Sam LaPorta is in the final year of his rookie deal, and he didn’t mince words this week. He flat-out said “it sucks” that a new contract hasn’t come together with the team. The tight end made it clear, too: if a deal doesn’t get done with his current team, he’s confident he’ll “go get paid somewhere else.”
LaPorta’s Frank Take on His Future
Those comments, as you can imagine, became a hot topic at head coach Dan Campbell’s Friday press conference. While Campbell acknowledged that “you never want anything to happen during the season because we’re talking about this now and we’re two days from Green Bay,” he quickly moved to shut down any idea of a distraction. LaPorta’s performance on the field speaks for itself, with 27 catches for 316 yards and three touchdowns through five games. It looks like he’ll be right about getting paid somewhere if he keeps putting up those numbers.
Campbell’s Unwavering Confidence
Despite the apparent tension, Campbell has “no doubt” LaPorta is “locked in” on this year. He doesn’t expect any negative impact on the team, either. “I know what it may appear like. I know Sam. We all know Sam,” Campbell stated. He added, “Honestly, I don’t even think twice about those comments because I know what he’s about. We’re all good here and we’re not going to let this be a distraction. He’s not, we’re not, we’re all good.” That’s a strong vote of confidence from the coach, aiming to diffuse the situation before it even begins.
With Green Bay coming up in just two days, all eyes will be on how LaPorta performs after airing out his contract frustrations. Will the “it sucks” comment light a fire, or will the looming contract situation hang over him? Campbell is betting on the former, hoping his tight end remains squarely focused on the game ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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