Sam LaPorta just said what he’s been feeling about the Lions, and Detroit should probably take it seriously, because it is not good at all
LaPorta had mostly stayed quiet after extension talks stalled. That changed this week when he openly questioned whether Detroit was “showing the love” and acknowledged he could get paid somewhere else.
A couple of weeks ago, ESPN reported that contract talks between Sam LaPorta and the Detroit Lions had broken off. There was some back and forth about what that was supposed to mean for the Lions tight end and his future in Detroit.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell tried to cool things down at the time.
“There are always going to be two sides, and you work through those things. And just because there’s a report of that doesn’t mean that’s some big issue, big deal. I love LaPorta, we love LaPorta, he’s a heck of a football player, and I thought he played his best game the other day. His work ethic, his production speaks for itself,” Campbell said.
That felt like the end of it. LaPorta had mostly stayed quiet. Then he went on the Pardon My Take podcast this week and made his feelings known.
“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,” LaPorta said.
Then he took it a step further.
“So I’m going to continue to do my thing and ball out, 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,” LaPorta said.
This isn’t the Jahmyr Gibbs situation
This is the first time we’ve heard something like this from a Lions player. For the most part, Detroit has been a team that takes care of its guys, and takes care of them quickly.
Some people might be tempted to bring up the Jahmyr Gibbs situation here. That’s a totally different story. While Gibbs was trying to get his extension done, the Falcons were working on Bijan Robinson’s extension at the same time. It’s rare to see two of the league’s best players at the same position going for new deals at the exact same moment.
So that was less about the Lions not wanting to pay Gibbs and more about Detroit and Atlanta feeling each other out. The Falcons eventually went first, and the Lions got their deal done with Gibbs days later.
You could point to Alex Anzalone from last year, too. But that’s different as well. Anzalone was one of the oldest players on the roster, and the Lions showed a clear desire to get younger. He went off to Tampa Bay, and he hasn’t played very well there. Detroit made the right call not to extend him, and the team still got him a little more money.
With LaPorta, I don’t know what’s happening.
LaPorta is backing up his words on the field
From the outside, you could argue the Lions want to make sure that back holds up before they commit. But five weeks into the season, LaPorta is balling. He said it himself, and he’s not lying. He’s playing very well, and he’s one of the best tight ends in the league right now.
That makes you wonder if this is headed for a bad breakup. LaPorta is a free agent after this season. If the Lions can’t get something settled before then, he can go do whatever he wants.
Is this another T.J. Hockenson situation? Could the Lions trade LaPorta?
I don’t think they will, and I think it would be crazy to do it. The way this offense is working, why would you even think about it? Maybe a sign-and-trade scenario comes up in the offseason. I don’t know. But you can’t move him at the deadline unless you’re getting back a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro along with some picks. If you could land one of the best cornerbacks in the league, then okay, I could see it. It’s just hard to see that coming.
The price tag is going up
The Lions have to get him paid, and he’s not going to be cheap. The way he’s playing, LaPorta is very likely going to be the first tight end to break the $20 million-per-year mark, whether it’s with the Lions or another team.
A bunch of guys have tried. Trey McBride couldn’t break it. George Kittle couldn’t break it. LaPorta makes the most sense to be the one who does, because by the end of the year, he’s going to be one of the best tight ends in football.
If I’m Detroit, I take this seriously. This is a player you don’t want to lose. You could look at it through the Hockenson lens and say you’ll just find another tight end. The draft has been supplying good ones fairly consistently the last few years. But I think that’s a lot harder than it seems.
I would get this done before the end of the year if I were the Lions. If LaPorta is talking like this, there’s a good chance he’s gone in free agency.
That being said, we’ve seen much worse situations get solved in this league. I don’t think this is a death knell for LaPorta and the Lions. But you can tell he’s upset, and that’s new territory for this front office. We’ll see where it goes.
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