Dominic Raiola was not happy about the New England Patriots running up the score in a 34-6 win on Sunday, so he retaliated by committing a dirty play.
The longtime Lions center dove at Zach Moore’s knees on the last play of the game — a kneel down by Matt Stafford — and said he did it as retribution.
“I cut him,” Raiola said after the game via the Detroit Free Press. “We took a knee, so I cut the nose (tackle). They went for six (a touchdown). They went for a touchdown at 2 minutes. They could have took three knees and the game could have been over. It’s football. He wants to keep playing football, let’s play football. Not a big deal. It’s football.”
The Pats came out of the two-minute warning and lined up for a field goal, but they received a first down thanks to a penalty. The Lions had no timeouts, so New England could have just taken three knees and ended the game. Instead, they scored a TD to pour it on.
Vince Wilfork, who usually plays defensive tackle for the Pats, called Raiola’s actions “stupid.”
“I just heard what happened, but that was stupid. I didn’t see it, but from what I heard,” Wilfork said via The Boston Herald. You’re taking a knee. They’d get mad if we were just (trying) to blow up one of their players, so I mean, it’s just uncalled for. But at the same time, you always have to protect yourself, so you always have to play with your neck on a swivel and being alert for 60 minutes. And it came down to it today on a bonehead play like that, but luckily no one got hurt and we can move on.”
