Lions' Kerby Joseph Responds To Rams QB Matthew Stafford's 'Dirty' Comments: 'I'm Used To Being The Villain'
It takes a lot to become the most-hated man by an entire NFL fanbase, but for Los Angeles Rams fans, Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph is the clear holder of that title right now.
Late in Sunday night's playoff game, a matchup Detroit won Joseph laid a big, low hit on L.A. tight end Tyler Higbee. The injury looked bad at the time, and MRI's confirmed the Rams' worst fears of a torn ACL and MCL for Higbee.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford immediately took exception to the hit, as hot mics caught him scolding Joseph just after it happened.
Matthew Stafford, Kerby Joseph and Tyler Higbee
“Hey! That’s a good hit,” Stafford said. “That’s a good hit, but you’re dirty as (expletive), and you know it. You’re dirty as (expletive). It’s been on tape. I seen it. It’s been on tape.”
This came just a few weeks after Joseph laid a similar hit on Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson, which also resulted in a torn ACL and MCL and is likely what Stafford was referring to when he said "it's been on tape."
Despite Stafford's harsh comments, Joseph doesn't seem all that bothered.
“I’m cool. I’m used to being the villain,” Joseph told the Detroit Free Press.
“To be honest, I don’t really know [why Stafford was mad],” Joseph continued. “It was the quickest thing, so I don’t even know what his intentions was, for real. On the celebration part, I wasn’t celebrating that I hurt him [Higbee]. I kind of didn’t really peep that he was hurt, for real. But like I said, prayers out to that boy and his family. Like the game we play, just stuff happens.”
Joseph's coaches and teammates have defended him throughout this saga, with head coach Dan Campbell saying "that's how we play football here."
As the Lions prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Divisional Round, Joseph isn't worried about any criticism for his alleged "dirty" play.
“People are going to say what they say. I’m just here to do my job,” Joseph said.
