NFL suspends Ndamukong Suh for stepping on Aaron Rodgers' leg

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended one game by the NFL for stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh has been suspended one game without pay by the NFL for stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.

Suh is expected to appeal the suspension, and when he does, the hearing officer will be Ted Cottrell, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Suh stepped on Rodgers' leg during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 30-20 Packers victory, which clinched the NFC North for Green Bay. Rodgers had injured the leg earlier in the game while throwing a short touchdown pass to receiver Randall Cobb.

Ndamukong Suh's Controversial Moments

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In just his fourth year in the league, Ndamukong Suh has become one of the most polarizing players in the NFL.

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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 (inset). The NFL levied a $100,000 fine against Suh for the low block.

Suh was not flagged on the play.

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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."

In a letter to Suh explaining the suspension, NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks said:

"You did not respond in the manner of someone who had lost his balance and accidentally contacted another player who was lying on the ground. This illegal contact, specifically the second step and push off with your left foot, clearly could have been avoided." Hanks further noted "you unnecessarily stepped on your opponent’s unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself."

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Suh will be prohibited from attending team activities or appearing at the Lions' facilities. Detroit (11-5) travels to Dallas to play the Cowboys (12-4) in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday and his absence would be a huge loss for Detroit.  

Suh has a history of running afoul of the league's player safety rules. In 2011, he was suspended for two games after stomping on the arm of former Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. He's scheduled to become a free agent this offseason and could eclipse J.J. Watt's six-year, $100 million extension to become the league's highest paid defensive player.

- Mike Fiammetta