Lions center Dominic Raiola has been in the league 14 years.
Yet it was the rookie he took repeated cheap shots at last week who displayed the poise of a veteran.
Patriots defensive lineman Zach Moore didn’t retaliate when Raiola punched him in the head, and didn’t respond when Raiola dove at his knees near the end of last week’s 34-9 win over the Lions.
“Just being professional, keeping my composure,” Moore said, via Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. “Something I’ve had my entire football career. Just don’t play into the craziness that’s happening. Just keep on playing football. Just praying for good health all the way through the game.”
And like coach Bill Belichick, he was able to get a dig in at Raiola after the fact, saying: “When you look at the score, I would probably be mad too.”
Moore said he was just thankful to get through the game healthy, and never raised a hand in Raiola’s direction, despite the provocation.
“I just gotta eat those punches,” Moore said. “It’s a tough game. It’s a physical game. You gotta roll with the punches . . . Literally.”
That’s something Raiola hasn’t learned yet.
