What Needs to Happen to Ndamukong Suh? a Fan's Commentary

The Detroit Lions held their annual Thanksgiving game at Ford Field, once again playing the Green Bay Packers. Fans were hoping for a repeat of the 1962 game in which the Lions were able to give the undefeated Packers their only loss of the season. They could have been successful, had they remained focused. But instead, miscues, interceptions and hot tempers once again took their toll on the Lions as a whole. The most notable incident was Ndamukong Suh's nasty attack on Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith, that led to his ejection from the game.

This was another heated showdown, full of emotions and expectations. Tempers are going to flare. I get that. Suh was getting pulled down in the tackle. He got mad and wanted to make his presence known. It is one thing to firmly put your hand on the opponent. Repeatedly slamming his head into the ground is unacceptable. He got kicked out of the game for then stomping on Dietrich-Smith's arm.

The most disturbing part was that following the game, Suh denied any wrongdoing. As for repeatedly pushing the helmet into the ground, he said that he was trying to push the guy off of him. Watching the game and subsequent replays, I would say he looks more like the big bully on the playground. And then he said that his "leg motion" was merely trying to get his balance again and he was leaning in the opposite direction. If he had meant to stomp on Dietrich-Smith, he would have stood over him.

I admit that I missed the stomp in live action while watching the game. I thought at first he had been kicked out for the head banging after repeated penalties. Regaining balance would not have been such a sharp and short move as what I saw in the replays . No one is going to believe that for a moment.

So what now? Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira thinks that Suh will be suspended for multiple games. Speculation is that he could receive a fine or suspension or possibly both. A fine is not going to impact him at all. A suspension may get through to him. He got away with ripping off Jay Cutler's helmet during the Lions-Bears game on November 13^th. He has previously gotten three other fines for rough hits on quarterbacks. He met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during the bye week to discuss his playing. Nothing really happened other than him feeling emboldened to keep playing the way that he likes to play.

And what is Jim Schwartz going to do? A coach is supposed to guide his players and let them know when they are being jerks. Then again, this is the same man who went after Jim Harbaugh after an excited slap on the back at the end of the 49ers game. He is also the same man who was the defensive coordinator when Albert Haynesworth stomped on Andre Gurode in 2006. Should Schwartz also be held responsible?

His actions are not just impacting himself and potentially injuring his opponents. The timing of his stomp allowed the Packers another shot at the endzone when they had been stopped. Other defensive players are not as strong as he is, allowing the Packers more opportunities to keep scoring. The team as a whole played significantly worse following the incident. The Lions probably still would have lost the game, but it would have been at a lower margin than the 27-15 final. How is this going to impact the rest of their season?

And what about the fans? Loyal fans are willing to put up with a few losses and some minor indiscretions. They have continued to support Suh despite his controversial actions. This may be their tipping point.

Andrea Coventry is an NFL fan whose loyalties lie with the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills.

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