| 24 November 2011
Suh shows how to ruin your reputation in one step...
Two post game quotes stood out for me after the Packers smoked the Lions and Ndamukong Suh smoked his reputation.
Packers guard T.J. Lang, via the Journal-Sentinel:
"I'm not surprised," Lang said. "He's been getting dumb penalties all year. That's something we talked about all week. They were probably going to do something stupid along the way. They've done it almost every game."
"There's a lot of chippiness that goes on out there," Lang said. "And we're pretty smart for the most part not to respond. But yeah, we knew watching the film on these guys that there would be some chippy plays out there. And there certainly was. But we just really emphasized amongst ourselves that we wouldn't be the ones to respond and lose 15 yards."
After reading that, is anyone surprised one, the Packers are 11-0, and two, the Lions have a well deserved rep for being undisciplined cheap shot artists?
The other quote is from soon to be suspended Lions tackle Ndamukong Suh, via Mlive:
"I was on top of a guy being pulled down and trying to get up off the ground," Suh said. "Why you see me pushing his helmet down, because I'm trying to remove myself from the situation and as I'm getting up, I'm getting pushed, so I'm getting myself on balance and getting out of the situation.
"With that, a lot of people are going to interpret it as, or create their own storylines for seeing what they want to interpret it, but I know what I did and the man upstairs knows what I did."
"I'm on one leg and I'm trying to get out at the same time being pushed by his teammates, so where, how am I supposed to do anything else? ... I'm pushing down forcefully to get up and get myself out of the situation," Suh said.
I love the Lions, and have defended Suh in the past...but I don't believe a word he said. He's either delusional or lying through his teeth. Suh would have been much better served in the long run by being apologetic instead of cluelessly defiant. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar...but Suh poured vinegar everywhere with his failure to show any remorse.
Now watch video of Suh's attempt to curb stomp Evan Dietrich-Smith...
I'm sorry, but that's not "pushing down forcefully" trying remove yourself from the situation, it's an attempt to hurt someone after badly losing your composure. And if there is a God. I don't think he'd approve of Suh's goon-like move...though I'd much prefer he not use religion as a shield.
To be honest, the man upstairs Suh should really be worrying about is NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Considering his past transgressions, the incident happening on a national stage, and Suh's refusal to be contrite for his actions, Goodell is going to come down on the 2nd year tackle with the wrath of several Gods. A punitive fine is a lock, and it's only going to be a matter of not if there's a suspension...but how long.
But Suh has more to worry about than the NFL laying down the law. He's already been convicted in the court of puplic opinion. When the media uses Albert Haynesworth's head stomp as a comparison (even if it's in a dirty play league of it's own), you have some major reputation repair on your hands. FOX's referee guru, Mike Periria, bashes Suh about like a pinata in his post game column, while speculating he'll get a multiple game suspension...or should I call it a "Suh-spension?"
Suh’s not dirty, he’s filthy.
This guy has a history. An ugly one at that.
There's more...
A personal foul is one thing, but what Suh did Thursday was as a non-football act. When a player hits another player with a late hit or commits a helmet-to-helmet hit, those are considered football plays. Stomping on somebody or spitting on someone — those are considered premeditated acts.
Finally...
Suh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently to discuss his on-field play and afterward said he had a better understanding of how to play the game within the rules.
I would say he needs another lesson — or two. Maybe three.
And to make matters worse, after the game Thursday, Suh said he was trying to regain his balance while pushing Dietrich-Smith’s head to the turf and then stomping on his arm.
And I can't refute a word of it.
What worse, a 2 or 3 game Suh-spension could be a dagger in the Lions' playoff chances. They are already decimated by injuries. Now there will be another spot in the lineup the Lions will have to fill...Suh's. It won't be easy on the road against the Saints.
After being ejected, Suh takes the NFL player's walk of shame...
The next several days are going to be damned unpleasant for Suh, the Lions, and their fans. This incident is going to be a black stain on Suh's rep for some time to come. But when you play on the razor's edge between aggressive and dirty, then leap across it...you reap what you sow.
In this case, what Suh may have reaped is the Lions missing the post season.
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