The Dan Campbell era is off to an explosive start in Detroit with the Lions.
Campbell gave an emphatic introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Lions, promising to change the culture and change the perception of the Lions as a downtrodden franchise. He also came equipped with a number of interesting soundbites.
The former New Orleans Saints tight end said the Lions would take on the hard-nosed identity of the city they represent. But he did so using a perplexing and hilarious amount of metaphors to physical combat.
Sounds just as much like a street fight or MMA brawl as a football game.
That was hardly the only quote of note, however. Campbell made another humorous allusion to physical play:
“When you come in here, you're going to get beat up. I'm talking about the team,” Dan Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “Not the city. Tourists are welcome.”
Campbell also joked he landed the job because he told his agent to convince Lions brass he was Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell:
“I told my agent Rick Smith, make sure they think I'm Matt Campbell,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said, via ESPN's Field Yates. “I think that's how this has really worked out for me.”
Campbell and newly-hired general manager Brad Holmes have plenty of work to do to turn the Lions into winners.
Detroit ranked dead-last in scoring defense and yards allowed last season. There are also questions as to Matt Stafford's future under center.
However, judging by the press conference, Campbell appears prepared to meet the challenges head-on.