Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh knows about the poll of NFL players that said he’s the dirtiest player in the NFL. But he believes he’s also one of the most respected players in the league.
Suh said in an interview with NFL Magazine that he knows plenty of players admire the way he plays and would love to be on his side.
“The players who said I am the dirtiest player in the league, it’s ultimately their opinion, but I would love to hear from many of them on their true opinion on that,” Suh said. “A lot of players have told me they see me as a protector of my teammates, that, side by side, I’m there when something goes down, and I step up beside them and for them when things get nasty. I play the game hard, and I play it physical.”
Suh’s claims about being respected by his peers don’t seem to be borne out by what the polls of active players have shown, and Suh didn’t have a whole lot of defenders even in his own locker room after he stomped on Evan Dietrich-Smith on Thanksgiving. But NFL Magazine did find some former NFL defensive linemen who said they like the way he plays.
Hall of Famer Bruce Smith said he showed his son Alston, a high school defensive tackle who recently committed to Virginia Tech, a tape of Suh to demonstrate the right way to play the position. And Hall of Famer Richard Dent said he likes what Suh does -- he just thinks Suh needs to learn how to channel his rage.
“Be smarter, get the next play, take your game to the next level,” Dent said. “Suh has to let his work be his message. Control that anger. You embarrass the guy in front of you with your play, you kick his ass that way, that’s the greatest response.”
