Lions GM Mayhew: Team could use franchise tag on Ndamukong Suh

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he's not ruling out the possibility of using the franchise tag on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he's not ruling out the possibility of using the franchise tag on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Suh is in the final year of a five-year contract worth more than $60 million. The Lions selected Suh with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft. The 28-year-old has earned four Pro Bowl nods and been selected to four All-Pro teams.

Ndamukong Suh's Controversial Moments

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Before he even played his first official snap, Suh announced himself as a ferocious, if not dirty player. In an exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns in August 2010, Suh charged through the defensive line and yanked quarterback Jake Delhomme's facemask before tightening his grip and throwing Delhomme down by his head. Suh was fined $7,500 for the hit.

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Suh has a history with Bears QB Jay Cutler, starting with a nasty forearm shove, during a game in December 2010, that was deemed a blow to the head and cost the defensive tackle $15,000. Replays later showed that Suh actually hit Cutler above the shoulder pads and below the neck, but the hit was still deemed a fineable offense.

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Bengals QB Andy Dalton received a rude and highly illegal welcome to the NFL by Suh when the then-rookie had his helmet ripped off in the 2011 preseason opener. The hit, similar to the one Suh put on Delhomme, earned him a $20,000 fine. Suh was none too happy about the response as he would tweet: "$20,000REALLY???!!"

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Suh was voted the dirtiest player in a Sporting News poll of 111 players on 31 teams. Suh won in a landslide over the Steelers' James Harrison.

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In a November 2011 game, Suh ripped Cutler's helmet off while taking the quarterback down.

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In a Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers in 2011, Suh became tangled up with Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith and eventually stamped the lineman after standing up. The act earned Suh a two-game suspension without pay and sullied his reputation in the press and throughout the league.

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In an October 2012 game against the Chicago Bears, Suh laid a controversial but decidedly legal hit on quarterback Jay Cutler, a player that he has terrorized in the past. Suh chased Cutler to the sidelines before grabbing his shoulder pad and violently driving the quarterback into the ground. The NFL determined not to fine Suh for the hit.

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Suh was fined $30,000 for kicking Houston quarterback Matt Schaub during a Thanksgiving Day game on Nov. 22, 2012. After Suh was taken to the ground, his foot swung toward Schaub and hit him in the groin area.

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During the 2013 season opener, with 14:09 left in the second quarter, Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder threw a pick to Detroit outside linebacker DeAndre Levy, who appeared to take it to the house for a touchdown. However, Ndamukong Suh negated the score when he put a clearly illegal block on Minnesota center John Sullivan. The NFL levied a $100,000 fine against Suh for the low block.

David Richard/AP

Suh was fined $31,500 for a hit on Cleveland quarterback Brandon Weeden in Week 6 of the 2013 season. Suh's hit did not draw a penalty during the game, and it appeared that he actually let up a bit on Weeden. Suh and Weeden also had another run-in during the Lions' win. On a Weeden scramble in the third quarter, Suh grabbed him and tossed him to the ground with authority. There was no penalty called there either (and probably not one warranted). Regardless of which play was in question, there's little question that Suh's reputation came into play here.

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Suh was suspended for one game (an NFC Wild Card game) for stepping on Aaron Rodgers' leg during the fourth quarter of a 30-20 Packers victory in their last game of the 2014 season, which clinched the NFC North for Green Bay. Suh was not flagged on the play. Rodgers had injured the leg earlier in the game while throwing a short touchdown pass to receiver Randall Cobb. In the NFL's official ruling on the suspension, Rodgers was described as "in a defensless posture." After Suh backed up and stepped on Rodgers' leg, Suh did so again with his other foot, "applying pressure and unnecessarily pushing off Rodgers’ unprotected leg with his left foot, violating playing rules prohibiting unnecessary roughness.

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Suh signed a six-year, $114 million contract with the Dolphins prior to the 2015 season. His acquisition was expected to vastly improve the Dolphins defense, but through Week 2 he has made minimal impact (two tackles and one assist with no sacks). Suh reportedly disregarded play calls from defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle in the team’s Week 2 loss to the Jaguars. By “freelancing” at times, Suh created confusion on the Dolphins defensive line.

Over 16 games this season, Suh recorded 54 tackles and 8.5 sacks while helping the Lions rank first in the NFL in rushing defense. According to the report, the team prefers to sign Suh to a long-term deal. If Detroit were to use the franchise tag on Suh, it could cost nearly $27 million.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in September that Suh is likely to leave Detroit in free agency, but Mayhew reportedly said Suh is "open" to remaining with the Lions.

"He likes to win, I know that," Mayhew said, according to the report. "I know he likes coach (Jim) Caldwell, I know he's very comfortable here in Detroit, so those things all play in our favor. At the end of the day money talks, so we'll have to step up in terms of pursuing him financially as well."

The Lions went 11-5 and finished in second place in the NFC North this season before falling to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs.

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