Matthew Stafford is further proof teams place too much emphasis on quarterbacks

I'd venture to guess a majority of NFL analysts will lay claim that a quarterback is the most important position in all of sports, let alone football. While I won't deny it's an incredibly important position, I think it's overrated in terms of its overall importance to a team's success or failure, and more NFL teams would be wise to spend more money on building around their quarterbacks than to just invest the lot on the man behind center.

What do successful NFL teams typically have in common? A strong defense, a good offensive line, an effective and flexible system on offense, consistent special teams, and a knack for not making the big mistake. It doesn't matter how good a quarterback is if the offensive line can't protect him. A quarterback can only do so much when his defense allows 30+ points per game. A quarterback has no control over the kick or the return game. If a quarterback's skill set is at odds with the team's offensive system, he'll be limited in his overall effectiveness. On the flip side, when a quarterback has time in the pocket, has capable receivers, an efficient run game, a good defense, and solid special teams, his job becomes a whole lot easier, and even an "average" quarterback is bound to find success.

I bring this up because of the latest ridiculous contract of an NFL quarterback - this time it centers around Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford, who was just signed to a record-breaking 5-year extension worth $135 million (an average of $27 million per season). I've got nothing against Stafford. It's not like the guy is surrounded by stars, especially after Calvin Johnson retired. However, from  his rookie season in 2009 through last year, the Lions have gone a combined 51-58 with him behind center, as well as 0-3 in the playoffs. Against teams who finished with winning records, and this is not a typo, Stafford has led the Lions to a record of, get this, 5-46. No, Stafford doesn't deserve all of the blame, but those numbers are difficult to ignore, and it becomes increasingly more head-scratching as to how a team with such an atrocious record against quality clubs could be prompted to reward its leader with a record-breaking contract.

While many NFL "experts" are likely laughing at me as they read this, if history is any guide, with the load of money the Lions have invested in their quarterback, their record will begin to suffer (more so than usual) as a result. This is the part of the equation many analysts seem to ignore. If person A (the quarterback in this case) receives a significant increase in pay, the team will have to cut pay from a number of other positions, likely weakening the team at those spots in the process. Let's look at the most recent such examples of what I'm talking about, in chronological order:

3/4/13

- Joe Flacco was signed to a 6-year, $120.6 million extension.

- In the years before the extension ('08-'12), Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to a record of 54-26, and a playoff record of 9-4. 

- In the years following the extension ('13-'16), he led the Ravens to a record of 29-29, and a playoff record of 1-1.

- The team's winning percentage decreased from 67.5% to 50.0% in the regular season and from 69.2% to 50.0% in the postseason. Not only that, but while Baltimore made the playoffs all five years before they signed their quarterback to an extension (100.0%), they've made the postseason just once in the four years since the extension (25.0%)

6/4/14

- Colin Kaepernick was signed to a 6-year, $126.0 million extension.

- In the years before the extension ('11-'13), Kaepernick led the San Francisco 49ers to a record of 17-6, and a playoff record of 4-2.

- In the years following the extension ('14-'16), he led the Niners to a record of 11-24, and a playoff record of 0-0.

- The team's winning percentage decreased from 73.9% to 31.4% in the regular season, and from 66.7% to 0.0% in the postseason. Not only that, but while San Francisco made the playoffs all three years before they signed their quarterback to an extension (100.0%), they've yet to make the postseason in the three years since the extension (0.0%).

8/4/14

- Andy Dalton was signed to a 6-year, $115 million extension.

- In the years before the extension ('11-'13), Dalton led the Cincinnati Bengals to a record of 30-18, and a playoff record of 0-3

- In the years following the extension ('14-'16), he led the Bengals to a record of 26-17-2, and a playoff record of 0-1.

- The team's winning percentage decreased from 62.5% to 57.8% in the regular season, and stayed at 0.0% in the postseason. Not only that, but while Cincinnati made the playoffs all three years before they signed their quarterback to an extension (100.0%), they've made the playoffs two of three years since the extension (66.7%).

5/18/15

- Ryan Tannehill was signed to a 6-year, $96.0 million extension.

- In the years before the extension ('12-'14), Tannehill led the Miami Dolphins to a record of 23-25, and a playoff record of 0-0.

- In the years following the extension ('15-'16), he led the Dolphins to a record of 14-15, and a playoff record of 0-1.

- The team's winning percentage increased from 47.9% to 48.3% in the regular season, and stayed the same at 0.0% in the postseason. While Miami didn't make the playoffs in Tannehill's first three years (0.0%), they'd made the postseason once in the two years since he signed the extension (50.0%).

6/29/16

- Andrew Luck was signed to a 6-year, $140 million extension.

- In the years before the extension ('12-'15), Luck led the Indianapolis Colts to a record of 35-20, and a playoff record of 3-3.

- In the years following the extension, he led the Colts to a record of 8-7, and a playoff record of 0-0.

- The team's winning percentage decreased from 63.4% to 53.3%, and from 50.0% to 0.0% in the postseason. Not only that, but while Indianapolis made the playoffs in three of four seasons prior to signing their quarterback to an extension (75.0%), they didn't make the postseason in the one year since he signed it (0.0%).

So let's look at the overall numbers for these five before-mentioned quarterbacks: 

Records before signing the large extensions

Regular season: 159-95 (62.6%)

Postseason: 16-12 (57.1%)

Playoff appearances: 14 of 18 (77.8%)

Records after signing the large extensions

Regular season: 88-92 (48.8%)

Postseason: 1-3 (33.3%)

Playoff appearances: 4 of 13 (30.8%)

That's a decrease of 13.8% in regular season win percentage, 23.8% in postseason win percentage, and 47.0% in likelihood of reaching the playoffs. The quarterback may be the name and the face of a franchise, but it takes far more than a good quarterback to be consistently successful in the NFL, and it's about time teams started to realize that and spend accordingly.