Raiola Reflects On 200th Start: 'We've Been Through A Lot In 14 Years'
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
FORD FIELD (CBS DETROIT) - Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola started his 200th game Thursday, and when the announcement about his milestone boomed over the loudspeakers at Ford Field, his face appeared on the big screens. Raiola looked emotional, and he quickly tugged his helmet on before waving to the crowd that cheered him.
"It's special," Raiola said after the game, a Thanksgiving Day win over the Chicago Bears. "It's a special moment. It's exactly how I wanted to celebrate it, with the lead in hand and really no stress.
"It's a lot more special doing it with this group, as tight as we are, as close as we are, with our leader Jim Caldwell," Raiola continued. "That's what makes it special. I can share it with this whole group, and you know, I can really share it with Detroit. I grew myself with this city. We've been through a lot in 14 years. We've been bankrupt, we've been 0 and 16, you keep kicking us down, but we keep getting up, and that's something to be said. I share it with them as much as they share it with me."
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said the fact Raiola has started 200 games indicates both talent and grit.
"Because of the fact that there haven't been very many guys that have done it, that shows that there's excellence involved in it," Caldwell said. "That also shows that he's been able to stay healthy. What I mean 'stay healthy,' it doesn't necessarily mean that he's been healthy the entire time because you aren't. Particularly at that position, you play through a lot, so he can play through pain, difficulty, which is hard to do as much banging as they do down in the trenches.
"The leadership he provides is the apex to our offensive line and is invaluable," Caldwell continued. "We certainly appreciate him."