The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears have a rivalry dating back over 80 years. So, it’s fair to say there isn’t much love lost between the two franchises. Lions vice chairman Bill Ford acknowledged as much on Tuesday.
Ford jokingly referred to the Bears as “a bunch of thugs” during a question-and-answer session at the Lions’ annual Courage House dinner on Tuesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
“It was really alive, and it was alive when we played those same bunch of thugs on Monday Night a couple [years ago],” Ford said. “When this place gets going it’s electric and we do have wonderful fans. Our fans are amazing and we would love to pay them back and bring home a winner, and I love the way this team is playing right now.”
Oh, the irony in that statement. Lions players have been arrested a league-high nine times over the past two years while the Bears have seen only four arrests during that time, which pales in comparison. The Lions also employ arguably one of the NFL’s dirtiest players in Ndamukong Suh, which doesn’t give Ford’s jest any added credibility.
The Lions got the better of the Bears in their first meeting of the season, downing them 40-32 on Sunday, but Chicago will have a chance for revenge when Detroit travels to Chicago for a rematch in Week 10.
