From having beer poured on him, to blowing a kiss to a Packers fan who was flipping him the bird after last year's win there to entering this year's game at Lambeau Field with a "GreenBay Sucks" hoodie on, Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown full embraces his team's rivalry with the Green Bay Packers. With what we've learned about the man over the years, it's no surprise.
On the Netflix show "Receiver", St. Brown revealed he played with a left oblique muscle that was torn "completely off the bone" against the Packers in Week 4 last season. It was a short week before a Thursday night, and the "Sun God" added that he did whatever he had to in order to play.
"It’s too late for me not to play. The game plan’s in,” St. Brown said on "Receiver". “Painkillers is something that I really don’t like to take unless... unless it’s the Packers.”
Amon-Ra St. Brown is ready to root for the Packers this week
We know the scenario this week. If the Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and the Lions beat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, the Lions will clinch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
We also know, as expected, the Lions won't be treating the game against the 49ers any differently if the Vikings win. For his part, St. Brown has a bit of revenge on his mind going against San Francisco after last year's loss in the NFC Championship Game.
If the Vikings beat the Packers on Sunday, the NFC's top seed and the NFC North title will be on the line when the Vikings visit Ford Field in Week 18. Ideally it won't come to that, with the Packers winning Sunday and the Lions following suit Monday night. But it's not totally in the Lions' hands this week.
On Thursday, St. Brown was asked if rooting for the Packers will be tough.
"Not really. I want them to win," St. Brown said. "I think we all do, so it’ll be – they’re both in the division so it’ll be easy to root for the Packers."
As the Lions (and Lions fans) begrudgingly become Packers' fans this weekend, St. Brown will briefly set aside his role as a lead instigator of the rivalry.