Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is facing criticisms for being a dirty NFL player.
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00:00 Kirby Joseph and the Lions are facing some criticism this week for that so-called dirty play against Tyler Higby and the LA Rams on Sunday, John.
00:08 Do you think there really is some validity to this criticism about Joseph and that tackle against Higby on Sunday?
00:15 Yeah, Vito, look. It's real interesting because Dan Campbell set the tone the moment he stepped foot at the podium to introduce himself.
00:23 Recall the knee-biting speech, the one that has been replayed over and over and over. We're going to bite kneecaps. We're going to go out there and play physical.
00:31 If you knock us down, we're going to get back up again and bite your kneecaps. And you recognize early in the year, if you followed all Lions all year,
00:38 the theme and what Aaron Glenn wants in his defense is violence. Now, within the letter of the law, and you look at how the National Football League has instructed players to tackle,
00:50 several of the Lions have come to the defense of Kirby Joseph. He upended Tyler Higby and unfortunately Higby suffered a significant injury and had to leave the game and could not return.
01:03 And other teams, other opponents have started to notice that Kirby Joseph tends to shoot in at people's legs.
01:10 But it's so challenging nowadays in regards to the fact that you can't lower your helmet and make contact at all in the head and neck region.
01:18 It is nearly impossible to line up and target another opponent. So, Kirby Joseph, by the letter of the law, this is how he is supposed to tackle.
01:27 And Alex Ancelone, really when Kirby Joseph said, "Hey, I'm not intentionally trying to hurt people," Alex Ancelone quickly came to his defense and said,
01:35 "You don't need to address this. This is how the league has instructed us to tackle."
01:39 CJ Garner Johnson even took notice and indicated that Matthew Stafford was to blame for throwing the football in a position where it would end up having a significant hit.
01:50 Tom Brady, CJ Garner Johnson referenced that, "Hey, if you don't want your guys getting hurt, don't put the football in that position to harm your primary targets."
01:59 So, Vito, look, I don't think the Lions are a dirty football team. Do they play a physical brand of football?
02:05 Are they looking to deliver big hits and to wear down opponents? Absolutely.
02:09 But, Vito, it's no secret, this was said on day one by Dan Campbell. He wants a tough, physical, gritty football team.
02:18 And, look, Vito, this is not flag football. The Detroit Lions are playing tackle football in a violent sport.
02:24 Are they dirty? No. Are they a tough, gritty, really looking for opportunities to deliver big hits and to establish their dominance? Absolutely.
02:35 But it's usually within the letter of the law.
02:37 And at the end of the day, that Joseph hit on Higby was clean, based on the rules in the NFL rulebook.
02:41 John, thanks for all the time.
02:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]