Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff stated earlier this month that Detroit sports media can "relish in negativity at times" during an appearance on the Trading Cards podcast.

On Tuesday, Goff sought to clarify those comments in an exclusive interview with ESPN's Eric Woodyard.

"There's been a ton of positivity. It may have got twisted a little bit, as things do. I was speaking in reference to the question I was asked at that press conference," Goff said.

"I was answering that question. I was not saying there aren't any positive news, I wouldn't really know, but they have been positive to me. I was saying that I think sometimes, some of the people, enjoy the negative news and I don't think that's necessarily specific to Detroit.

"I was speaking about our local guys, but I think that's kind of the world. Not to get really grand right now, but it wasn't necessarily specific to Detroit, it was the world media, sports media, certainly the NFL media and the roller coaster that is and what sells clicks. But, yeah, maybe I should've been a little more specific with that."

Goff was talking about a moment during a press conference leading up to his team's eventual 34-31 NFC Championship Game loss to the San Francisco 49ers last January, in which Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News led a question about the perceived star difference between the two sides.

"I do. I think we have a ton of great players who maybe haven't had the national stage that up to this point that a lot of other guys have," Goff answered Wojnowski, who ultimately asked whether he felt the game was a chance to see the talent Detroit possesses on a bigger stage.

"Obviously, they have a ton of good players as well, and a ton of Pro Bowlers and All-Pro players over there. Yeah, we feel like we have a lot of good players too — like you mentioned — and excited to play another national stage and be able to showcase that."

A few months later, Goff had this to say on the Trading Cards podcast (h/t Woodyard).

"I have this like, I probably need to drop it pretty soon here because I'm hopefully gonna be in Detroit for a long time, but I have this thing with our local media where like they almost like relish in negativity at times. And maybe that's what gets clicks and that's what sells, but it's no longer what they need to live in.

"Like, hey guys, we have a good team. We've had success. We can be happy about that, we can celebrate that and not have to write about how we're constantly the underdog. No, teams are gonna be gunning for us now. We won the division and all that. I'm probably overthinking it in my head and it's the chip on my shoulder and the competitor in me."

Goff and the Lions went into last season as a team with high expectations following a 7-1 finish en route to a 9-8 record. They were painfully close to reaching the team's first Super Bowl in franchise history and led 24-7 at halftime before falling late.

The team has an embarrassment of talent riches, though, and could very well realize those Super Bowl dreams next year. Goff in particular is playing the best ball of his career after throwing for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns.

It helps that he has one of the game's best (if not the best) wide receiver in Amon-Ra St. Brown, a First Team All-Pro who has 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. Fellow First Team All-Pro Penei Sewell blocks for Goff at right tackle.

Expectations will certainly be high again in Detroit and rightfully so. But Goff and the Lions appear ready to tackle them head on as the 2024 season approaches.