What we learned from the NFL’s annual coaches meeting
This article is presented by Antonio’s Italian Cucina
As we begin to prep for the NFL Draft at the end of this month, we got a little NFL news as a primer in the form of the annual NFL coaches meetings.
Each year we get little tid-bits that, during the season, may not matter to anyone. But mid-offseason? When we haven’t had any real NFL news in a few weeks? Feed me any and all NFL stuff. So here’s what we learned about Detroit and Dan Campbell.
1. Dan Campbell is still a fucking unit
As everyone knows, the coaches do an annual coaches picture that brings along with it plenty of jokes and opinions. Each and every year, Dan Campbell defends his biggest, baddest head coach title without a doubt. He did that again, wearing a comically large polo and towering over his fellow coaches. A number of head coaches were asked about who would win in a bench press competition at the Super Bowl, and Dan was the overwhelming favorite.
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He did nothing but confirm at the coaches meeting.
2. Campbell is in favor of the tush-push, and likely not voting on banning it
A hot button topic at the meetings was that of banning the tush-push. There are a number of coaches and owners who want to ban it, stating it’s more of a rugby style play that has no place in the NFL. The Packers are spearheading the banning of the tush-push, but Dan Campbell, however, does not seem to be in that camp. When asked, Campbell had this to say.
“Philly obviously is known for this because they’re the ones who’ve really kind of perfected it and done it and do it over and over and I’m like, ‘Good for them,'” Campbell said. “And if you got something, we got to stop it. So like to me, leave it in and we play them this year, we got to find a way to stop it. And I like that.”
That’s a head coach who isn’t scared of any play. No excuses. Love it, Dan.
3. A reunion with Za’Darius smith may still be in play
Za’Darius Smith was a ‘not so unexpected’ cap casualty this past offseason. The trade deadline acquisition was due a bonus, and Brad Holmes decided to move on before that came into effect in order to save the Lions money. A smart move when most of the conversations recently have been around collecting as much salary cap space as possible to pay our homegrown talent, Kerby Joseph being named directly. But, that still leaves a large hole at the edge position for Detroit, and when asked at the coaches meeting, the Lions are still very much in communication with Z’s agent. Depending on the price, a Smith-Detroit reunion could happen before the season starts. One that I’m absolutely here for.
4. Rod Wood was asked about season ticket prices, and he didn’t back down.
Detroit has caught some slack the last few years for price gouging us ever-loyal fans. The season prices have increased at a rate between either 23% and 69%. Pretty disgusting for fans who put up with literal shit for decades. But Rod Wood did not back down, instead blamed the secondary market for price gouging. He said they are “reasonable given the market demand” and “…will try and increase what the market will carry.”
#Lions fans can expect a slight increase in ticket prices this season, but nothing too crazy. “It’s a tough thing, but you have to recognize what the market is,” team president Rod Wood said. pic.twitter.com/fzA6CAoBqj
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) April 1, 2025
Just because you had a 98% renewal rate does not mean fans are happy about it. We are supporting and love the team. Not you, Rod.
