Ndamukong Suh is used to hearing criticism from the fans and media for his style of play. That is all part of the nature of playing in the NFL, as is being ripped by analysts and former players. Warren Sapp is one former player that was recently hard on the Detroit Lions defensive tackle, saying he is wasting his talent. Rather than criticizing him, Suh feels as though Sapp should be mentoring him.
“I don’t know what’s exactly going on in [Sapp’s] head,” Suh told CBSSports.com’s John Kreger. “To me, you can be a fan and just criticize me, or you can be a great person — somebody who can be a legend and who can possibly be in the Hall of Fame — and teach me something. Show me what you think I’m doing incorrectly. Or just continue as a fan, somebody who just wants to criticize me.”
Unlike most of Suh’s critics, Sapp didn’t only focus on cheap shots like this one and this one when ripping the third-year tackle out of Nebraska. The problem he has with Suh had more to do with his inability to anticipate what offenses are doing and his tendency to focus too much on rushing the passer. Suh acknowledged that there are plenty of things he can do better on the field.
“I understand what people are trying to do against me, I can anticipate things better,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t done enough to really help us blossom into wins. Playing well, it’s not enough. I can still do more. There are better things that I could do to make other guys around me better.”
Warren Sapp, the mentor? Sapp is certainly one of the best defensive tackles to ever play the game, but for some reason that just doesn’t have a ring to it.
Photo credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE
