Suspend Suh

Ndamukong Suh is expected to be the new face of the Detroit Lions' defense. After a questionable play in this past weekend's exhibition win over the Cleveland Browns, it is fair to ask whether it is the kind of face the team should want to wear.

The linebacker grabbed quarterback Jake Delhomme by the face mask and threw him viciously to the ground. The NFL is reviewing the play to see if it merits disciplinary action.

Suh has basically shrugged the whole thing off. He will stay 'aggressive'. "I feel that if I do (tone down his play), then I'm doing a (disservice) to my teammates and not playing to my best ability if I'm thinking about that instead of thinking about getting after the ball and getting after the quarterback and making plays," he said. Basically, his opinion is that its up to the referees to determine personal fouls. He simply plays hard.

What that translates into is that he is a player not concerned with the rules but results. That is hardly sportsmanlike, yet is is an attitude prevalent in football. That should be no surprise, given the kill or be killed mentality bred into so many on the gridiron.

Yet rules are rules and every official, coach, and player has the responsibility to follow them to the best of their ability. That any player would be so flippant about a face mask infraction, the kind of thing that could potentially snap a player's neck, is shameful. Suh ought to be fined and suspended on his cavalier attitude alone. Even if he is, it likely won't result in any backing down from the macho football persona.

Football needs to get rid of its ego and remember that it's only a game. Yet still, games require discipline. That means living up to the responsibility to play by the rules, and especially to not purposely hurt your opponents. Until that happens, the game shall only be mean and mean spirited. It is not a lesson we should be teaching anyone in the guise of sports and entertainment.