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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lions' Jared Goff clarifies controversial Detroit media comments

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/23/24

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff generated headlines when he said during a recent podcast appearance that he felt some Detroit media members "relish in negativity" regarding their coverage of the franchise.

Goff insisted during a Tuesday chat with ESPN's Eric Woodyard that he's experienced "a ton of positivity" since he officially joined the Lions in March 2021.

"It may have got twisted a little bit, as things do," Goff explained about his original comments. "I was speaking in reference to the question I was asked at that press conference. I was answering that question. I was not saying there aren't any positive news, I wouldn't really know, but they have been positive to me. I was saying that I think sometimes, some of the people, enjoy the negative news and I don't think that's necessarily specific to Detroit."

Specifically, Goff referenced during the podcast and while speaking with Woodyard how the 29-year-old was asked ahead of this past January's NFC Championship Game about the number of star players featuring for the San Francisco 49ers. Earlier that month, Goff helped the Lions earn their first playoff victory since January 1992.

Hilarious exchange between Jared Goff and @bobwojnowski, who was trying to say how NFL fans may not know the Lions stars.

Wojo: "You have a lot of really good players"
Goff: "Thank you"
Wojo: "But maybe not viewed as superstars like the 49ers"
Goff: "Alright, never mind" pic.twitter.com/yDKdffPjwi
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) January 24, 2024

"I was speaking about our local guys, but I think that's kind of the world," Goff told Woodyard. "Not to get really grand right now, but it wasn't necessarily specific to Detroit, it was the world media, sports media, certainly the NFL media and the rollercoaster that is and what sells clicks. But, yeah, maybe I should've been a little more specific with that."

Perhaps the biggest question hovering over the Lions ahead of the draft that gets underway on Thursday night is related to the fact that Goff is in the final year of his contract. He previously made it known he wants to stay with Detroit beyond the 2024 season.

"Just focus on what matters and trying to get better and trying to help our team win games, advance further than we did last year and hopefully be the last team standing at the end," Goff said about avoiding distractions related to an extension he could sign at any point. "That's all I'm thinking about."

Goff also acknowledged on Tuesday the Lions have "got a lot of work to do" because their expectations have risen following a successful season. As of late Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Detroit tied for fourth among the betting favorites at +1200 odds to win Super Bowl LIX in February 2025.

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