Former Detroit QB Matthew Stafford’s No. 9 is Going to a Lions Rookie

Do you think it's blasphemous that former Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford's No. 9 is going to a new Lions player? Some people aren't too happy about it, but it's part of the game, as they say.

It's not like they're going to retire the number. I mean, this is the NFL.

Rookie Jameson Williams getting to wear the prized No. 9, which is causing a stir. Actually, we don't even know if we'll see the number on the field, as Williams is recovering from a torn ACL in January. He has been in at training camp, though. As it turns out, the Alabama player officially switched his number Wednesday, but first, he reached out to Stafford, according to per ESPN's Eric Woodyard. That's a cool move.

"I mean, absolutely -- we want get him out there as fast as possible, and is it crucial," Lions coach Dan Campbell said of Williams during minicamp. "It is crucial, but not until he get his strength up. He needs a lot of strength development in that body, his lower extremities -- legs, knees, everything. So, until he's able to stabilize himself, and really get some strength that we feel good about to where he can protect himself... protect that knee, and he can compete, and compete at a high level, we're not going to put him out there."

We're nearing football season, which makes me a happy girl. You know I'm a huge fan of football in Michigan, both college and NFL. Most of my friends prefer college football, but I really enjoy watching NFL just as much and seeing who has a chance to make it to the Super Bowl.

Matthew Stafford, formerly of the Detroit Lions, won a Super Bowl last season with his new team, the Los Angeles Rams. Even with that win, the quarterback doesn't always get the respect one would think a quarterback who just won the Super Bowl would get. Granted, he has an all-start team with the Rams, so perhaps he's not getting the respect because some of the Rams' players, such as Aaron Donald, are considered the best in the entire league and, hence, more crucial when it comes to winning big games. Regardless, it's hard to ignore that Stafford rarely gets the respect as a quarterback as guys such as Aaron Rogers or Tom Brady.

Earlier this week, The Athletic's Sando unveiled his yearly QB tiers before the 2022-23 NFL season. Sando's list is unique, because it was created based on feedback from 50 NFL coaches and executives, including six general managers, eight head coaches, 10 evaluators, 12 coordinators, six quarterback coaches and seven execs. The final ballot was a joint effort between four members of a team's personnel department.

Read on for both tier one and tier two quarterbacks on the list. Tier one players are those who carry their team each week and are, in a way, responsible for their team winning, because they're the most crucial player. Tier two players also carry their team, but not as consistently as the quarterbacks who made tier one. Spoiler alert: Stafford did not make the first tier. I don't even recognize a few of the quarterback on the first tier list, but it's hard to deny that the first three are legends. Current Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff did not make either tier.

This list is via The Athletic's Sando. Find the full list here.