Lions rookie highlights competitive fire while talking about mom: 'I would throw her to the ground'

Detroit Lions draft pick Terrion Arnold spoke about his mother Saturday during the second day of rookie minicamp and highlighted how she lit the competitive fire in him.

He said he and Tamala Arnold continually clashed when he was younger and the nature of the competitiveness became intense at times.

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“As a kid, when I used to beat my mom in races, I had to continually beat her,” he said via AL.com. “We used to fight when I was younger, just fighting with her or playing. I'll never forget one time my mom knocked out my tooth because we were trying so hard.”

“If my mom was here right now and she was lined up in front of me as a receiver, I would throw her on the ground. That's the way I think. And my mom knows it. I'm just talking about the simple aspect of football. That's how I think. and that's how I was raised.”

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold performs during a drill during an NFL rookie football practice on Friday, May 10, 2024 in Allen Park, Michigan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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Arnold later explained that he wanted to convey that he was not “someone not to be trifled with” even as he began his rookie season.

Before the Lions selected him with the 24th pick in the NFL Draft in April, he paid tribute to Tamala at the NFL Scouting Combine.

He praised her for all the adversities she overcame to raise him.

Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold speaks to the media after an NFL rookie football practice, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Allen Park, Michigan. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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Arnold was a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC as a senior at Alabama in 2023. He had five interceptions and 63 total tackles.

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