GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Detroit Lions’ 30-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Left guard Rob Sims said he spoke with suspended Lions center Dominic Raiola earlier Sunday. He wouldn’t get into what the conversation was about but said Raiola was a bit down. Sims said he was sure Raiola watched the game.
“He wasn’t doing too well,” Sims said. “Of course he wanted to be here for this one. Of course he did.”
Rookie Travis Swanson replaced Raiola at center.
Lions coach Jim Caldwell went off on a reporter who asked him why the team didn’t blitz Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers more after he returned to the game with an injured calf that clearly limited the MVP candidate. Caldwell was displeased with the way the question was asked.
“Well, you’re probably getting into some areas where you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Caldwell said. “First of all, because of the fact that we have to look at this guy for what he’s done. If you look at the number of times when he gets blitzed, what happens; if you look at the number of times people play zones against him, what happens; when you start looking at all those things, breaking them down, looking at those things, then you might be qualified to ask me that question.”
Caldwell had no real update on the status of starting right guard Larry Warford, who left the game in the first half with a knee injury. He was carted off and didn’t return. Caldwell said he was “not sure” when asked if he anticipated having him for the playoffs against Dallas.
