“I love the life that we have built here [in LA]. With that being said, I love an adventure. I’m all for it,” is what Matthew Stafford’s wife, Kelly said about the possibility of her husband being traded in the offseason. Kelly’s typically outspoken statement came after the Los Angeles Rams put Cooper Kupp on the trade block. Shannon Sharpe, meanwhile, is not that amused by Kelly expressing her thoughts on the contract status, believing a player’s family has no place in these conversations.
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The former TE argued that when comments come from a loved one, they can send the wrong message to both the fanbase and the team. It could even potentially be taken as the player’s own feelings on the matter.
Sharpe felt this is probably why speculations are swirling about the Rams possibly offering Stafford to the New York Giants in exchange for the No. 3 pick. The rumors, after all, appeared merely a few days after Kelly’s remarks.
“I like Matt. I think he’s phenomenal. Met his wife a couple of times. She’s great. But she loves her husband, and she thinks they haven’t shown the kind of respect for someone that has done what he’s done for them. And she ain’t got no problem. But here is the thing,” said Sharpe on Nightcap.
“What did I tell you when you say something and you got a significant other or a family member says something? Where does the team, where does that fanbase think that’s coming from?” Sharpe added.
Sharpe was blunt in stating that Kelly’s habit of speaking up without hesitation could lead the Rams toward making the trade. All they have to do is avoid restructuring his contract, and teams like the Giants could be in line to make a move. And if Kelly’s words hold any weight, the 37-year-old quarterback will be on board as well.
“If my brother, my sister, said something… Even though it didn’t come from me, ‘Oh man, you know they get that from Unc’,” reiterated Shannon, trying to illustrate how the public perceives statements from a player’s inner circle.
However, Sharpe also acknowledged that moving on from Stafford makes good business sense for the Rams. They can put Stetson Bennett at the helm and draft a rookie (using the Giants’ third pick) to develop under him.
“I don’t know why they don’t want to redo the man’s contract damn. Man Stafford’s still throwing that thing. But I know they like Stetson Bennett. Ain’t he cheap?” Sharpe said.
With the Rams also searching for the best suitor for Cooper Kupp, it seems the franchise is gearing up to make the necessary moves to get the squad younger. While no deals have been finalized yet, the question remains — who will step in if the Rams decide to part ways with their veterans?
A lot is in play here though. But it’s highly doubtful the Giants would part with their third pick for an aging QB.
