Chris Norton
Sports Editor

His battered image casts a dark shadow over his off-field charity.

Not many players in the National Football Leauge possess such infamy like that of controversial defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh. In his young three-year career, Suh has managed to create quite a reputation. To no surprise, he is currently among some of the most hated players in the league. From extraneously violent tackles to physical outbursts of rage, the 25-year-old from the University of Nebraska has drawn negative media attention from all over the country.
In his most recent act of controversy, Suh was accused of deliberately kicking Houston Texan’s quarterback Matt Schaub in the groin whilst falling to the ground. To many, it’s difficult to disagree with the accusation once the video is seen, with Suh’s leg clearly extending towards Schaub in a forceful manner. This, along with others, ended in a fine of $30,000 and another event added to his already damaged image. In his first two years, he has been penalized for nine personal fouls, which is the most of any player in that time frame.
The media has criticized his aggressive style of play since he joined the league. In a poll conducted by Sporting News, Suh was named the NFL’s “dirtiest player” by his peers, and was also voted the NFL’s “least-liked player.” In a previous incident, during the Lions’ 2011 Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers, Suh was seen shoving Packers’ offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith’s head into the ground three times. He then proceeded to stomp on his arm as he stood up, all of which taking place long after the play was over. He was penalized for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game. Few players escape his wrath, like Jake Delhomme, and Jay Cutler, who both have experienced his rough style firsthand.
As a player, Ndamukong Suh appears to be an unstoppable source of aggression and violence. Though off the field, Suh far from portraying a monster. In 2010, Suh announced a $2.6 million donation to the Univeristy of Nebraska which went towards the school’s athletic program and an endowed scholarship for the UNL College of Engineering, from which he graduated in 2009 earning a degree in Construction Management. His selflessness, however, is hidden behind the shadow of negativity that is his style of play.
Seeing as he is still a young player, it seems as though Suh’s career in the NFL is not ending in the near future. It is expected by many that for the remainder of his employment, he will continue to cause a great deal of controversy and dismay. For himself, Suh hopes to remain the dominant player at the helm of the Lions’ defense, while continuing to chase the dream becoming a commendable Super bowl champion.