Amped up. Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions’ coach, has asserted that he has recovered from the terrible loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Dan Campbell’s excitement has been on full display since he was hired as coach of the Detroit Lions, famously proclaiming at his first news conference nearly three years ago that his teams will kick opponents in the teeth and bite their kneecaps.
Campbell has roared in excitement and grieved in grief following successes and defeats.
On Monday, he sounded and appeared more enthusiastic than ever before.
“I’m prepared to go; I’ve got my anger under control,” Campbell proclaimed.
As the squad prepared for the regular season finale, Campbell said that he and the players had moved on 36 hours after a contentious decision in Dallas lost them a shot at the NFC title.
“I’m so pumped up right now,” Campbell shouted. I woke up. We are going ahead because I am prepared.
Campbell had no intention of reflecting at his weekly press conference.
The two-minute, ten-second opening statement he delivered did not include offensive tackle Taylor Decker’s 2-point conversion catch against the Cowboys, which was overturned.
Decker was declared ineligible to play receiver because, according to officials, offensive linemen Dan Skipper and Penei Sewell both reported to referee Brad Allen as eligible prior to the critical play.
While Decker told Dallas reporters that he had reported as qualified, Skipper stated that he had stayed silent throughout the proceedings.
Officials may have been perplexed if Campbell stated he was unaware that Skipper had taken the numbers off his shirt, leading them to suspect Skipper was attempting to hide his eligibility.
The generally open and helpful coach became agitated by the media’ inquiries regarding the penalty.
He was confused as to why they wanted to discuss the issue.
According to Campbell, the NFL has yet to react to the team’s requests over the call. He also noted that the team’s president, Rod Wood, is in charge of communicating with the league.
By the time you all questioned me, I had already gone on. Campbell declared. “I just don’t want to deal with it. Everything is being handled by Rod, guy. He has it, and I don’t want to deal with it. I am done. I’m good. I simply want to go and be prepared for Minnesota, and our players will be ready to play.”
Wood was not available to reporters on Monday, and the NFL has not commented on the call.
The NFC North champion Lions (11-5) had less at stake Sunday at home against the division-rival Minnesota Vikings (7-9) after losing by one point in Dallas. However, Campbell stated that he has no plans to rest injured players for the playoffs.
“That’s the plan right now,” he said.
Detroit has the opportunity to improve their playoff seeding with a win. The Detroit Lions are currently ranked third in the NFC.
Campbell said banged-up rookie tight end Sam LaPorta is “fine” and receiver Jameson Williams left the game against the Cowboys with an ankle injury, which was not serious.
He’s hoping defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who returned from a torn pectoral muscle in the season-opening win against Kansas City, will play against the Vikings, as will defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who has been out for a month due to knee surgery.
Campbell did not want to discuss the call against the Cowboys, but he believes it was a blessing.
“We were in a tight game; we had a chance to win it, but we weren’t able to and so now you know what that’s like,” he added. “You understand how that feels, and you cannot pass up that opportunity. You never know when the play will be made—it might be in the first quarter, second quarter, or just before halftime—so that’s why.”
