The Detroit Lions secured a well-earned second bye week of the season with a 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday night in Detroit.
The game was notable not only for Detroit’s dominant win but also for the return of former Florida Gators standout and rising Lions star Alex Anzalone, who came back from a broken left forearm injury. He played with a carbon fiber cast and had a strong performance while defending Vikings star tight end TJ Hockenson.
On Wednesday, Anzalone’s remarks were shared across X by the St. Brown Podcast, hosted by his teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother, New Orleans Saints receiver Equanimeous St. Brown.
“Last year, we had Justin Fields on the podcast, and he said you’re a dirty player,” Equanimeous St. Brown said to the Lions linebacker. “What’s up with that? I’ve heard in the media that the Lions are dirty, and you’re usually involved.”
Anzalone replied, “AG (Aaron Glenn) puts it this way: the way you show respect for another player is by how hard you play against them.” Anzalone was asked if “hard” and “dirty” meant the same thing.
“I mean, I didn’t get fined or penalized,” Anzalone responded to the Saints receiver, addressing Fields’ comments without elaborating much. Fields was traded from the Lions’ rivals, the Chicago Bears, to the Steelers this offseason and hasn’t played against the Lions since.
