Earlier today, it was announced that Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for two games without pay for his actions in the team’s Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers.
During the third quarter of the Lions’ 27-15 loss to the Packers, Suh shoved Green Bay offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head into the ground three times and then stomped on his shoulder, resulting in an immediate ejection from the game.
But is a two-game suspension and an anticipated fine of $50,000 by the Lions a harsh enough punishment?
In my opinion, it’s absolutely not.
I remember watching the Heisman Trophy presentation a few years ago when Suh, then a senior at Nebraska, was a finalist for the award. During the ceremony, there was a piece on Suh that painted him as being such a nice, down-to-earth, friendly, and warm individual. At that point I thought he seemed like a pretty good guy.
Now I’m not so sure.
After watching Suh viciously fling then Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme’s head to the ground during the preseason last year and then do the same exact thing to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton earlier this season, I started to form a different opinion of the man.
I can forgive one infraction, such as the one against Delhomme. Back then, Suh was new to the league, making him more vulnerable to making mistakes. I can even excuse the hit on Dalton, as it at least took place during a play.
But when you do what Suh did – on Thanksgiving of all days – and clearly try to hurt an opposing player after a play has already ended – I find that to be inexcusable.
And this one incident, which brings his two-year personal fouls total to nine (the most of any player in the league during that period of time), makes all of those other infractions appear even less acceptable.
Personally, I feel that Suh should have been suspended for the remainder of the season without pay, both regular season and playoffs. Perhaps missing the opportunity to appear in the postseason for the first time in his young career would have hit him where it really hurts: the heart. After all, if being fined $42,500 and counting hasn’t yet done the trick, no amount of money is really going to change his attitude.
In my eyes, Suh can do all of the commercials he wants, flashing that smile for the likes of Nike, Subway, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and more. He can mention God every now and then and he can call Commissioner Roger Goodell to apologize for his behavior, just days after saying that his actions were “misinterpreted.” But until he changes his on-field behavior, one thing will remain true to me.
Mr. Suh, you’re a dirty player.
Sources: Yahoo.com and FOXSports.com