The Lions and Sam LaPorta have not reached an agreement on a contract extension, and the Pro Bowl tight end is unhappy. In an appearance on Bartosol Sports’ Pardon My Take, the former Second-team All-Pro voiced his frustration with where the contract talks stand.
“It’s disappointing that you go out there every week and you bear the risk of getting hurt,” He Said “Like last year, I broke my f—ing back for the team. And I’m going out there this year and I’m balling, and maybe they’re just not showing the love. It sucks. I’m going to continue to be a pro. … I’m going to continue to do my thing and ball out, and in three months, if I don’t get to wear the Honolulu blue and play for the Lions anymore, it’ll be all good. I’ll go get paid somewhere else. So whatever.”
Those are so very strong words, though they shouldn’t be too surprising LaPorta has been a very solid tight end since being drafted in the second round out of Iowa by Detriot in 2023. As a rookie, he caught 886 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also earned Second-team All-Pro honors that year. These were all also franchise records for the tight end position.
His sophomore season saw him catch 60 more passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year, his season was cut short when he suffered the back injury he mentioned on the podcast during a Week 10 game against the Washington Commanders. He still caught 40 passes for 489 yards and three touchdowns.
He’s managed to come back from his back injury strong so far this season. Through five games, he has 27 receptions for 316 yards and three touchdowns. His 27 receptions are the seventh most among tight ends, and his yards are fifth.
It makes sense that LaPorta hasn’t worked out a deal with the Lions, given that much of the talent that helped them go from league laughingstock to perennial contenders either needs new deals or has already signed them. Quarterback Jared Goff is in the third year of his four-year, $212 million contract; running back Jahmyr Gibbs signed a three-year, $67.5 million deal this past offseason; defensive end Aidan Hutchinson signed a four-year, $180 million deal last year; Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a four-year, $112 million deal in 2024; and Penei Sewell signed a four-year, $112 million deal in 2024 as well.
With that much money going to key pieces, someone was going to be left holding the bag, or in this case, not holding one. Still, it is easy to see why LaPorta would be unhappy given that he literally broke his back for Detriot.
