Highland submitted a photo of his son, Brad, and Matthew at Norcross's Wesleyan High School weight room.

A video from WOODTV.com.

Updates from the OTA continue

DetroitLions.com - The Beginning Stages
Birk's Eye View - Putting Stafford's performance in the proper perspective

Photos
Mlive - Part 2

Video
DetroitLions.com - Schwartz on QB Matthew Stafford
DetroitLions.com - Rookies & veterans practicing

MLive

Matthew Stafford chats with the media

More from the OTA and the Rookies Premiere

Here're a few more articles from Thursday's OTA.

MLive.com - Quarterback Matthew Stafford makes good first impression on Lions teammates
Detnews.com - Matthew Stafford laughs off some ribbing from his Lions teammates about his contract
DetNews.com - Lions Notebook
FreeP.com - QB competition turns up the heat

There's also more from the the Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere. The rookies spent some time brightening the day a little bit for the patients of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. They handed out gifts, autographed sports items, played Playskool basketball and participated in rehabilitation excercises with some of the patients. The NFL Players Association has posted a video of the rookies special visit to the hospital.

Here's a picture of Matthew and his former Georgia teammate and current Denver Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno pretending to play duets on the hospital's schoolroom keyboard.

Video, articles and photos from today's OTA

Today was the first day that the media had access after the OTA so there's lots of stuff to go over. From early reports, it sounds like Matthew has been welcomed by his veteran teammates and is doing well during practice. Let's get to the nitty-gritty then.

Articles
Associated Press - Lions QB Stafford gets teasing and praise
FreeP.com - Lions vets razz Matthew Stafford about his contract
Birk's Eye View" - Spliting No. 2 reps, 'living up to the hype'
MLive.com - Additional quotes from head coach Jim Schwartz

Photos
FreeP.com
MLive.com

Video
NFL.com - Working hard to learn

Report from first organized team activity

DetroitLions.com has posted a report from the team's first organized team activity (OTA) that includes both rookies and veterans.

Also the NFL Players Association has posted a few more pictures from the 2009 Rookie Premiere photo shoot.

First photos of rookies and vets practicing together

DetroitLions.com has posted some photos of the rookies and veterans practicing together for the first time.

Working on the touchdown dance

A few weeks ago ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols was a guest on 680 The Fan's The Rude Awakening to talk about Matthew's makeover for E:60. She shares some funny anecdotes from the photo shoot.

And here's more from the Reebok NFL Players Rookie Premiere. Apparently the rookies were asked to perform their own touchdown dance celebration. I bet that produced some laughs. I wonder if we'll get to see Matthew's.
NFLPlayers.com - Top Draft Picks Strike a Pose in Los Angeles
UpperDeckBlog.com - Behind the Scenes

In Honolulu blue

Matthew was in Los Angeles this past week for the NFL Players Rookie Premiere at the Los Angeles Coliseum. During the event the rookies pose for trading card pictures, sign autographs and are interviewed for websites. The LA Daily News, ESPN.com and Beckett.com have posted some photos of Matthew wearing his Detroit Lions uniform.

More from the Rookie Premiere
The Beckett Blog - Notebook & List of players

With fellow rookies and Detroit Lions Derrick Williams and Brandon Pettigrew.


With New York Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez (Note: It's weird seeing Mohamed Massaquoi next to Matthew wearing a different uniform.)

QBs will split reps

Sorry for the lack of updates, but there's not much to report. News will be difficult to come by until the 18th when things pick up. For now, here're a few things that I found lately.

Articles
Birk's Eye View: QBs to split reps initially
Birk's Eye View: Raiola on Stafford
DetroitLions.com: Culpepper is Already Competing

Check out Matthew's official profile page over at the Detroit Lions official site. Also, Matthew's jersey is availabe for sale over at DetroitLionsStore.com. They have both the home and away jerseys and the authentic and replica available.

And two videos from NFL.com.
Lions 2009 outlook
Jim Schwartz feature

Just a few random articles

There's not much going on right now. News will pick up once camp reconvenes on the 18th. In the mean time here are a few random articles that I found.

FreeP.com: Lions' rookie camp is over, but Stafford's workload grows
Scout - RoarReport: Linehan: No Timetable For Stafford
DetNews.com: Lions downplay QB competition
Fanhouse.com: Steve Young Says Matthew Stafford Needs an 'Iron Stomach'

Q&A with Stafford

I just got a hold of this Q&A that appeared in a recent Sporting News issue. This Q&A brings back good memories. That 2006 Auburn game was awesome!

Snapshot
Q&A with Matthew Stafford
by Rebecca Rudolph for Sporting News 2009 Draft Guide

The NFL player I am most like is ... John Elway, as far as the style of play - a strong-armed player who can move and make plays outside the pocket if I have to.

My favorite play is ... Rex, gun, 263, demon, ted, drag. It's like a double post with a drag route by the tight end and a hook by the running back.

My opponents would say the best thing I do is ... timing. I'm on time a lot. When receivers come out of the breaks. I'm good at getting to them quick.

My college stats fail to show ... losing sacks. I only got sacked 17 times this year. I did a pretty good job getting out of (those) situations.

My breakthrough moment as a college player was ... my freshman year (when) we played Auburn at Auburn. They were No. 5 in the country and we were 6-4, and I had 85 yards rushing, something like 300 passing yards (it was actually 219), and we ended up winning the game.

The part of my game that will need the most work in the NFL is ... overall consistency. That's something I'll work on until I stop playing, but it's an ongoing process. ... I want to see how good I can get.

I'd love to be drafted by ... the Detroit Lions. (Being drafted first) would be an honor ... and I'd love to be a part of bringing that organization back to winning ways.

I'm better than most quarterbacks because ... I have a lot of experience. I played in 39 football games against some of the best teams in the country, like in the SEC, and not a lot of guys can say they played that many (big) games.

My best memory from playing college football is ... the time you have with your teammates and coaches, the stuff no one sees. Those are the best memories I have.

Five years from now, I will be known for ... helping the Lions comeback to making the playoffs and making the Super Bowl. That's not a realistic five-year goal, but I'd like to be apart of a winning franchise.

My advice to players entering college this year is ... the No. 1 thing that will bring you success is hard work and to stay on top of things you need to stay on top of. There will be times when you're not sure you can do it, but with hard work you'll always come out of it on top.

Bzzz!

According to Highland Park High School head coach Randy Allen, that's the sound a football makes as it goes through the air when Matthew throws it. Allen talks about that and more in a recent interview with Kirk Dooley of Neighborsgo.com. Allen recounted his once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York City for the NFL Draft, and how he first saw Matthew playing in the middle of the street when Matthew was a child. It's a candid story worth reading.

Here are some photos of Matthew and Coach Allen through the years.
November 2003 - During the playoffs


May 13, 2005 - The day he committed to Georgia


Fall 2005 - Watching practice while recovering from a knee injury


Spring 2006 - Receiving his state championship ring


April 25, 2009 - Backstage at Radio City Music Hall

Is kids' play

DetNews.com: Stafford well-conditioned for the pressure

Los Angeles Dodger's pitcher Clayton Kershaw talks about Matthew.

University of Georgia volleyball player Mara Martin talks about her friendships with No. 1 picks in the NFL draft.

Check out David Manning's black and white photographs of Matthew's pro day.

SIKids.com has posted a video of Kid Reporter Zach Parnes interviewing the rookies of the 2009 class at the NFL's Play 60 event at Central Park in New York. I have to say that the kid has better interviewing skills than many adult reporters. At least his interviews aren't as boring.

More from Mini-camp

Mini-camp is over, and by all accounts Matthew did very well and is actually ahead of the curve. Matthew will be going back to Georgia and then Dallas. Mini-camp reconvenes on May 18. That camp will consists of both veterans and rookies.

DetroitLions.com: Transcripts - Stafford, Schwartz
DetroitLions.com: Post-evaluations
DetNews.com: Stafford impresses Lions
FreeP.com: Roster a 'work in progress'
MLive.com: Delmas cashes in
FreeP.com: No decision on depth chart
FreeP.com: Not driving a Ford yet
DetNews.com: Stafford gives Lions food for thought

ESPN - Stafford participates in Lions mini-camp

'Following in footsteps'

ESPN's NFL Live recently aired a segment on Matthew and Troy Aikman. They discuss how fan and sports hero met and eventually became friends.

Mini-camp - Day 2

Birk's Eye View : Day 2 thoughts
AJC.com: Can Stafford meet expectations?
AJC.com: Fan appreciation for Lions’ Stafford
Scout.com's Roar Report: Detroit's Rookies Stafford, Delmas Click

Photos
DetroitLions.com
FreeP.com
DetNews.com
Scout.com's - RoarReport
USPRESSWIRE

Video
DetroitLions.com - Stafford, Day 1 and Day 2

Mini-camp is here

The Detroit Lions mini-camp started Friday afternoon. According to head coach Jim Schwartz, Matthew started off a bit overanxious, but he settled down and did well druring the rest of the 90-minute workout.

Here're today links:
DetroitLions.com: First day out
DetroitLions.com: Post-practice quotes
Associated Press: 1st practice
FreeP.com: Lions rookies workout at camp with Ford Sr. watching
DetNews.com: Settling down in first practice
MLive: Rookie mini-camp timeline
AJC.com: Roaring to go
Birk's Eye View: First impressions on Stafford

Photos
FreeP.com
Fanhouse
MLive
DetNews
AJC.com

Video
NFL.com: Mini-camp report
DetNews.com

Lions coach Jim Schwartz: Matt Stafford 'wild with some throws' in first minicamp

ESPN

First photos from the Lions mini-camp

USPresswire: Detroit Lions Rookie Camp

Stafford's parents reflect on whirlwind trip

John and Margaret Stafford talked to Chuck Cox, sports editor for Park Cities People, about their trips to New York City and Detroit to accompany their son on his big day.

And here's a video from WFAA.com. It was posted in January, but I just came across it. It features some footage of Matthew when he was in high school and interviews with his father and high school coach.