Lions' DeAndre Levy proud of breaking 'dirtbag' Joe Paterno's leg

Levy called the incident "my proudest moment in college."

Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy says he is proud of breaking former Penn State coach Joe Paterno's leg.

Levy played his college ball at Wisconsin, and the Badgers were playing a home game against the Nittany Lions on Nov. 4, 2006 when Paterno, then 79 years old, broke his left leg and tore a knee ligament when two players ran into him on the sideline.

One of those players was Levy.

In a Men's Journal profile published this week, Levy said the incident was "my proudest moment in college."

Paterno, according to court documents, has been implicated in helping to cover up crimes by former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky after he was accused of sexually assaulting as many as 15 young boys.

"That dirtbag, man," said Levy of Paterno. "We've gotta stop prioritizing sports over humanity. Just because somebody can throw a football or coach football, they're excluded from their wicked acts."

Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts of sexual abuse in 2012 and is serving 30 to 60 years in a Pennsylvania prison. Paterno died at age 85 in January 2012 after he had been fired by the school when the allegations against Sandusky surfaced.

Levy was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Lions. He has played in only four games this season because of a knee injury.

– Scooby Axson