There’s perhaps no defensive player as polarizing in the NFL as Ndamukong Suh. He broke into the league as a perceived quiet kid from Nebraska who made a loud impact his rookie year with 10 sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He even attempted an extra point that rookie year and was poised to be one of the NFL’s most marketable young stars. It didn’t take long, but a dark side started eventually showing in Suh, transforming him from a media darling to a taboo subject.
Ndamukong Suh’s Brilliant Debut in the NFL
The Lions were enamored with the powerhouse Suh coming out of Nebraska and made him the second overall pick in the 2010 draft. Suh made an instant impact with three sacks in his first four NFL games. That first year, Suh led all rookies and defensive tackles with 10 sacks, notched his first interception off of a Sam Bradford pass (who was selected first overall ahead of him in the draft), and recovered a Rex Grossman fumble in the end zone for his first touchdown. The numbers were enough to earn him the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, an All-Pro honor, and a berth in the Pro Bowl. It looked as if the Lions were going to get every penny out of their 5-year, $68 million deal with Suh.
The Troublemaking Starts
While Ndamukong Suh picked up a reputation for excessive dirty play in 2011, the warning signs were there early. As a matter of fact, in a preseason game against Cleveland in his rookie year, Suh was fined $7,500 for a brutal hit on quarterback Jake Delhomme in which he grabbed him by the facemask and drove him into the ground. Some players were calling for a suspension and too many felt that the $7,500 fine did little to deter a player who had recently signed a contract worth $40 million guaranteed. It wouldn’t be Suh’s last run-in with dirty plays:
- 2010 – $15,000 for unnecessary roughness on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler
- 2011 – $20,000 for unnecessary roughness on Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton
- 2011 – Two-game suspension for stomping on a Packers lineman
- 2012 – $30,000 for kicking Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin
- 2013 – $100,000 for low block on Vikings center John Sullivan
- 2013 – $31,000 for late hit on Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden
This is in addition to a fine for throwing the sloat-thrashing gesture and gaining leverage on a field goal attempt that has pushed Suh’s total fines to over $200,000 already in his short NFL career.
Ndamukong Suh’s Role With Lions
Suh is a stalwart defensive tackle, a three-time Pro-Bowler, and an All-Pro. Unfortunately, as his reputation precedes him, so does the severity of the penalties involved. This could be part of the reason that Detroit has failed to offer Suh a contract extension past his current deal that ends at the end of the 2014 season. Ponying up what will likely be the richest contract for a defensive lineman in NFL history is too risky if he’s always suspended. That being said, the Detroit Lions enter the season with a new head coach and if Ndamukong Suh can keep his nose clean, he’ll get his money. Plus, he won’t have to give as much back to the league.
Thank you for reading. Ron Leyba is the lead editor of Fantasy Football Overdose, and a LastWordOnSports Analyst. For more of his NFL articles, follow his updates at NFL Fantasy Football Rankings Facebook or follow him on twitter @ronniedare. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport – and “liking” our Facebook page.
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