Ndamukong Suh on fine: “I don’t change”

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Sun doesn’t seem very apologetic about his actions after Sunday’s season opening 34-24 win against the Minnesota Vikings.

Not after stomping a player’s arm during the Thanksgiving 2011 game against the Green Bay Packers.  Not after kicking Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin last season.  And certainly not after a low block on Vikings center John Sullivan that cost him $100,000.

Consider this quote from NFL.com:

"“Really you just play football, that’s all I can do,” Suh told reporters. “… I don’t change, I’m going to always play tough, hard, that’s the way I was brought up at Nebraska, where I really learned football from the Pelinis and that staff and continue to play hard, play blue-collar football.”"

The problem with Suh is that he seems patently unaware of how his actions affect not only himself, but the team. Case in point: the ensuing touchdown during the Lions’ interception was called back on the penalty–the Lions still won, so fortunately it wasn’t a game-changing play. But stomping a player (which he said he wasn’t aware of doing) and kicking another in the groin are other issues in and of themselves. And, as Marc Sessler rightly pointed out, $100,000 is a slap on the wrist for someone making as millions of dollars in guaranteed money.

Suh has said that he won’t change his style of play–but for a player who has gained a reputation of dirty actions on the field and is on the NFL’s hit list, maybe it’s time that he did.