Allen Park — When Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell delivered his now-famous description of the team identity he wanted to cultivate, which included the vivid description of biting off opponents' kneecaps, it was met with snickering and cynicism on the national stage.
Campbell later explained he didn't care about the wider reaction. That off-the-cuff segment of his introductory press conference was from the heart and targeted to his players and fan base. Yet, in hindsight, it has unintentionally become a marketing campaign.
Campbell's intensity and passion, combined with the visual confirmation of the roster's week-in-and-week-out effort, has increased the appeal of Detroit as a destination for some free agents, including recently signed safety DeShon Elliott.