Larry Fitzgerald defends ‘close friend’ Ndamukong Suh over eye poke

Ndamukong Suh has been guilty of committing numerous dirty plays throughout his NFL career, but future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald insists what Suh did to him on Sunday was not another example of that.

A video clip that has been circulating from the Los Angeles Rams’ win over the Arizona Cardinals shows Suh putting his hand in Fitzgerald’s facemask and appearing to poke him in the eye. Football fans were outraged that Suh would do something like that to one of the most respected players in NFL history.

Did Ndamukong Suh seriously try to poke Larry Fitzgerald's eye on Sunday? That's messed up.

Wow. pic.twitter.com/GO8rdGW0RR

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) December 25, 2018

If Suh really was trying to gouge out Fitzgerald’s eye, it was somewhat bizarre that the star receiver did not have a more angry reaction. On Wednesday, Fitzgerald explained that he is close friends with Suh and the two were just horsing around.

Wanted to address the video circulating from Sunday: I’ve known @NdamukongSuh since his college days and he’s a close friend of mine. Quality as a person matches his quality as a player.

That video is just a friend clowning with another friend. No negative intent! It's all love

— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) December 26, 2018

Fitzgerald has no reason to lie, so that should save the NFL’s disciplinary department some trouble. While Suh has deserved to be punished for some of the cheap shots he has thrown in the past, the latest incident was obviously taken out of context.

Ndamukong Suh has hard feelings towards Lions

Ndamukong Suh is apparently still harboring some hard feelings towards the Detroit Lions despite his tenure with the team long having passed.

The Los Angeles Rams travel to Detroit for this weekend’s game against the Lions. That means Suh will face off against the team with whom he started his career. Ahead of the matchup against his former team, Suh chose to bite his tongue when he was asked to comment about the Lions. Suh was complimentary of the city and its citizens. However, it’s obvious he was in no mood to speak about the Lions’ organization in good terms.

Ndamukong Suh, asked if he had any feelings about the Detroit Lions: “I’ll refrain from my comments about the organization. The city is an amazing city. Great people there. … But I’ll refrain from (comments about) the organization.”

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) November 29, 2018

Suh spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Lions after being drafted No. 2 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. During that time, he established himself as a dominant defensive force. Since then he has played for the Miami Dolphins and Rams.

The reason for Suh’s hard feelings towards the Lions are unclear, but he was part of numerous controversies while playing for the team. Of course, he’s not the first star player to have issues with the Lions.

It will be interesting to see what kind of reception Suh receives on Sunday.

Watch: Ndamukong Suh gets away with swatting Patrick Mahomes

The referees were throwing penalty flags left and right in the first half of Monday night’s Kansas City Chiefs-Los Angeles Rams game, but somehow they failed to call a penalty on Ndamukong Suh for swatting Patrick Mahomes.

The Kansas City quarterback scrambled to the 1-yard line in the second quarter and was met by two Rams defenders. Suh completely swatted him in the head but got away with it.

Somehow the refs didn’t throw a flag on THIS? Classic Ndamukong Suh. pic.twitter.com/9t8tXO0nsv

— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) November 20, 2018

With so many penalties being called in the game, it’s a wonder that Suh got away with what could have been illegal hands to the face.

I, for one, am shocked that Suh punched Mahomes in the side of the head.

In a game with like 20 flags that didn't get one?

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) November 20, 2018

Maybe if it were a Chiefs player who had done it, a penalty flag would have been thrown.

Ndamukong Suh calls Rams’ run defense ‘terrible’

Ndamukong Suh had some harsh words for his Los Angeles Rams’ run defense.

The Rams were gashed for 190 yards on the ground in their narrow win over the Seattle Seahawks last weekend. That is one of the lone areas of weakness for the 5-0 team.

On Thursday, Suh called the team’s run defense “terrible” lately.

Ndamukong Suh referred to the Rams’ recent run defense as “terrible,” and credited opponents but said the biggest issue is internal.

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) October 11, 2018

The Rams rank third in the league in points scored and sixth in points allowed. Their first in yards gained and ninth in yards allowed. But they are 18th in the league in rushing yards allowed and 29th with 5.0 yards per carry allowed.

Suh seems confident that the team can fix the matter with better execution. We weren’t the only ones to take note of their issues stopping the run.

This Ndamukong Suh practice video is too perfect

A video of Ndamukong Suh at Los Angeles Rams practice on Thursday is going viral for a great reason.

ESPN’s Rams reporter Lindsey Thiry shared a video of the Rams doing drills to work on sacking the quarterback without incurring a roughing the passer penalty. The video shows what happened with Ndamukong Suh approached the dummy.

Rams defensive line practicing sacking the quarterback, without drawing a penalty. Ndamukong Suh, everyone. pic.twitter.com/dJE99fWadp

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 4, 2018

Yes, Suh ran up to the dummy and then socked it with a huge punch. Thiry later explained that Suh knew she was filming and did it for show.

I shot the video and I'm still laughing 20 minutes later. It was classic. (Also, Suh was very well aware I was filming. "Do it for the gram!" Michael Brockers yelled).

— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) October 4, 2018

In the past we have seen Suh:
– Step on a quarterback
– Grab one by the throat
– Kick them

Straight up punching one would be new territory though, even for him.

Each NFL team’s worst contract in 2018

NFL contracts are often a hot-button issue. People love to debate who’s making too much, too little, who deserves more, and who is overpaid. Some athletes outplay their deals, while others cash in and fail to deliver. Teams obviously try hard to avoid the latter situation, but sometimes things don’t work out as hoped.

With all of that in mind, here’s a look at the worst contract on every NFL team entering the 2018 season.

Arizona Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham, TE

After signing him to two consecutive one-year deals, the Cardinals suddenly decided to invest heavily in Jermaine Gresham, signing him to a four-year, $28 million deal with $16.5 million guaranteed. The $7 million annual salary far exceeds any contract Gresham had previously signed, which is curious considering he hasn’t exceeded 500 yards in a single season since 2012 with the Cincinnati Bengals. Add in that Greshman is now on the wrong side of 30, and it’s easy to understand how he made this list.

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Ndamukong Suh: Aaron Donald deserves more money than me

Aaron Donald received a nice vote of support from one of his newest teammates in his pursuit of a new contract.

Ndamukong Suh, long viewed as one of the top defensive players in the NFL, said from Los Angeles Rams training camp Friday that Donald deserves more money than he does.

Ndamukong Suh said he’s looking forward to playing with Aaron Donald but hasn’t talked contracts with him. Suh: “He deserves more than I got, so I’ll leave it at that.” Suh signed for 6 years and $114 million with Miami in 2015.

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) July 28, 2018

Keep in mind that Suh signed for $114 million in 2015 and is making nearly $17 million this season. Donald is in the final season of his rookie deal and set to make under $7 million. As arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, Donald is seriously underpaid. The Rams just gave big money to Brandin Cooks and Todd Gurley, which is why a Donald holdout could become “lengthy.”