Stafford Tells Burleson: "I'm Going for the MVP"

Matthew Stafford texts former teammate about his desire to be the NFL MVP in 2020

Detroit's franchise passer Matthew Stafford has always portrayed the image publicly of a mild-mannered professional seeking to improve on his craft daily. 

In the past few years, more and more of his teammates have been outspoken in their desire for Stafford to reveal more of his true nature publicly. 

Several teammates have openly stated that behind the scenes Stafford is among the fiercest competitors in the entire league. 

On Wednesday's edition of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," Peter Schrager made the case that Detroit could be sneaky good this season and that Stafford is a dark-horse MVP candidate.

Stafford apparently got word of the comments made by Schrager earlier this offseason of his dark-horse status and texted his former teammate, Nate Burleson.

Burleson stated Stafford texted him, “Tell your boy Schrager to forget the dark-horse stuff, I'm going for the MVP."

Lions head coach Matt Patricia talked last Friday about what he has observed so far from the 12th-year NFL quarterback.

"Man, he's been awesome," Patricia said during a video conference with Detroit media. "He's dialed in, locked in to the coaching, the teaching, practice, meetings. His leadership has been outstanding. He's fired up every day out there, competing really hard and wants everything to be perfect. You love the drive of everything that he does right now. So, it's been great. It's been unbelievable. And for me, it's been awesome just to watch him take that upon himself to push the team. And from that aspect of it, I couldn't be more appreciative. It's great."

Stafford makes BOLD Goals via@DerekOkrie https://t.co/GcKsbeyplj

— DetroitSportsPodcast (@DetroitPodcast) September 2, 2020

Nate Burleson @nateburleson just said on @gmfb that Stafford texted him after Peter Schrager @PSchrags said he was a dark horse MVP candidate. Nate said #9 told him and I quote, “Tell your boy Schrager to forget the dark horse part...I’M GOING FOR THE MVP!” #Lions #OnePride

— Derek Okrie (@DerekOkrie) September 2, 2020

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