[Bianchi] Dan Campbell on Taylor Decker: “Listen, Deck’s a stud. He gave a lot for a long time through three regimes and he’s forever grateful. He’ll always be a Lion and it’ll always be his home at some point so he’ll be missed.”

14 comments

1. He’s not wrong.

2. Old aged King Lion is left to die 😢

3. In the end, you just can’t rely on a Buckeye.

4. Sadly, it’s a business first and a brotherhood second. I have no doubt that Dan loves his guys past and present.

5. If Decker got mad enough to let that article be published I find it hard to believe that Dan who is a players coach didn’t hear/know he was upset. Maybe he was giving the flames a little time to cool before reaching out.

   I dunno probably just trying to make the coach look better here because he seems to care.

6. He wanted out

   He thought he could get more money

   They let him out

   Dude, you got what you wanted

7. Campbell said he hasn’t reached out to Decker yet, but he will. Confirms what Decker said to Justin Rogers.

8. Never know. there’s still a chance he might be back, at a lower cost

9. Quotes from Dan per Yahoo Sports. Here’s where he addresses him not reaching out to Deck

   “Campbell made it clear that while the decision to move on from Decker was difficult, it ultimately came down to roster construction and financial flexibility.

   “I mean, with Decker’s (savings) alone, we got three players that we feel like they’re gonna help us that we wouldn’t have got,” Campbell said via the Detroit News “But listen, Deck’s a stud. He gave a lot for a long time through three regimes and he’s forever grateful. He’ll always be a Lion and it’ll always be his home at some point so he’ll be missed like all of those guys will be missed.”

   “I’m going to give nothing but flowers to Deck for everything he did for us and what he did for this organization. Look, I’m sure as hell not going to call him right now, not after all this article came out. But I’ll call him,” Campbell said. “I’m going to call him in time. But I want him to know it’s real and it’s a real phone call. Man, we appreciate everything he did.”

10. Sad that we released him but it was the right decision, unfortunately. Great guy, great player. Hope he signs with some outside the division for one last ride and retires a Lion.

11. Class from Campbell. I love that we have people I respect so much

12. What am I missing? Why is decker complaining about no one texting/calling him after he asked to be released? What conversation needs to be had at this time?

13. Decker is a whiny drama buckeye bitch boy. Glad he’s gone.

14. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it’s business. Decker sacrificed so much for the Lions. He beat the hell out of his body to the point of chronic pain and injury, and unfortunately that will likely never get better. However, the organization also has to look out for what they need to get where we all want the team to go. It was painfully obvious this past season that Deck had regressed a bit, even if it was just the plaguing injury that he fought through every game. I honestly thought he was going to retire once the season was done, but oftentimes the mind is willing while the body cannot sustain. He will always be a warrior in my eyes and I love that he played the majority of his career here. I wish the team could have gotten him and so many others the ring they deserve. We will always remember Decker fondly, but unfortunately the mind wants what the body probably just can’t physically do. He protected the backside extremely well for YEARS. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about. As with most players in the NFL, it all comes down to timing, coaching and circumstance as to whether they get where they want to go. I want only the best for him and hope he gets to experience one more season starting on a team. Thank you, Taylor, for practically a lifetime of sacrifice for Detroit and your family.