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Latest Dominic Raiola Stories

Dominic Raiola Wants Detroit Fans to Lay Off Matthew Stafford

Dominic RaiolaDominic Raiola has played all nine of his NFL seasons in Detroit, never finishing with better than a 7-9 record -- and that streak isn't ending this season. So he's allowed to have some pent-up frustration.

He let some of it out Sunday during the Lions' 17-10 home loss to the previously winless Rams, firing off some choice words at a group of Detroit fans who were heckling rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Detroit's final possession of the game consisted of four Stafford incompletions (plus two more pass attempts wiped out by penalties).

After the final misfire landed well wide of its intended target, a few rowdy patrons let Stafford have it -- yelling "Hey Matt, throw it to me, I'm open, I'm open," according to Raiola, who quickly came to his QB's defense.

Heads Up, Detroit: Dominic Raiola Gets 4 More Years

Dominic RaiolaFord Field was, as you might expect given Detroit's super awesome 2008 season, not exactly a happy place to be.

Things boiled over in Week 13 when center Dominic Raiola took offense with a particularly unruly heckler and gave him the finger -- then refused to apologize, instead stating that he wished he was allowed to challenge detractors to fights.

Here's hoping that things improve in the Motor City soon, because the Lions and Raiola have agreed to a four-year deal that will keep him in Detroit through the 2013 season.

On Tony Romo's Game-Deciding Pick, Steelers Knew What Play Was Coming


Despite being the reason for the season and all that, I'm pretty sure Tony Romo could do without December and January, two months that haven't been very nice to him during his professional tackle football career.

Sunday against the Steelers he threw three interceptions -- including the game-deciding pick-six -- and mixed in a fumble for good measure. After the game, Romo took full responsibility for the outcome, and tight end Jason Witten also suggested he deserved a few fingers pointed in his direction (Dominic Raiola gladly obliged on behalf of disgruntled fans everywhere).

That said, fans also took issue with Stay Puft Wade's coaching skills, as well as Boy Genius' play-calling abilities.

Lions' Dominic Raiola Will Give You the Finger if You Heckle Him

The 0-13 Lions have many believing that a winless season is not only possible, but probable. This is 0for08, FanHouse's eye on the Detroit Lions and their quest for a winless season.

As the Lions continue their march to sweet, inglorious perfection, we should take a moment to recognize that Detroit fans, while they have a strong case, aren't the only ones suffering. The players aren't exactly enjoying the 2008 season, and are facing the very real possibility of earning one of those scarlet "0-16" patches.

In fact, things have reached such a low point that Lions center Dominic Raiola makes no apologies about giving the finger to less than supportive fans.
But asked if he regretted giving the fans the business, he said he didn't. "I don't take one thing back," Raiola said Monday. "I'll say the same thing to a fan that I see in the street. I wish I could give my address out to some fans. I'll do that.

"But, you know, I can't. Nobody plays with fists. Everybody wants to play with metal. So I can't. I'm so frustrated. I'm tired of being a doormat for people to just talk to us how they want to talk to us. I'm just not going to put up with it anymore."
Raiola's right, of course. Sure, the players are partly responsible -- they are playing, after all -- but head coach Rod Marinelli also deserves much of the blame, along with since-departed Matt Millen, the brains behind the current roster. (In fact, word the street is that Millen is still running the show. I'd be more shocked if you told me the Lions wouldn't bungle their first-overall pick in April.)

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