Nate Burleson heckled by homeless Lions fan

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Nov 24, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Tampa Bay won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 24, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson (13) during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Tampa Bay won 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Lions wide receiver Nate Burleson was doing some charity work downtown and feeding the homeless when he received some sharp criticism from a fan.

“I just got back from feeding some homeless in downtown Detroit,” receiver Nate Burleson said Monday morning during a radio interview with 105.1 FM in Detroit. “Not saying that to get a pat on the back, but I was sitting there — it was a happy moment, you see smiles on peoples’ faces, giving hugs and taking pictures — and one guy who was there getting some food said, ‘Man, you guys are sorry. Same old Lions.'”

Burleson seemed to handle it well though and didn’t seem to be mad about the interaction either.

“This is in the middle of what’s supposed to be a joyous moment. Now immediately I respond, because I love what I do and the guys I do it with, and I respond by sticking up for my team. But deep down inside, I understood exactly where he was coming from. I’m not surprised. I told him that. I said, ‘Look man, I get it. You’ve been watching this team for years. So when we make mistakes like that, the first thing you think is, ‘yeah, same old sorry Lions. They’re continuing to shoot themselves in the foot when it seems as if they’ve got the game won.'”