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Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, shown accepting an award after a big game on Thanksgiving, has just one year left on his deal. But Detroit wants him back for the long haul.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- With so much of his time pored into preparing for the start of the NFL combine this week and the start of free agency next week, Bob Quinn hasn't had much time for talking with Matthew Stafford about an extension.

But he will.

Quinn confirmed he hopes to lock up the quarterback for the long term, and expects those talks to begin occurring later this offseason.

Stafford has just one year left on his current deal.

"We have not talked to Matthew and his representatives. I think that's something that eventually we will get to. We'll see how that goes," Quinn said Wednesday at the combine in Indianapolis W"e're kind of taking it one step at a time with the current free-agent class, the current draft class. I mean, these things don't usually happen in April or May. That's not a realistic timeline for an extension for a quarterback. But that's something we do have on the agenda, and we'll hopefully be able to have some discussions."

Stafford's future has been debated among fans, who have been split over a quarterback with a big arm and some gaudy numbers, but scant postseason success. Quinn, though, has offered nothing but full-throated support for the eight-year quarterback since arriving in Detroit, and Stafford rewarded him with a historic season.

He led eight fourth-quarter comebacks, which is an NFL record, to power Detroit's push for the postseason. He also finished with the second-best completion percentage of his career (65.3) and the fewest picks (10), even though he played the final month with a finger injury on his throwing hand.

With so many teams struggling with wobbly quarterback play, Quinn is eager to lock in Stafford long term.

"It's a priority," he said, "but it takes two sides to do a deal. I think that's something we'll definitely talk about. I'm not making any promises one way or another, but I've always said since I've gotten here that I think Matthew's a good quarterback, and I'd like to have him here long term."