Warren Sapp criticizes Nick Fairley's physique

Last month Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew was a bit critical of how Nick Fairley's weight was distributed within his body.

"I wouldn't say his weight is too high," Mayhew said. "He could probably re-position some of that weight."

Mayhew also stated that it's time for Fairley to mature and be more consistent since Fairley is known to disappear for  long stretches.

Hall of Famer Warren Sapp has jumped on board the Fairley physique bashing train. 

Sapp seems to have a dislike for the Detroit Lions defensive duo of Ndamukong Suh and Fairley. He has been critical of Suh since he's been in the league. Now he's made Fairley a target of his vocal rage.

"Little legs," Sapp said when asked about Fairley's game during Super Bowl festivities last week in New York. And he would go on to say "little legs" seven more times in his 12 sentences on the topic.

"You asked me a question and I told you: Little legs. Nick Fairley, little legs," he said, when asked if he thought Fairley was getting better. "I don't even know what he weighs. That would be so those little legs could carry it. He's got little legs. I've never seen a defensive tackle with little legs like that stay that long.

"It's a pounding, and you play the game inside with your legs. That's the only thing I see in him. I just laugh. He's got little legs. There's nothing he can do about it -- he's just genetically built a little different than most defensive tackles. He's just got little legs."

It's true that Sapp was one of the best in the game when he played and I actually have respect for the guy but he should stop trying to be the authority on all defensive lineman. He's had his time now it's time to let someone else shine. Do your job and be an analyst and be objective about it.

I agree that Fairley's weight is an issue just don't turn it into a personal attack.

Lions players support coach Jim Schwartz

After seemingly having the NFC North division title firmly in their grasp the Detroit Lions are seeing their season slip away.

After being in control of the division with a 6-3 record with a sweep of the Chicago Bears, the Lions have dropped three of four and now sit in third place in the division at 7-7. The slump has put pressure on head coach Jim Schwartz to right the ship and get the Lions to the playoffs or risk being fired. Despite the Schwartz fielding questions about his job security the Lions players have came out and voiced support for the embattled coach.

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was vocal about how he felt about Schwartz and the team.

 “Am I playing for Jim’s job? I think that’s a part of it,” Suh said today. “I’m sure everybody wants to win — the owners expect winning — but most importantly, you’ve got to play for winning, play to have a hunger to want to be a winner, and that’s what I play for.

“Obviously, I don’t want that coach to go anywhere. I love his scheme, love the way things go, but I don’t think that has to do with anything right now. What we need to do is focus on getting these next two wins and, most importantly, we got to go and take care of business at home against the New York Giants.”

Maybe he doesn't want Schwartz to go because he never disciplines him when he does anything wrong. Maybe a coach that would come in and be hard on him and make him accountable is something he might not like.

Nate Burleson knows that it's the players that ultimately decide games but coaches always pay the price.

“You look at all the losses we’ve had, it’s came down to plays we didn’t make,” receiver Nate Burleson said. “It seems like there’s always a point in the game where we have a chance to extend the lead or put ourselves in position to control the rest of the game, and we don’t do that, so we can’t look further than the guys wearing the jerseys.

“Maybe it’s just older guys talking; we want to shoulder the responsibility anyway. I think that’s the best way to look at it anyway. The coward’s way out is trying to point the finger in other directions. So if anybody wants to give criticism, give it to the players, not the coaches. They don’t suit up. They make the calls that put us in the position to be successful, and we’ve got to capitalize and make those plays happen.”

Correct Nate, but when it's third and short Schwartz shouldn't be cosigning play calla that have an empty backfield and shotgun formations. That's why fans and media always jump on the coach.

The Lions have a chance to stop the bleeding as they will face the reeling New York Giants on Sunday. the way things are going for the Lions this game won't be a gimme. They'll be favored but with both teams struggling something will have to give. The Lions still have a shot at the division crown but will need help by the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers and they'll have to take care of business themsleves.  

 “We let go of an opportunity to put these other teams away,” Suh said. “We opened the door back for them. We still have an opportunity to take care of business, and it’s most important that we do our part, or none of it matters. And that’s what we’ve yet to do, to this point, is do our part and close the door. So now we’ve let a bunch of ants in the house and now you’ve got to go get an exterminator to get them out.”

Time for the Lions to put up or shut up.

NFL VP trying to get Ndamukong Suh's attention

The man who hands out fines for the NFL admits he's trying to get Ndamukong Suh's attention.

Suh was fined for a second time this season on Wednesday, $31,500 for striking Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden with his helmet.

NFL vice president of operations Merton Hanks said Friday in a spot on “Total Access” on NFL Network that he wanted to get Suh’s attention with the fine but didn’t think the hit was worthy of larger punishment.

“The fine amount is more than the minimum because he is a repeat offender and I wanted to get Ndamukong Suh’s attention in this regard,” Hanks said. “I’ve got to help him course correct.”

Hanks was asked why Suh didn't get a suspension for the hit. Hanks said it wasn't an "egregious play".

“In the big scheme of things, it’s not an egregious play,” Hanks said. “It is a violation, that’s why he was fined.”  

The way I see it, Suh will always be watched closely. Anytime he lays a hard hit on an opponent he's going to be scrutinized. Suh says he isn't going to change his game, but that comment will do nothing but warrant a close look by the NFL.

On the other hand you would think Hanks would cut Suh a little bit of slack since he was known as a big hitter when he played.

Ex-Lion Al "Bubba" Baker says he has a man crush on Ndamukong Suh

For those that can remember back to the late 1970's and early 80's, the Detroit Lions had a pretty good defensive line. Heade by Doug English and the headliner Al "Bubba" Baker, the Lions front four was known as the 'Silver Rush'.

Baker made a special appearance to the Lions training camp and says that this Lions defensive line could be better than the 'Silver Rush' edition. he also admitted to having a man crush on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.   

“I think we all have seen what they’ve assembled here, and the front that they’re in, they have an opportunity to do something,” Baker said. “I think these guys have the ability to break any record we ever had as the Silver Rush — by far.”

"I have to admit I have a man crush on Ndamukong Suh. I've already told my wife," Baker said. "If I had a body like that, I'd still be playing.

"There's no one single human being that can block Suh. He doesn't exist. King Kong, but he's retired."

Baker is the latest defensive lineman to praise Suh and the way he plays the game. Former Pittsburgh Steeler great mean Joe Greene also had some positive words about Suh and both feel the league should stop trying to rein him in so much.

Suh puts in a good word for incoming Nebraska basketball coach

The Nebraska Cornhuskers ended their search for a basketball coach when they hired Tim Miles from Colorado State. Miles led the Rams to their first NCAA tournament since 1998 and would've been considered a favorite for the Mountain West title next season.

Miles will now head up a rebuilding job in Lincoln. Athletic director Tom Osborne was impressed by the way Miles has built programs at his previous stops. But it helps when you have former players of the football program  helping you get the job.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh reportedly was one of three Nebraska supporters that recommended Miles for the job.


Miles said he and Suh have a mutual friend who put them contact this week.


Osborne joked (we think) that he wasn't about to ignore the Detroit Lions defensive tackle's recommendation.


"When Ndamukong calls, I always listen. And if I don't listen," Osborne told the Omaha World Herald, "he'll break my neck."


I guess when you donate $2.6 million back to your alma mater, that your opinions on who gets hired around there matters.

Ndamukong Suh Says Players Respect How He Plays

The 2011-2012 NFL season was a disappointing one for Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Well at least for many fans and experts. He might tell you that he had a pretty good season.

After a dominating rookie season, the whispers started that Suh was a dirty player. I always thought he played hard, had an edge, but wasn't dirty. When you're so much stronger than the player across from you,a routine play can look like he's brutalizing someone. There was a poll taken duirng the season amongst NFL players and Suh was voted the dirtiest in the game. Suh also believes he's one of the most respected.

In an interview with NFL magazine, Suh said that many would like 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.”

The dirty tag will stick with him until further notice. The fact that none of his teammates really had his back when he made the stomp on Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith on Thanksgiving didn't help his cause.

Maybe the opinions of two Hall of Famers could help him out. Richard Dent and Bruce Smith both said that they like the way Suh 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.”


I won't call him dirty just yet, but if he has more incidents like the Thanksgiving stomp, he'll wear the tag forever.





 




      

Evans Thinks Suh Is A Dirty Player

And the claims that Ndamukong Suh is a ‘dirty’ player continue to emerge as we are now on the eve of the Lions first playoff game since the 1999 season.

The latest claim has come from New Orleans Saints; Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans who says Suh is a dirty player after the whistle.

“I think some things he does is dirty, after the whistle,” Evans told The Times-Picayune. “He needs to put a cap on that, but he’s a phenomenal player.”

Now this seems pretty consistent with a lot of the other claims that have surfaced during the season. It’s also hard for Lions fans to refute any claim that Suh is a dirty player based off what happened Thanksgiving weekend when Suh stomped on Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith.

The trouble though with Evans’ comments is he has never been matched with Suh… ever. So it may be safe to assume that Evans is jumping on a bandwagon rather than finding out for himself. Suh missed the matchup with the Saints earlier this season because of a two game suspension for the aforementioned stomp against the Packers.

This adds an interesting subplot to this game as there were stories coming out of New Orleans that if Suh starts taking any cheap shots at quarterback Drew Brees that they won't back down from him. It looks like Suh will have a target on his back Saturday night.  

Did Suh Lie About The Accident?

Detroit Lions defensive tackle was involved in a one car accident over the weekend. According to Suh, he crashed his car when he lost control of the 1970 Chevrolet Coupe and crashed into a tree trying to pass a taxicab, according to the original police report. He also said that no one was injured. No citations were issued.

A report has surfaced with two passengers that were in the car saying  Suh lied about the details of the accident.

“When the light turned green, he floored it,” one of the passengers told KGW. “I just remember going so fast and it was violent and just getting thrown around like rag dolls.”

That woman says she suffered a black eye and a busted lip which required stitches. Suh told police no one needed to go to the hospital, but the woman said she asked Suh to call for an ambulance and he refused, telling her she was fine.

Another witness says that Suh was trying to "show off".

It seems that someone doesn't have their story straight and somewhere in between lies the truth.

Ndamukong Suh To Participate In Gumball 3000

When I hear of the Gumball 3000 or Gumball rally, I usually think of something along the lines of "The Cannonball Run". Detroit Lions defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh will be participating in the Gumball 3000 to promote a new video game by Ubisoft called "Driver." 

I for one would not lik Suh to participate in such a race, even though it's all in fun. That's just my biased opinion as a Lions fan. On the other side of the coin he does have to make a living since he's not being paid due to the NFL lockout.

Suh is looking forward to the race.

"Being able to drive at a high speed and not get in trouble for it is great. When it comes to driving on the street, if the speed limit is 65, I might go 73, but in this race I'm going to go as fast as I can while at the same time being safe. My health and my co-pilot's health is the most important thing to me. One of my good friends who plays for the Colts is going to be in there with me, Cody Glenn, so we're going to go out there and enjoy it and split the driving duty."  

Happy trails to those two as they embark on a new challenge. Just keep it safe.

Lions Get Two Pro Bowlers

For once the Detroit Lions have two bonafide Pro Bowlers. It seems like it's been ages since they've had two players go to participate in the annual Hawaii extravanganza. Also it was like any Lions player that went was like a sympathy pick, sort of like baseball's All Star Game.

Many expected receiver Calvin Johnson to make it. He was named a starter for the NFC squad. Many expected rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to be good. But not Pro Bowl starter good. That's what 60 tackles, 9 sacks, an interception, and throw in a fumble recovery for a touchdown will get you. I don't think anyone expected this kind of impact when training camp started.

As a Lions fan it gets me somewhat excited about the team's future. Hopefully they can get a few more impact players and translate some of this production into more wins.

Ndamakong Suh- TV Star

I never knew commercias of the big man existed until now.






As a Lions fan, let's hope this translates to the field.