Some people have been reading too much into Dan Campbell’s comments during his press conference on Monday.
On that day, with trade speculation rising around the Detroit Lions and the need for an edge rusher, head coach Dan Campbell smiled when asked if a trade was imminent within the next 24 hours.
His reaction during a follow-up question was also notable.
During Campbell’s regular segment on 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning, discussions about trade rumors and his demeanor from Monday were expected to be key topics.
So, did Campbell’s response to the trade question carry any significance?
“Well, no. Dave (Birkett from the Detroit Free Press) asked me a question, and I answered, but he didn’t accept that answer,” Campbell explained. “So I just kept repeating myself. That was literally all it was. You guys are wasting energy.”
Campbell acknowledged that a trade could happen, but his body language might have been misinterpreted. He ultimately avoided making any definitive statements about a potential trade, even though discussions are likely ongoing. On Tuesday morning, he clarified the situation further.
“Honestly, we’re still looking into it,” Campbell said. “This process hasn’t stopped. Remember, if teams have good players or those they believe can help, they’re usually not willing to let them go. We’re navigating through all of that, and Brad (Holmes) is doing a great job.”
“And look, maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t. I genuinely don’t know; it feels like it changes every day. We’ll just take it as it comes, and this is the team we’re preparing to play with every week.”
So, there’s a possibility the Lions could trade for an edge rusher before next Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, but it’s also possible they won’t. Since Aidan Hutchinson’s injury, the team has been exploring options, and Campbell’s playful reaction on Monday didn’t really change anything, despite some people’s assumptions to the contrary.
