Dan Patrick nearly stumped Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford on his show Thursday morning by asking him what would come first: Winning a Super Bowl ring or giving his girlfriend an engagement ring

“Hopefully a Super Bowl ring,’’ said the 23-year-old Stafford who might have some explaining to do to his girlfriend.

Stafford is in Indianapolis with many NFL top players for Super Bowl activities. He’ll be coaching in the Celebrity Beach Bowl on Saturday afternoon against Cam Newton’s team. Barry Sanders will also be involved as will Kurt Warner and Joe Montana.

Patrick didn’t stump him when asked about how close the Lions are to winning it all. Patrick said now that the Lions have made it to the playoffs they expect them back next year.

“I think we’re real close, I think we’re right there. Obviously, with free agency and the draft it’s always exciting to see who your new teammates are going to be. We’re as excited as anybody. I think our team is poised and ready to make that next step,’’ Stafford said.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees was in the waiting room — actually waiting gym — along with Stafford who had nothing but praise for the quarterback who knocked the his Lions out of the playoffs.

“I’m happy for him he’s a great guy. He’s a fellow Texan, I’m happy for him, happy for his career. Obviously I would’ve liked to win the game we played in. I have a lot of respect for him. He does some unbelievable stuff on the field and he’s a great guy off of it,’’ Stafford said.

He also had praise for the Saints’ offense, said it was a great offense for a quarterback to run and if he had to choose ... “Aside from the one I run in Detroit, probably the one he’s running,’’ Stafford said.

We’ve been over this before, but not sure I’ve heard this story. Stafford’s high school team won the state championship 59-0 his senior year. He said he knew he had something special early on in high school.

“My sophomore year, first game of the year I was going to split time with this other quarterback and the first quarter he started the game, I came in the second quarter and played well and ended up finishing the game out. Got offered by SMU the next day. I was like, ‘OK now maybe I’ll be OK,’’ Stafford said.

Wednesday was national signing day and Stafford remembers his because he was already enrolled — or as he said enlisted — at Georgia. That was his plan because he wanted to play his senior season without being distracted.

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