Ndamukong Suh Suspended Two Games

Added on Nov 29, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has dodged several bullets since entering the league in 2010, but his most recent transgression will cost him the next two games. Suh’s Thanksgiving day head smash-foot stomp on Green Bay guard Evan Dietrich-Smith has resulted in a two-game suspension handed down by commissioner Roger Goodell. Considering Suh’s reputation as a dirty player, he’s fortunate the ban wasn’t longer.

Suh will also be fined for unsportsmanlike conduct, which marks the fifth time in his brief career he’s been docked. Three of those incidents involved unnecessary roughness infractions against quarterbacks Jay Cutler, Jake Delhomme and Andy Dalton.

Suh’s pattern of behavior has continued to escalate despite repeating warnings from referees and the league office. He went so far as to meet face-to-face with Goodell regarding his tarnished image and even promised he would clean up his act, but the post-stomping apology issued to Goodell obviously fell on deaf ears.

The suspension couldn’t come at a worse time for the 7-4 Lions. They are in a fierce battle to qualify for the playoffs and can ill afford to be without their best defensive player for critical matchups the next two weeks. After starting 5-0, they have dropped four of their last six. A finishing schedule that includes trips to New Orleans, Oakland and Green Bay won’t make the journey any easier.

Detroit’s last winning season was in 2000 and their last postseason appearance came in 1999. Nine of the last eleven years have netted double-digit losses, including the historically bad 0-16 2008 campaign.

Suh, who was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, has helped transform the Lions defense into one of the league’s most intimidating. However, his immense talent has been overshadowed by excessive violence and a blatant disregard for the rules.

Playing with an edge is part of what makes Suh such a dominant force along the defensive line, but until he tones it down a notch or ten he’ll remain a target for punishment by league officials.

Source: ESPN.com