ALLEN PARK -- The idea that Matthew Stafford was going to sign an extension with the Detroit Lions and that it would make him the highest-paid player in NFL history was all more of a question of when than if.
The "when" referred to the process of ironing out details and language within the deal so that it could please both Stafford and the Lions, a team willing to pay a high-dollar quarterback but that is also trying to build a team around him.
Those details are now public, and it appears like the Lions had exactly that priority in mind with respect to the upcoming season.