I can’t imagine that T.J. Hockenson has played with many all-time great football players in his short career, but he seems to have no doubt who the best of them has been: Matthew Stafford. The Detroit Lions tight end and the eighth overall pick of the 2019 draft, Hockenson appeared on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast this week and heaped all kinds of praise on the newest franchise quarterback of the LA Rams.
“He is probably the best dude, the best player I’ve ever been around,” Hockenson said. “Everybody on our team respected that guy. Like everybody loved him. He will forever put a stamp on my career and in the city of Detroit. He’s, I mean, he was, like I said, one of the best — the best player I’ve ever.”
Hockenson also said that he didn’t think there would be a single player from the Lions who isn’t rooting for Stafford to win a Super Bowl, even, I suppose, if that means doing better than Detroit.
“All of us loved him.”
It’s the kind of respect that you expect from a teammate but that doesn’t mean that it is always earned. I’m not sure if any LA Rams have come out to wish Jared Goff a Super Bowl ring yet or not. But if Hockenson’s words are accurate, then by September everybody on the Rams will know what it’s like to desperately want to help Stafford win a ring.