DETROIT – Is former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford watching this season of “Hard Knocks”? Local 4′s Hank Winchester spoke with him about the hottest topic surrounding his old team.
The No. 1 question Hank got from viewers when he told them he was talking to Stafford on Thursday (Sept. 1) was whether or not Stafford has been watching his former team on “Hard Knocks.”
“I have,” Stafford said. “I haven’t seen them in perfect chronological order as they’ve come out, but I’ve peeked and I have so many good friends who are still on that team.”
He named David Blough as one of the players he’s really close with. Blough was heavily featured in the second, third, and fourth episodes of the series, but the Lions ultimately cut him in favor of signing Nate Sudfeld.
READ: 4th episode of Hard Knocks: The humbling reality of watching players you know got cut
“I’m keeping up,” Stafford said. “I’m watching it. I got a chance as I was leaving (Detroit) to talk to Dan Campbell and was really impressed, and then you see him on the ‘Hard Knocks’ show and you go, ‘Man, if you’re a player, you’ve got to love playing for that guy.’ He seems like a really authentic person that I think plays really strongly into the culture of Detroit, and I think people will really enjoy it.”
Stafford said one thing he really appreciates about Campbell from afar is how comfortable he is with being himself.
“That goes a long way in a locker room when you have a guy that’s up in front of the team every single day, preaching a message, and he believes it and he’s comfortable in who he is, comfortable in his own skin,” Stafford said. “That’s going to come off as authentic to the guys, and they’re going to rally around it.
“We played Detroit last year. It was one of the toughest games of our season. They were a tough out, so I think they’re going to continue to get better, and they’ve got a lot of talent and a guy leading the way that they all believe in.”
What would he like to say to Lions fans who are still supporting him?
“I just appreciate the support. I understand -- it’s not something that’s, I feel like, deserved. It’s humbling to me for them to continue to pull for me, and my family, as well. When they helped Kelly get through what she had to get through, it was something that I’ll never forget, and the people of that city and that state are near and dear to our hearts.”
