By George B. Eichorn of the Detroit Monitor

Owning the number one overall pick in last Saturday’s NFL Draft came with a lot of attention for the Detroit Lions. Top pick Matthew Stafford was everywhere it seemed.

He was at the New York Stock Exchange last Friday to help ring the bell. He was at the NFL official events like the fan fest and the draft party at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday. After a brief trip to Detroit for a visit with the Detroit media last Sunday, it was back to New York on Monday for an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS.

Stafford read Letterman’s popular Top Ten list. The quarterback, who starred for three years at the University of Georgia, is aiming to help the Lions overcome the first 0-16 season in NFL history. He inked a lucrative six-year deal on the eve of the draft.

"If the Lions win one game this year, I’m a hero," Stafford joked on the show.

The Lions were obviously sold on Stafford, from owner William Clay Ford to the assistant coaches, Detroit brass knew they desperately needed a quarterback. They must turn around the fortunes quickly of a franchise that has sunk to its worst eight-year stretch in the league since World War II. The Lions have not won an NFL championship since 1957 and only one playoff game in those 32 seasons.Taking Stafford no. 1 and paying him $40 million was worth it to Ford, general manager Martin Mayhew and coach Jim Schwartz.

"I famously stood here a few months ago and said, ‘It’s time to find a replacement for Bobby Layne,’ " said Schwartz. "I talked about how the quarterback is the most important position on the field. That being said, we didn’t go into the process looking and saying, ‘We’re drafting a quarterback no. 1.’ There were a lot of steps along that road; the area scout evaluation, Matthew declaring for the draft, watching him on film. We actually had high school film on Matthew Stafford; we talked to his high school coach.

"We did an extensive background on him and his production in the past. We have every throw that’s he’s made for the last two years on our video screen; we broke it down to different routes, the times he had taken sacks, the times he had thrown interceptions and did an exhaustive search there. Then the next step was going to the combine and meeting him and seeing him in social situations; bringing him up here; taking our show on the road down to Athens (Ga.) and getting him on the board and then actually seeing him throw.

"(And) each step along the way, he jumped through whatever hoop we put up in front of him. Like I said, at that point, it became clear that he was going to be our guy."

The underclassman may compete with veteran Daunte Culpepper for the starting position at QB. But let’s not rush this kid to the starting block. He has time, and should be given time to develop into a solid NFL signal-caller.

On a personal note: I got to hand it to my brother Martin who on New Year’s Day was watching the Capitol One Bowl with me. Upon seeing Stafford pick apart the Michigan State defense in the second half of Georgia’s win over the Spartans, he commented, "This could be the Lions guy. Have you driven a Ford lately? A Staf-ford, that is."

There it is; makes perfect sense to me. Mr. Ford takes a guy with his last name and the namesake of his beloved Ford Motor Company. Bet you we see the kid quarterback making commercials — at least locally — for the troubled automaker. The strong-armed passer has the potential to be an attention-grabber on the local and perhaps national sports scene. Stafford had some interesting things to say to the press in his appearance at Lions headquarters April 26 in Allen Park.

On how it’s he’s prepared to take on the role of the Lions quarterback: "I’m just going to go out there and work hard, that’s the no. 1 thing I can do and these involve here at this place and with this football team as possibly can be and let my play do the talking. That’s the way I handle that and I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to be the quarterback for the Lions at some point hopefully and I’m going to do everything it takes to get there."

On how he said he’d love to go to the winless Lions because of the challenge: "I’m a competitive guy. I’ve said it all along and it’s something that excites me. I think it does scare some people and it might have deterred some people from wanting to come here, but all along it’s something that I’ve wanted to do and I’m excited to finally be here and take that challenge on."

On what separates him from the other quarterbacks that were in the draft: "I have a lot of experience. I played in a bunch of games at Georgia (and) in a really tough conference. All of the other quarterbacks in this draft are great players too; don’t get me wrong, Mark Sanchez is a heck of a guy and the Jets got a great pick in him and Tampa Bay got a heck of guy in Josh Freeman as well. The draft is kind of over with for me, this whole process is over with. It’s time to play some football again and that’s really what I’m worried about."

On what he’s most looking forward to in regards to going pro: "Just getting into the locker room and being with the guys again. It’s going to be fun because I’m going to be meeting people that I’ve watched on TV for a long time and it’s going to be exciting to meet new teammates, but I’m just ready to get back to playing football. The combine and pre-draft stuff is so much non-football stuff and I just can’t wait to get back there on the field."

On how many times he’s pictured himself throwing wide receiver Calvin Johnson the ball: "A bunch, he’s a heck of a player. I got a chance to play against him in college. My freshman year was his last year at Georgia Tech. He looks the part and plays the part really well. Everybody on this team has their own role and he’s definitely got a big one."

On whether he’s talked to Johnson yet: "I’ve texted Calvin a little bit here and there throughout this whole process really, but nothing too serious. He wanted to let me have my space I’m sure and there’s going to be plenty of time to spend with these guys and meet them."

On whether he’d be comfortable sitting or if he wants to compete right away: "I want to play as soon as I’m ready. If that’s game one, that’s great, if that’s game eight or game four, or whenever that is…I just want to be ready. When I step in there I want to contribute and make plays and help this team win. That’s what I’m going to be working for."

On adjusting coming into the NFL: "I think no. 1 for a rookie quarterback has got to be the playbook. That’s a huge thing and just the verbiage in the NFL is a little bit different than it is in college, but that’s something that you can practice and you can work on. With hard work it can be mastered and obviously the longer you play this game for a single system you’re going to know it that much better; but I’m going to go in to year one and try to know as much as I possibly can."

Buy George Eichorn’s book, "Detroit Sports Broadcasters On The Air," for $19.99 at www.amazon.com. Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.

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