After watching Tom Brady and the Patriotstack on a late touchdown in Sunday's 34-9 romp over Detroit, Lions center Dominic Raiola was in the mood for payback.
Raiola acknowledged to reporters after the game that he attempted to cut-block Patriots defensive tackle Zach Moore on Detroit's final offensive snap -- a kneel down by Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
"I cut him," Raiola said of Moore, per the Detroit Free Press. "We took a knee, so I cut the nose (tackle). They went for six (a touchdown). They went for a touchdown at 2 minutes. They could have took three knees and the game could have been over. It's football. He wants to keep playing football, let's play football. Not a big deal. It's football."
Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork didn't see Raiola's cut-block, but that didn't stop him from calling the Lions lineman dirty, per the newspaper.
"I just heard what happened, but that was stupid," Wilfork said. "... You're taking a knee. They'd get mad if we were just to blow up one of their players, so I mean, it's just uncalled for. But at the same time, you always have to protect yourself, so you always have to play with your neck on a swivel and being alert for 60 minutes, and it came down to it today on a bonehead play like that. But luckily no one got hurt and we can move on."
Wilfork wasn't impressed with Raiola's handiwork, and we don't blame him.
On his Monday conference call, Patriots coach Bill Belichick took a glancing shot at the Lions center, saying, "Sure there was a lot of frustration there with Raiola. He's never beaten us. Tough day for him."
Jim Caldwell said he addressed matter with Raiola and that the team will not discipline him. However, the Lions coach added that the league is reviewing the situation.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via a league source, that the center will receiver neither a suspension nor a fine.
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