Richard Cato is blogging from the NFL draft:

Cheers of “overrated” greeted top overall pick Matt Stafford as Detroit wasted no time in selecting the quarterback with the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Lions fans, with a strong showing up on the 3rd balcony here at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, were visibly upset and the feeling had nothing to do with his arm strength or abilities as a player.

“I love it and hate it at the same time” said a Lions fan discussing the pick. While franchise quarterbacks are hard to find, it is always tough to swallow guaranteeing USD $41.7 million dollars to a rookie quarterback. And that doesn’t even take the global recession into account, particularly devestating in Detroit. Stafford is guaranteed more money than the contract All-Pro Albert Haynesworth signed this offseason (USD $41 million).

The Lions also added the top TE prospect, Brandon Pettigrew, with the number 20 pick in the first round. Detroit is hopeful that Stafford, Pettigrew, and a “fierce” new logo will help them shed their losing ways. Detroit went 0-16 last season. “I am a Lions fan, I know ineptitude” said that same fan, who did not give his name. He wore a “Fire Millen” t-shirt, referring to the former general manager and team president of the struggling Detroit franchise.

(Reuters photo by Mike Segar)