Taylor Decker shocked Lions fans when he said that he had no contact from the team upon asking to return this season. It painted the team in an extremely bad light, especially because Decker has been part of Detroit for the past 10 years. But according to USA Today's Justin Rogers, there might have been a reason behind this lapse in communication.

For starters, Rogers pointed out that he never got a call from Lions GM Brad Holmes, because many sources from the team said that his number had changed. The Detroit Football Network insider also confirmed that the number he had for Holmes was also unreachable. But when it came to head coach Dan Campbell, Rogers had different words.

"Dan said, kind of perfectly, 'I'm not gonna call him now, because it looks like I'm only calling him because of your article. I was always going to call him, I'll call him eventually,'" Rogers said on the Lions Collective podcast. "And I think he spent a lot of time, very intentionally, praising both Decker and some of the other guys that have left this organization, what they've meant to this team."

Campbell did say those words at the annual league meetings, while also giving Decker his due recognition.

"I'm going to give nothing but flowers to Deck for everything he did for us and what he's done for this organization... I'm going to call him in time. But, I want him to know it's real and it's a real phone call. But, man, we appreciate everything he did.”

Taylor Decker was also asked to take a pay cut if he wanted to play with the Lions this season, but he instead opted to be released by the team. Interestingly, in the midst, former Lions offensive coordinator and now Chicago Bears head coach, Ben Johnson, did reach out to the offensive lineman.

When such an individual had taken the effort of contacting Taylor Decker, it pushed the team's stance on the seasoned player towards more scrutiny. Especially when Decker felt "hurt" when the coach he fought for did not contact him in this situation.

Silence from Hank Fraley was the most troubling for Taylor Decker

Justin Rogers went to Taylor Decker's home to conduct this tell-all interview. Based on his discussion with the OL, he pointed out that the lack of recognition from offensive line coach Hank Fraley might have gotten to him the most. 

"I really think the straw that broke the camel's back for him was Hank Fraley not reaching out," Rogers said. "Like they were so close for so long. Decker went to bat for him [to Dan Campbell].

"When your position coach of eight years doesn't reach out when you go through the situation, different things flow through your head. 'Oh my god, is there a directive from the organization not to talk to me?' Like, what's going on here? I think that compounded the problem."

When such a person does not even send a 'thank you' to a player they might owe their career to, it's got to sting. No wonder Taylor Decker felt so bad.

Let us know your thoughts on Decker's controversial split with the Lions.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Afreen Kabir