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LaPorta didn’t walk back his frustration Friday, but he did explain where it comes from — and made one thing very clear about his future with the Lions.
Oct 11, 2026; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mark J. Rebilas
Hopefully this is the last time we have to write about Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and his comments on Pardon My Take earlier this week. LaPorta finally addressed his contract situation with reporters on Friday. His explanation made a lot more sense than the original soundbite did.
In case you missed it, here is what LaPorta said on the show:
“I think the combination of getting your heartstrings twisted as well as the violent sport we play, it sucks. It’s disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt. Like last year, whatever it was, Week 9, Week 10, I break my fucking back for this team, and then I’m going out there this year and I’m balling, and maybe they’re just not showing the love. So I’m going to continue to do my thing and ball out, and in three months, if I don’t get to wear Honolulu Blue and play for the Lions anymore, it’s going to be all good. I’ll go get paid somewhere else, so whatever.”
That was jarring for Lions fans to hear. It also raised a fair question about whether all of this would turn into a distraction in the middle of the season.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said in his press conference Friday morning that the team didn’t view the situation as a distraction. He added that LaPorta didn’t see it as one either. Still, some fans were upset when LaPorta wasn’t available to reporters on Thursday, and a lot of people took that as him hiding.
That comes from a misunderstanding of how the locker room works. I’ve been in the locker room at the team’s training facility in Allen Park, and you’re not going to see everybody every time you walk in. For example, I barely remember seeing Matthew Stafford in there. Ford Field is a different story because you’ll usually see those guys after games. At Allen Park, you don’t always get access to every player.
I don’t know why LaPorta wasn’t around Thursday. It doesn’t really matter, though. He was there Friday, and we finally got his side of the story. Here’s what he had to say:
“I feel bad if there was any sort of distraction to the team, my teammates, or the coaches, but I think there was maybe a bit of a misconception with my intentions. 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. That’s pretty simple.”
LaPorta understands how the comments landed with the team and the coaching staff. He also made it clear that he doesn’t regret saying them.
LaPorta’s explanation hits home
The common reaction to this kind of thing outside of sports is easy to predict. These guys make millions of dollars, so what are they complaining about? If you want more, you’re a diva. Plenty of Lions fans said right away that they didn’t want LaPorta in Detroit anymore. I’ve seen the same reaction with Dylan Larkin and with Jalen Duren, and now we’re here again.
That’s why I thought LaPorta’s explanation was one of the best answers I’ve heard to this kind of criticism. It just made a lot of sense to me:
“I guess I wouldn’t expect anybody else to really even care, but emotionally, for me and my family, it’s an important thing for us. We want to have stability. We’re excited in the coming months. We’re going to have our first kid, me and my wife. We’re going to welcome our baby girl into the world in Metro Detroit. 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. 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.”
He went on to say he understand how it looks on the outside.
“Sure. I don’t know if I regret it. I just don’t expect other people to understand. 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.”
Will the Lions get a deal done with LaPorta?
I’ll say the same thing I’ve said many times before. I don’t believe LaPorta is going anywhere. I think he’s a Lion for life, and I think Detroit gets this deal done.
Now that he has explained himself, I understand what he’s asking for. He would probably like some more guarantees. The Lions are probably hesitant to hand those out after the back injury. They just need to find the right spot in the middle.
Do I think LaPorta went about this the right way? No, I don’t. I’ve never thought going on a show and calling out your team was a good way to handle your business, and I fault him for what he did on Pardon My Take.
That being said, I fully understand what he wants. He wants to stay in Detroit. He probably doesn’t want to uproot his life when he’s about to have his first child. Even if you already have millions of dollars, you want to know you’re set up in this area with this team. I don’t blame him for that at all.
We’ve seen far worse contract situations get solved. I don’t think LaPorta ever hits free agency. We’ll see where it goes, but I think it’s going to be OK.
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