It seems that Ndamukong Suh‘s dirty style of play has finally earned him more recognition than his achievements on the field.
On Thanksgiving Day�a day where football has become as much a staple as turkey�Suh delivered perhaps his filthiest foul yet. �After an Aaron Rogers pass fell incomplete in a 3rd-and-goal situation, Suh was seen slamming the helmet of a Green Bay Packers player into the ground. �
And just for good measure, he proceeded to drive his cleat into the defenseless player’s arm.
Flagrant patterns of misconduct have no place in the NFL, and now Suh is likely facing a suspension of at least one game. �What is worse, however, is that�this latest display of immaturity has given critics even more fuel to burn him (and his team) with.
What follows are not only reasons why both Suh and the Detroit Lions need to go into full-fledged damage control, but also how they can help fix this debacle.
Why
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Whether he embraces the role or not, Ndamukong Suh has become the face of the Detroit Lions. �Unfortunately, that is not a good thing for his team.
Despite being one of the best defensive tackles in the game, Suh has built a reputation based more on dirty plays than accolades. �As he goes, so do the Detroit Lions, and now the team has been unfairly marked as perhaps the dirtiest team in the NFL.
This is a true shame, as the Lions (7-4) deserve to be recognized for their success this season, rather than for the fouls committed by one of their star players. �
It is for this reason that both Suh and the Lions need to do everything they can in order to restore the now-tarnished image of their team. �Coming into this season, the Lions were increasingly becoming a fan favorite. �By the fifth week of the season, the Lions had won their fifth game and the bandwagon was about as full as it could get.
Now, more and more people are jumping off that bandwagon, and it likely has more to do with Suh’s recklessness than their 2-4 record over the past six weeks.
Why (cont.)
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Aside from his team’s reputation being laid to waste, Ndamukong Suh also needs to be concerned with his own image.
As one of the premier players in the NFL, it is only natural that Suh be a role model for kids. �As a role model, it is not in his best interest to be sending the message that reckless violence is acceptable.
What parents want their children looking up to a brute who can’t control his aggression?
And if Suh is not worried about sending the wrong message to kids, then maybe he should worry about what will happen to him if he continues down this same path. �
It seems all but certain that Suh will be dealt a suspension following this latest act of violence. �If he returns to the field after his suspension and commits yet another flagrant personal foul, who knows what sort of punishment will be bestowed upon him.
After all, he is only an asset to his team when he is actually on the field.
How
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For the Detroit Lions, perhaps the best thing they can do to rectify this ugly situation is carry out their own punishment on Ndamukong Suh.
If Suh should care about anything, it should be how his own team feels about him. A punishment from his own team will go a long way towards showing�Suh that even his own team does not condone his actions out on the field. ��Realizing that not even his own locker room has his back might be just the wake-up call he needs in order to help keep his aggression in check.
But aside from the message that it would send to Suh, a punishment from the Detroit Lions may actually help improve their reputation among both fans and the rest of the league.
Disciplinary action would show that, despite the actions of one player, the Lions are not in the business of playing dirty football. It would help separate them from the play in question and prove that their rugged style of football does not necessarily equate to them being a dirty team.
How (cont.)
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As for Ndamukong Suh himself, perhaps the best way he can go about trying to repair his image is to actually seek outside help.
Some die-hard fans may think this laughable, but in reality, getting help to temper his aggression will improve his reputation twofold.
First, seeking therapeutic aid may actually help Suh contain his aggression out on the field. �That will lead to a cleaner style of play, which in turn will help remove some of the “dirty” label that is associated with his name.
Then there is the mere fact that even going to get help will help improve his reputation. �People love when they see celebrities and athletes trying to better themselves, so showing that he is willing to try and correct his past actions will earn Suh many points in the eyes of fans.
I’m sure that, when his career his finished, Suh would much rather be remember for the big plays he made rather than the fouls he committed. �If he wants that vision to become a reality, it is time he starts making a few changes.
Like my stuff? �Then check out more of my articles in the latest issue of Extra Point Sports Magazine here:�http://issuu.com/extrapointsportsmagazine/docs/1.3
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