Prior to the Detroit Lions’ Week 3 “Monday Night Football” game against the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on the network’s pregame show that the Lions had contacted the league about how teams were playing against Aidan Hutchinson. Their complaint, per Schefter, was that opponents were going low against Hutchinson, who had suffered a fractured tibia/fibula last year. While these cut blocks are not illegal, Schefter said the Lions wanted the league to keep an eye on it.
“The Detroit Lions have taken notice, and they’ve asked the league office to monitor the plays against Aidan Hutchinson,” Schefter said, via Sports Illustrated. “Not that that will protect him out there, but clearly people have noticed some of the plays, and the Lions want the league office to notice as well.”
On Wednesday, Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked about these allegations on Wednesday, but before the reporter could finish his question, Campbell interrupted.
“That’s bogus,” Campbell said. “That’s a bogus report. I don’t know where that came from. Nobody from here ever did that. That’s bull […] The game is played a certain way, that’s the way it goes. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing or (what) somebody else is doing to our guys. We know that, and we play accordingly.”
Campbell praised Hutchinson’s efforts this season, as he continues to draw more attention from opposing teams.
“He’s in that rare world of you don’t get the easy way out, man,” Campbell said. “He’s gotta beat the nudges, he’s gotta beat the (running) back chip then the tackle’s on him or he’s gotta beat the nudge. Sometimes the back, the tackle, and the slides coming to him with a guard, also. Sometimes you have to beat three, sometimes four, but if that’s the case somebody else is winning. They’ve got to win.
“So, what he does is not easy, and I go back to this: he’s a complete football player. He does it all, and he’s disruptive, he’s violent, he’s high motor, he’s crafty, he’s explosive, he’s tough, he’s competitive, and he does it all.”
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