Matthew Stafford is close to proving the Los Angeles Rams made the right choice in trading for him in a blockbuster deal that sent back Jared Goff and first-round picks to the Detroit Lions.
Stafford has elevated his play during the 2021 playoffs with how he has commanded the offense in clutch moments, leading game-winning drives in the NFC Divisional and Championship rounds. Los Angeles enters Super Bowl LVI as the favorites against the Cincinnati Bengals, and while Stafford will need to try and outpace Joe Burrow, the key to the game lies up front.
One player who will have a role in trying to slow down Burrow is A’Shawn Robinson, who has played an integral role along the defensive line. Like Stafford, Robinson is another former Lion looking to make his mark and he admitted he has always felt slighted dating back to his time in Detroit, via Kyle Meinke of mlive.com:
“I always feel disrespected. I never feel respected. That’s just part of my mindset, you know? Never want anything given, like that everything in my life has been earned. So I appreciate that God’s given me an opportunity to go out there and really earn everything that I want.
“So to have this (Super Bowl run), it’s good. But the job isn’t done. It doesn’t matter until the job is done. To get the respect I want, you got to finish the job.”
Robinson does not get much fanfare or attention considering he plays next to players like Aaron Donald, Leonard Floyd, and Von Miller, but he has been a huge part of their run defense that ranks among the best in the league.
While the defensive tackle may feel disrespected, he will have an opportunity to rightfully claim what is his when Super Bowl LVI kicks off on Sunday.
