As the Detroit Lions move toward the end of their notable run of big second contracts for drafted players, things have apparently reached an impasse with tight end Sam LaPorta. Some may even call it a stalemate, which may push the team to franchise tag him.
As expected, LaPorta hasn't been inclined to say much about his contract situation to reporters. But based on his appearance on the Wednesday episode of the "Pardon My Take" podcast, he appears to have some pent-up frustration.
"I think the combination of like, getting your heartstrings twisted, as well as the violent sport that we play, you know, it sucks, and it's disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt. You know, like last year, whatever it was, Week 9, Week 10, you know, I break my f****** back for the team, and them I'm going out there this year and I'm balling and maybe they're just not showing the love," LaPorta said.
"So it sucks. I'm going to continue to be a pro. And I dish a lot of that to my agent and he handles that great.... And in three months, if I don't get to wear the Honolulu Blue and play for the Lions anymore, it's going to be all good. I'll go get paid somewhere else. So whatever."
Wow. LaPorta suffered a herniated disc in his back in Week 10 last season against the Washington Commanders. His recovery from that significant injury seemingly went without a hitch, and he has performed well this season. Thus far he is making his case for a contract extension, and we saw what the Lions' offense looked like without him when he was out.
Sam LaPorta's harsh contract sentiment is likely not news to Dan Campbell
Back in July of 2024, as he talked to reporters about a freshly agreed to contract extension, the now-departed Taylor Decker said he had talked to head coach Dan Campbell about his situation as he openly wondered about his contract situation.
Campbell was asked about that the next day.
"Look I've told those guys from Day 1...if something like that is bothering you...Brad and myself, you can come talk to us and we will...we will tell you what our mindset is, where we're at, what we're thinkin', we're not gonna shy away from that. We told everybody that...yeah, Decker came up in the spring and we talked about it, that was on his mind."
Before airing some laundry in the very casual setting of that particular podcast, has LaPorta taken his contract concerns to at least Campbell, if not Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes? It feels likely he has at least talked to Campbell about the situation, as the head coach surely maintains an open-door policy with players to voice any concerns they have.
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How that conversation went, if it has happened, is a different thing. Maybe Campbell plainly said a contract extension is being postponed, and no player wants to hear that when they feel like they have held up their end of the bargain.
When we're talking the kind of money LaPorta is lined up to get, one way or the other whenever he gets it, he probably should have chosen his words better in a casual setting that allowed him to vent. Fans won't love what he said.
Campbell will surely be asked about LaPorta's comments the next time he talks to the media, and he probably won't say a whole lot. But it's very likely he'll say he's well aware of LaPorta's thoughts and concerns regarding the contract situation, because it's also very likely he has heard them right from the proverbial horse's mouth.
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