Lions’ Raiola says he doesn’t regret making obscene gesture

Published 1:38 pm Monday, December 8, 2008

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit center Dominic Raiola said he has no remorse for making an obscene gesture toward Lions fans because their heckling went too far.

Raiola told a reporter he didn’t regret extending his middle finger toward fans Sunday during a 20-16 loss to Minnesota, which dropped the Lions to 0-13.

He said fans have been particularly hard on him because he’s been with the team since 2001, when it started a slide that has become the NFL’s worst eight-season mark in more than a half-century.

NFL spokesman Randall Liu said the league will look into it.

The NFL has fined players for making similar gestures this season.