Did You See What Matt Stafford Did?

Summary

Matthew Stafford, despite his acclaimed character and teamwork, failed to assist a female photographer who fell and broke her spine at a Rams celebration, an incident that has raised questions about his empathy and chivalry.

Abstract

The article discusses the recent incident involving NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford at a Rams celebration event. Despite widespread praise for his character and positive influence on teammates, Stafford's actions, or lack thereof, following the injury of photographer Kelly Smiley have come under scrutiny. Smiley, who fell backward off the stage while taking a photo, sustained a spinal injury. Stafford, described as intoxicated, did not help the fallen photographer but instead walked away, leaving his wife to check on Smiley's condition. The incident has sparked a conversation about the expectation of athletes to act as role models, especially in times of crisis, and whether Stafford's behavior was a lapse in judgment or indicative of a deeper character flaw.

Opinions

The author expresses skepticism about the extent of Matthew Stafford's character, contrasting his celebrated team spirit with his inaction during the photographer's accident.
There is a clear tone of disappointment and criticism towards Stafford for not assisting the injured photographer, suggesting a lack of chivalry and empathy.
The article implies that Stafford's wife, Kelly, acted more appropriately in the situation by immediately going to check on the photographer, highlighting a stark contrast between her actions and those of her husband.
The author seems to believe that Stafford's inaction was not just a momentary oversight but a significant shortcoming, especially given his status as a public figure and role model.
The comparison of Stafford's reaction to that of a cartoon character (Road Runner

He avoided the rush but got sacked by arrogance

I have heard all week about how great of a guy Matthew Stafford is. His character, his unselfishness, how he makes teammates better. About how he endured a long stint in Detroit, the capital city of NFL irrelevance.

Puke. Apparently, he’s better at helping up a 290 pound offensive lineman, than he is a female photographer who falls over backward and breaks her spine.

(SEE BELOW)

At a quasi-Super Bowl celebration for the Rams on Wednesday, Stafford and his wife Kelly cheesed for a picture taken onstage by NFL photographer, Kelly Smiley.

She backs up on the stage to get a full shot and runs out of real estate. She does a Road Runner/Coyote-esque drop, six feet to the ground.

Stafford, who is plastered drunk, mouths the words “Oh my” and walks away. How chivalrous. His wife Kelly scurries down to see if the reporter is ok.

She wasn’t ok. She broke her spine.

I watched the video a couple of times to see if there was any nuance to it, to see if there were already people attending to her, something that could wash the bile out of my mouth. Nah, it happened too fast, there couldn’t have been anyone else.

The big tell was that his wife rushed down to see if she was ok.

Not Stafford. He took a three-step drop and avoided the rush.