Sheila Hamp Had 'No Problem' with Real Lion on Sideline, NFL Nixed Idea
The last time Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell appeared on the "Pardon My Take" podcast, the notion was brought up to actually have a real lion on the sidelines during NFL games.
Recently, Campbell sat down again for a podcast interview, and the subject was brought up.
“Sheila (Hamp) had no problem with it,” Campbell explained, when asked to follow up on the idea of having a real lion patrolling the sidelines, “but the league apparently frowns on those types of things.”
The NFL has at times been referred to at as the "No Fun League," but this might actually in the best interest of everyone involved.
Campbell did not want to blame the league's commissioner, Roger Goodell, noting, “I’m not gonna point out Roger on this. I’m just gonna say that the league frowns on that. Let’s just say that.”
Campbell's love of football
To finish the nearly 30-minute interview, Detroit's third-year head coach was asked to explain why he loved the game of football.
Campbell replied, almost choking up, “Here’s what I’d say about football. When I think about football, man, anybody who has been able to play this sport at any level -- when you’re a kid, middle school, high school, college, you’re fortunate enough to go to the pros -- to me, we owe everything to this game. And the game speaks for itself. It’s not about what this group of people have done for this game, or what this group of people have done for this game and how this has made this game better. The game speaks for itself, and the only thing we can do is mess it up. To me, don’t ever disrespect this game, because it is, in my opinion, it is the greatest sport that you can possibly plan, man.
"It’s a team sport, there’s blood, there’s sweat, there’s tears, and everybody’s gotta be going the same way to have success," Campbell continued. "One guy is out of the boat or he’s not rowing and it’ll mess everything up. And I just think, it’s not for everybody. But, I just respect the hell out of it. To me, we owe it, as players, coaches, anybody that’s associated with it -- to give it everything you’ve got, because it is an unbelievable game, man.”
