It looks like the Miami Dolphins are set to part ways with five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh spent his last three years with the franchise but will be moving on in 2018. Jeff Darlington first reported the news:
The plan is for Ndamukong Suh to be released as early as today as the Dolphins continue their attempt at a culture change – a plan that has purged arguably Miami’s three most talented players within last year. A lot riding on 2018.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 12, 2018
Report: Miami Dolphins Will Release Ndamukong Suh
The three-time All-Pro defensive tackle has not quite lived up to the six-year/$114 million contract he signed in the off-season of 2015. Suh had a dip in production in 2017 as he finished the season with 48 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games for Miami. The 31-year old veteran was due $26.1 million in 2018 and his release will give the Dolphins $22.2 million in dead money against their cap space.
In his three seasons with the Dolphins, Suh finished with 181 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Suh was voted to the Pro Bowl only once while in Miami and was named second-team All-Pro in the same season (2016).
Before signing with the Dolphins, Suh spent the first five years of his career with the Detroit Lions. He was voted to four Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro three times as a member of the Lions. His two best seasons with Detroit were his first and last with the team.
As a rookie, Suh finished the 2010 season with 65 tackles, 10 sacks, one interception and one defensive touchdown, all career highs. In his last season as a Lion in 2014, he tallied up 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, a pass deflection and added two sacks in the Lions playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite being one of the more dominant defensive tackles the past decade, Suh became one of the least-liked players in the NFL during his career. He has been fined over $420,000 during the span of his career for unnecessary roughness penalties and dirty hits. In 2011, a poll taken by the Sporting News consisting of active players voted Suh as the “the dirtiest player” in the NFL.
The Lions drafted Suh second overall in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. Before his pro career, Suh played college football at the University of Nebraska. He finished his collegiate career with 215 tackles, 49.5 tackles for a loss, 24 sacks, four interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. In 2009, Suh was named AP Player of the Year, Big 12 defensive player of the year, won the Bronco Nagurski award, Chuck Bednarik award, John Outland Trophy, Vince Lombardi award and was named first team All-American.
