NFC Notes: Matthew Stafford, Falcons, Lions, Saints

Matthew Stafford

Lions QB Matthew Stafford mentioned during a press conference on Tuesday to announce his brand new, $135 extension that he “always wanted to be here‘ in Detroit long term.

“At certain points, at times, everything’s in play when you meet with my guys and [agent] Tom [Condon] and those guys at CAA, but in the back of my mind, I’ve always wanted to be here,” Stafford said, via NFL.com. “From the first day I met with my representatives, after I talked with [general manager] Bob [Quinn] and those guys in February, that was the first question he asked me and I said, ‘Absolutely, I want to be in Detroit.’ And you never know if that’s always going to work out or not, but that was my wish and intention all the way back then.”

“It was important [to finish the deal before the regular season],” Stafford added. “It wasn’t something all along I knew was gonna be the case, but as it got into training camp a little bit, I realized that I think we have an extremely talented team and for us to be worried about, or anybody, even myself, about my contract situation to what it was going to be, was going to be a disservice to the organization, to our team, to the players in the locker room. So I wanted to get this thing done and then kind of realized that during training camp.”

Falcons

• Falcons HC Dan Quinn said that RB Devonta Freeman has fully cleared the concussion protocol and will return to practice. (Adam Schefter)

Lions

Ian Rapoport recently reported that Lions backup QB Jake Rudock is “generating interest from GMs” around the league.

When asked about the reported trade interest, Rudock said he was surprised to hear about it.

“I heard that from someone,” Rudock said, via the Detroit Free Press. “I’m like, ‘I don’t know what the hell you guys are talking about.’ I just heard someone say it. They were cracking a joke. I was like (slaps away his hand). I’ve got to worry about what I’ve got to do in the next 20 minutes out in this practice.”

“I guess that’s good,” Rudock added. “I don’t know enough about. I’m sure coach will have his answers for that. But I don’t think I’m going to touch it at all.”

Saints

• Saints HC Sean Payton suggested Tuesday that CB Delvin Breaux will likely open the season on injured reserve, but he could be a candidate to return last on in the season. (Nick Underhill)
• Payton added that LT Terron Armstead may not be placed on PUP list in the coming days and could instead be ready sooner. (Mike Triplett)