Coach Jim Schwartz made it clear about the involvement of ownership in the decision to start rookie Matthew Stafford over veteran Daunte Culpepper. “Ownership has input in everything. Mr. Ford was very clear from the time I was hired. He demanded and expected that every decision I made I would do what I thought was best for this football team,’’ Schwartz said.

 He thinks the inexperienced Stafford gives them the best chance to win.

 It did not appear there was any pressure to start Stafford to boost ticket sales. All along Lions management has made clear that they wanted the best quarterback to start and they also wanted what was best for Stafford. Of course, with Stafford starting it couldn’t hurt ticket sales. But that does not in any way seem to have been the motivation for the move.  — PAULA PASCHE