Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta isn't mincing words -- he's one of the best players in the league at his position and would like to be paid as such.
"I think the combination of getting your heartstrings twisted as well as the violent sport that we play, it sucks," LaPorta said in an appearance on Barstool Sports' Pardon My Take on Tuesday. "It's disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt... I break my (expletive) back for the team, and then I'm going out there this year, and I'm balling, and maybe they're just not showing the love."
It's probably not all that surprising to hear that those comments went viral, which led to this interesting back-and-forth with local reporters on Friday, as shared by The Athletic's Colton Pouncy:
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Question: "Do you care to comment on how your your comments on 'Pardon My Take' were perceived, both by fan base and others?"
Answer: "Yeah, I feel bad if there was any sort of distraction to the team or my teammates or the coaches, but I think I think there was maybe a bit of a misconception with -- I guess, like my intentions are, I want to play for this team. I give everything I have. My teammates do as well. They all love me, respect me, and support me, and they want to see me be happy and compensated."
Question: "Can you just explain your frustration?"
Answer: "... I guess I wouldn't expect anybody else to really even care. But emotionally, for me and my family, like it's an important thing for us. We want to have stability. Like we're excited in the coming months. Like we're gonna have our first kid. Me and my wife. We're gonna welcome our baby girl into the world in Metro Detroit. You know, we want to be here with the Lions. And I guess I'm getting emotional about it. But in the grand scheme of things, it's really a business. And you have to respect what the front office is doing because they're the ones calling the shots. They're the ones that brought me in. It's my first team. They've been nothing but supportive of me in my career.
Question: "How you been able to compartmentalize the football aspect from the business?
Answer: "I guess you learn it early in your career that you're being employed and you're being compensated to do good work for this team, and if you're not doing good work, you're not going to be here... I don't know if I regret it. I just don't expect other people to understand, and we're very blessed. Like I'm getting paid millions of dollars this year, so you have to take it with a grain of salt. It's coming from a stance of like I want security for me and my family, but also when I reflect on other people in the league, I feel like I'm doing just as good of a job, if not better, and I want to be paid like those guys."
LaPorta, who is playing on the final season of his rookie contract and set to become a free agent, has been less diplomatic as the stalemate progresses -- breaking off all talks with the organization earlier this month, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
LaPorta has been superb on the field despite being dissatisfied off the field, putting up 27 receptions for 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season -- putting him on track to set career highs in all three categories -- but the distraction his comments have caused is starting to get to those within the building.
“I’ve answered this I don’t know how many times,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “I said I didn’t want it to be a distraction, and now it’s becoming one, because you keep asking these things. That’s why!”
The Lions have committed more than $591 million to quarterback Jared Goff, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and will soon need to make a decision on whether or not they'd like to add to the ledger.