NFL Blogger: Lions' center Raiola accused of hate speech

GREEN BAY (WITI) -- NFL blogger Tom Melton has written a blog that indicates Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola spewed hate speech at some members of the University of Wisconsin marching band prior to Sunday's game at Lambeau Field.

According to the blog, "Raiola and his teammates were engaged in their pregame warm-ups on the field near the goal line when he turned around and called him and the other tubas “Fat mother f**kers” and told them that “they sucked.” According to that tuba player no one in the band had done anything to provoke him, and no other band members I spoke with witnessed anything that could have provoked Raiola."

That blogger says witnesses say Raiola yelled at the tuba player: "Hey fat guy, you want a hot dog?" -- and a female band member says he called her a derogatory expletive.

UW Marching Band trumpet player Zach York of Muskego posted this message on Facebook:

"Dominic Raiola is literally the worst person I have ever had the fortune to encounter. After marching down the field awaiting the National Anthem, he went off on a verbal tirade, among other things, questioning my sexuality (as a band member) and then continued on to bring my sister and my recently deceased mother into the conversation."

The UW Marching Band's director on Monday said: We'll handle this administratively -- draft a letter or something. They were quite shaken by it. To their credit, they did what they were supposed to be doing. They stood at attention."

The Detroit Lions issued the following statements in relation to this reported incident.

Melton said towards the end of his post, "It is worth noting that while Raiola’s comments were completely uncalled for, a band member confirmed to me that Lions safety Louis Delmas apologized to him and other members of the band for Raiola’s actions and assured them that he had spoken with him about it."

UW-Madison issued the following statement:

"We were dismayed to hear reports of unprofessional and personal verbal attacks by a Detroit Lions player towards members of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band before the Packers vs. Lions game at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Oct. 6.

An affiliate of FOX6 spoke with Raiola on Monday. He says the incident "is being blown out of proportion," and added, "we've got more important things to worry about right now. We're worried about wins and losses."

CLICK HERE to read more from Melton's blog