Ex-Lions TE Fauria admits to lying about dog causing injury in 2014

Remember this story from back in 2014?

Then-Detroit Lions tight end Joseph Fauria suffered a mysterious injury - one that was first reported to have taken place at home. Days later, Fauria blamed his sprained left ankle on an adorable puppy.

Fauria said he slipped while trying to prevent the pup from peeing in the house. It was a smart move, because who could get mad at this little guy:

Fauria was trying to stop Lil' Rufio from urinating in the house when he misstepped & sprained his ankle at home. pic.twitter.com/djBc9XVjp5

- Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 29, 2014

Now I'm only concentrating on getting back on the field ASAP! Please no death threats to Lil' Rufio, he's just a pup! pic.twitter.com/Q1O5QM41RW

- Joseph Fauria (@BigJoeFauria) September 29, 2014

Perhaps the story seemed unbelievable at the time, because it was.

Fauria recently admitted in a podcast that he hurt himself playing volleyball with his neighbors.

"When I (came) down, I (came) down on just ankle, left ankle. This most amazing, shocking pain that I've ever felt in my entire left shoots up my leg, and immediately I'm like, 'Career's over.' ... That's how much it hurt," he said, per ESPN.

"Did I want to lie to my head coach? No, but I was thinking about myself. ... (Friends) told me that if the team, the organization, the Lions found out I was playing volleyball and I got hurt playing volleyball, that they could exercise the option of not paying me."

Fauria played in four more games for the Lions after the injury. He was released the next season, signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and was released again days later.

So, those who questioned the original story can feel vindicated.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.