One of the first things Detroit Lions new defensive lineman Michael Brockers did when he came in to sign his new contract last week was to find his old and new defender, Jared Goff, to apologize.
Shortly after the Lions traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Goff, a third-round pick in 2021 and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, Brockers told TMZ that the Rams took a “high level.” to the defender.
Brockers did not expect the comment to explode as it did – and addressed Goff shortly after, apologizing and explaining that he did not want to say so, as it could have happened.
“I was just trying to increase the movement the team was making and I was trying to make sure I increased the fan base,” Brockers said Monday. “I don’t think there was anything against Jared. I even had to get Jared’s text out of the room, stuff like that, just man to man, just, man, brother, I didn’t want to go like that. I didn’t want to say what I said.
“As a man, you just know I respect you as a player. You took me to the Super Bowl, so it wasn’t like that.”
Brockers realized he would see Goff when the Rams and Lions play this year. Then, Brockers was traded to Detroit, making him and Goff teammates again. So when he came in to sign his business, he talked to him again and apologized once more and explained that he was just trying to pump up the team he was in at the time – the Rams.
Instead, Brockers and Goff will be the cornerstone of any success Detroit will have in 2021.
“I understand that and being a player, you know, if you’re at this level, you’re an excellent player,” Brockers said. “It doesn’t matter who you are. If you play in the NFL, you’re a great player and I never want to comment on someone’s career or anything like that. I’m going to leave that to the press and do it.
“For me, as a player, I respect every player in this league. To get into this position, you have to believe that you are in the lead one percent one percent one percent, so I respect every player and the ability of every player in this league. “