A month ago, ProFootballWeekly.com. ran a story where an anonymous GM in the NFL stated that the Lions’ problems were beyond the special teams which was very much a problem for the team earlier on in the season.
“The one thing that is clear – they are not as close as people have tried to make it seem. They are a one-dimensional offensive team that if the quarterback (Matthew Stafford) is not on, people are figuring it out. If you take (WR Calvin) Johnson out of the game (one TD through four games, compared to eight TDs at the same stage last season), who else do they have that can beat you?”
And unsurprisingly, Lions center Dominic Raiola sounded off saying that the GM was a coward for not revealing his name.
Earlier on in the week, ProFootballWeekly.com ran another story where that same anonymous GM called out the veteran Lions center:
“I saw (Lions C) Dominic Raiola called me out, asking who the aimless, anonymous GM is who criticized the great Lions. ‘Who is this person?’ It’s the guy who rejects you every time he watches your tape and thinks you are a complete fraud. It’s the guy who didn’t think you could play when you came out of college and still doesn’t think you can play now. … If he spent as much time working the other muscles in his body as he does his jaw, he might have had the chance to be an average backup. You can put that in print.”
Since the article was posted, ProFootballWeekly.com editor Hub Arkush sent an email apology to the Lions for its posting:
“You know what? You’re right and I hope you will accept my apologies. As the Publisher and Editor here this was totally my responsibility and I failed Pro Football Weekly, my staff and our readers.
“The Audibles section has been a thorn in my side for some time as I personally have several issues with it, but it is also one of the most popular features we run and the majority of our readers love it so I find myself stuck between a rock and a hard place. I can absolutely guarantee you every word in it comes from over – the – top credible sources but the restriction on getting such gritty, truth – off – the – bone commentary and analysis is if our sources agreed to be quoted most could lose their jobs. Do we give our readers this great, insiders’ analysis and commentary with our guarantee of the quality of the sources, or do we give you none of it because it is anonymous? I suspect you love it when it’s done right and not about your team.
“This was not done right. The original commentary on the Lions was fair and reasonable, as was Raiola’s reaction. But when Raiola called our critic out and we allowed him/her to take a second, personal and yet still anonymous shot at Raiola, that was over the line. You have my promise, we will do better. I’ve blind copied Martin Mayhew, Bill Keenist and Matt Barnhart, the Lions Director of Media Operations so that they can see my apology and in the hopes they will share it with Raiola and let him know that I would like the chance to apologize to him personally as well. I believe we get it right here 99% of the time but when you’re wrong, you’re wrong and I really appreciate you calling it to my attention. You are free to share this e – mail with whoever you like. Thank you, and thanks for reading PFW and taking the time to comment.”
Well… Dominic Raiola isn’t having any of it. Not from the anonymous GM who by all account is a coward at this point for not revealing himself (it’s even a REAL GM) or Mr. Arkush of ProFootballWeekly.com.
“I’m not going to spend too much time on this because we’ve got a big game this week,” Raiola said. “All I’ve got to say is to two people – whoever talked [crap], and the person who wrote it. Coward. Gutless. Balls-less. They’ve got no name. Anonymous. All I’ve got to say is bleep you. That’s it. Now we move on to Minnesota. That’s all I’ve got. If I spent any more time on it, that’s what they want. Bleep him, and bleep both of them.”
Raiola also didn’t name name’s on who he thought was the anonymous GM but did say it was fishy that the last time the comments came out where the week of their first meeting with the Minnesota Vikings and again this week before the Lions play the Vikings.
Minnesota’s GM is Rick Spielman, the older brother of former Lions linebacker Chris Spielman.
h/t: ProFootballWeekly.com, WXYT, ProFootballTalk.com, CBS Detroit