The Bears and Lions have a pretty intense rivalry. Ford, speaking at the Lions Courage House dinner on Tuesday, called -- jokingly, according to the Lions -- the Bears "a bunch of thugs." "It was really alive, and it was alive when we played those same bunch of thugs on Monday Night a couple (years ago)," Ford said of the atmosphere at Ford Field last Sunday. "When this place gets going it's electric and we do have wonderful fans. Our fans are amazing and we would love to pay them back and bring home a winner, and I love the way this team is playing right now." Source: CBSSports Sweets's Take: It's so easy to upset the Lions, especially Schwartz who btw is still whining about the hits the refs didn't see or call. A good slap on the back should fix that!
i·ro·ny ˈīrənē,ˈiərnē/ noun 1. the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
After the beatdown they put on the Bears not sure thugs would be the way he would describe them now..