Detroit Lions’ Taylor Decker: I’ll lobby to Rod Wood for team to keep Matthew Stafford

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Left tackle Taylor Decker has helped the Detroit Lions on the field since the team drafted him 16th overall in 2016, and now he wants to make sure he helps the team off the field by offering his input as the team embarks on an uncertain offseason.

Decker told reporters Monday he planned to speak with team president Rod Wood later in the day to offer his perspective on various topics to underscore decisions — including personnel — that have worked well.

Chief among Decker’s planned topics was lobbying to keep Matthew Stafford. The 12-year Lions quarterback turns 33 in February and could be headed out of Detroit, depending on the determination of a new regime.

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“I love Stafford,” Decker said in a conference call. “He’s, for me personally, the most respected teammate that I’ve ever played with. I couldn’t have more respect for the guy. And you’ve seen it year in and year out, and I’m sure you have seen it before I was even here, how tough that guy is, how professional that guy is.

“And he more than anybody, he’ll tell you, ‘I want to win and I love playing football and I’ll do anything I can to try and put this team and this organization in a position to win.’”

Stafford had a good year rebounding from a broken back that cost him half of the 2019 season. He passed for 4,084 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while playing through thumb, rib and ankle injuries later in the season. But Stafford’s statistical production wasn’t enough to keep the Lions from finishing 5-11 and missing the playoffs for a fourth straight year.

“Again, there’s a lot of unknowns and I don’t necessarily know what’s going to happen,” Decker said, “but I would love to keep playing and keep protecting his blind side because I love him. The dude is a phenomenal talent, he’s a phenomenal football player, he’s a phenomenal teammate and friend.

“So whatever happens, happens. But I think everybody knows I love Stafford and I’ll keep telling everybody that.”

Decker’s willingness to share his thoughts with Wood stems from his long-term commitment to the team after he signed a four-year, $60 million extension in September.

“I just think I have some perspective on (the) day-to-day in meetings how certain things are run and what things are working,” he said, “because it’s really easy to say, ‘Oh, well we’ll just go in and blow up everything.’

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“But I think there are some pieces that are working well and could continue to work well. And for the player input for things that we’re dealing with every single day in meetings, if there’s something that we like I think he’d be open to hearing those opinions.”

Decker didn’t give details about which players, coaches or protocols he might lobby for other than Stafford. But he might advocate for Hank Fraley, the new offensive line coach — Decker said this season the offensive line looked the best that it has during his five years with the team.

“Obviously we know there’s going to be a lot of change but if there’s something that’s working well I think you should take a look at it and then see if it’s worth keeping around,” he said. “I just think as a player every day in meetings we have that perspective to be working with certain people, seeing how certain meetings are run, seeing certain players.

“The front office is obviously in the same building but they’re not in every single meeting. So I think I have that perspective as a player every day for six months working with certain people and seeing how things are done to try and give that perspective.”

Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

This article was originally published by Freep.com. Read the original article here.