Don’t get into a fight with Dan Campbell.
The new head coach of the Detroit Lions wasn’t short on incredible soundbites Thursday during his introductory news conference. It’s commonplace for new coaches to “win the press conference,” but Campbell’s was more like a dominating shutout that had fans on social media ready to run through a wall.
The best of the best should be heeded as a safety warning.
“This team is going to take on the identity of this city – and this city has been down and it found a way to get up and overcome adversity,” Campbell said. “We’re going to kick you in the teeth. When you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you. When you knock us down, we’re going to get up, and on the way up we are going to bite a kneecap off and we’re going to stand up.
“It’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. On the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap and we’re going to get up. Then it’s going to take three shots to get us down. And when we do, we’re going to take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality.”
For Giants fans, Campbell and his words should sound familiar. He is a former Giants draft pick and tight end (1999-2002) and his idea of a team taking on the identity of its city were words spoken by Giants coach Joe Judge at his introductory news conference last January.
Campbell is the Lions’ 11th different head coach (including interims) since last winning a playoff game in 1991.
“This place has been kicked, it’s been battered, it’s been bruised,” Campbell said. “I can sit up here and give you coachspeak all day long: We’re going to win this many games. None of that matters, and you guys don’t want to hear it anyway. You’ve had enough of that s–t. Excuse my language.”