Sam LaPorta on Ben Johnson Leaving the Lions: “Friends Turned Enemies”
Yeah, it happened longtime Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson packed his bags and headed to the Chicago Bears. It stings, but Detroit has to move forward.
Johnson now has the challenge of convincing Bears fans that quarterbacks can actually be good (good luck with that). Meanwhile, the Lions are adjusting to new offensive coordinator John Morton, who’s back in Detroit after a stint with the Broncos.
Tight end Sam LaPorta recently chatted with Kay Adams at the NFLPA Classic golf tournament in Mexico (yes, that’s a real thing) about losing Johnson and what it means for the team. His response? A mix of respect and a little competitive fire.
“Of course, happy for Ben, he was one of the big reasons they brought me into the Lions,”LaPorta said. “Nothing but respect for him. But again, on Sunday afternoons this fall, it’ll be friends turned to enemies, I guess…”
LaPorta acknowledged how tough it is to lose a coach you’ve built a bond with, but he’s also excited for what’s next under the new staff. Still, his tone was a little too friendly for some fans who want to see a real NFC North rivalry heat up.
Look, we get it Johnson was a big part of the Lions’ success, and no one’s expecting LaPorta to start throwing shade. But a little more fire wouldn’t hurt, right? When the Lions and Bears face off next season, we’ll see just how much that “friends turned enemies” line really holds up.
From Detroit to Chicago: Sam LaPorta Shares How the Lions Took the Ben Johnson News
