The X and O of football are easy for first-year Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, but as a former player, he can wear his heart on his sleeve at times.
One of those moments came on Tuesday when he had to deliver the tough news that the Lions were releasing veteran long-snapper Don Muhlbach on his 40th birthday.
Campbell has heard criticism in the aftermath of the transaction, but has also learned that it comes with a job, despite trying to take a light-hearted approach—especially when dealing with the media.
"There's no doubt about it. There's no way to sugarcane it," Campbell said. "I am a hole. So this is the best way to put it, and I hate it. There was no way around it, really. Yes, you could say there is, but it eventually falls on me." It's my fault. Don is a helluva dude. It sucks, but it's what it is."
Muhlbach was Campbell's former teammate during his tenure as a player with the Lions from 2006 to 2008. Muhlbach, a two-time pro bowler, spent 17 seasons with the franchise and was captain of the team three times.
His 17-year time with the team is second only to Jason Hanson's 21 in Lions history.
"It stinks," Campbell said.
In making these kinds of decisions about the sentiment of the roster cuts, Campbell says he relies on his experience in Miami, where he was interim head coach in 2015. The Dolphins were 1-3 before Campbell took over, but he helped them go 5. -7 to end the year, including a win against the New England Patriots in the season finale.
"Look, I was lucky - I got 12 weeks in Miami. So I already got a taste of it and really got a taste of it during the most difficult time of the year, which was the season," Campbell said, of the feelings of coaching. Description of. "So I knew a little bit about what I was doing. Now, I didn't have to worry about what was coming down the wire and what to do a few days ago when you had to start letting the players go. Who has given his heart and soul for everything.
"It's tough. For me, I can take things personal sometimes, if I'm being honest with you. ... It digs at me a little bit, and I hate it because I'm in that locker room and I played and I know when you look at these guys who literally give everything they have and you have to let them go or you have to make these decisions, it's tough. It's really hard because I'm their Appreciate, but that's it."