When it comes to Ndamukong Suh I feel rather like an "I told you so" because when he was drafted in the NFL Draft 2010 taken second overall I wrote the following in an article on Rant Rave approximately 19 months ago.
"As always, time will tell if this pick is a superb grab by the Lions rather than another disappointment that is off the field behavior overshadowed his on the field play. I am not implying that he will be a trouble maker at all I am just a cautious fan who has learned from mistakes in the draft in the past such as Andre Ware a great college player who was unable to play well in the pro's."
One might ask why I am writing this to toot my own horn as it were but I find it kind of an ego boost to be able to imply, "I told you so." There was a comment on the other article defending him implying what a great person. The keyword there really should be was because as with many players who get millions become too big to handle even by their own family who are afraid to derail the gravy train.
As a lifetime Lions fan, I was so hopeful that he would not become too big for his britches as the likes of Big Baby Rogers. Who could have had a big future in Detroit as a star defensive lineman but apparently was not what he proposed and was dealt away because of it by the Lions. Why do fans care so much about the behavior of the players of the team because their inept behavior off the field leads to big losses on the field and surely does not lead to a Super Bowl Win in many cases?
With the suspension and now the auto crash followed by alleged lying to authorities, I have to wonder if he will ever be more than another Albert Haynesworth who expects grandiose things from the team, league and especially the fans. I would rather eat soap at my grandmother's house than look the other way as an adult who my sons look up to acts like no one else matters but him in life. Self- discipline is a foundation based in sports and a lesson they purport to teach and yet more and more these days players seem to be lacking just that and its showing up on and off the field.
I am hopeful that Suh becomes organized but currently his coach seems to be more of an enabler than a boss of a player who seems destined to be out of control. I want management of both the league and the team to get with this young man and teach him some humility and discipline and soon. There will be no Super Bowl wins in our future if they fail to do so.
http://www.freep.com/article/20111211/SP...|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE