See the part in bold--I had noticed this as well. Around the same time, Suh participated in other events, so it's not like he can use the 'I'm a private person' excuse. To add fuel to the fire--I mentioned a while back that Suh was apparently the only team member to not do the victory lap at Ford Field after the playoff-clinching win against SD. I think more pressure needs to be put on Suh to tone down the self-promotion and start being a true member of the team.

What an absolute pile of garbage that article was. Suh is a team player. You didn't hear him complain about his teammates not getting him open lanes to make a sack. You didn't hear him complain about anything with the team.

As for his getting suspended, we all know (I hope) that some of the fines he received were COMPLETELY BOGUS in 2010 and 2011. He was a targeted player, both by the league and the officials, and other players took advantage. And no, it's not homerism, it's the damn truth. His reactions may not have been the right approach, but that doesn't mean he's not a team player. Losing your cool because you are getting victimized time and again and the officials aren't calling it is called being human.

Suh isn't perfect, and there are things about him I am not really crazy about. But he's very involved with community stuff both here and in Nebraska and Portland. Not attending some Lions Charity stuff doesn't mean he CHOOSES not to be a good teammate, but could just simply be a scheduling conflict. Those aren't mandatory attendance events for the players, so hanging him out to dry about it is a low blow as far as I'm concerned.

Whoever wrote this article should turn in his Lions fan card and move to Wisconsin.

Maybe he just sucks at golf and fishing, or maybe he had some family stuff going on? I get the "suck it up and do it anyway" mentality, but maybe it's just not his bag. I can say that I've seen him out with KVB, Best, and Raiola, and he regularly hangs out in down town Royal Oak. He seems to hang out with teammates and go to quite a few "events."

I personally think he needs to prove that he's a team player by not getting frustrated, and not selfishly talking his frustrations out on the other team in ways that cause the Lions yards.

I agree with this. He is a team player but he's also immature in a lot of ways, and I think the stomping incident and some of the after-the-whistle aggressiveness have demonstrated that immaturity. He has problems with judgment, not with playing on a team.

I should point out that the activities mentioned in the original article were going on when everybody was in town for OTAs.

Yeah, I realize that. The article, unfortunately, is idiotic. Lots of players didn't participate in these events so there's no point in trying to make a story out of one particular guy's absence.

So being a team player, by your definition, is one that does not complain?

Nah, I don't buy it. It doesn't mean he isn't, but this doesn't prove anything to me.

Couldnt have said it better. Well said.

OK, so when a player complains about his other teammates and/or is interested in padding his personal stats, he is often criticized as not being a team player, right? But a player who does his job without complaint, despite the criticisms being thrown at him for his lack of stats can't use that as evidence of his being a team player?

And that was but one example I used.

Taking a penalty doesn't make a player selfish. Stomping Evan Dietrich-Smith wasn't born of selfishness, it was born of frustration, and understandably so. Driving wrecklessly doesn't make him selfish, it makes him young and immature. And choosing not to attend charitable functions doesn't mean he's not a team player, it means he is utilizing his freedoms of choice to not attend. After the way he's been (at times) attacked in the local media, I can't say I'd blame him for not attending public events. And this article is yet another reason why, if I were him, I'd probably not attend either. Why? Because despite the reason for being there, people and media will prefer to hound him about what was written, or why his sack numbers were down, etc.

I don't think Suh is perfect and he's got some maturing to do. He also has aspects of his game that need to be improved on. But the fact is he goes out there and plays hard. Opposing teams know they have to account for him, and he goes about his business without complaining about how the DEs are getting sacks, or the LBs are getting tackles, etc.

You tell me, what more does he have to do to prove he's a team first player? Attend more charitable events? What does that have to do with being a football player? Answer: N-O-T-H-I-N-G.

Maybe he just doesn't like bocce, golf, or fishing.

No, because I don't think Chad Ochocinco was a team player. He also never complained or blamed anyone.

I read the rest of what you wrote. You made excuses for him, good for you. It doesn't mean he is or isn't. I'm not convinced one way or another.

I guess the jury's still out, but the part I still don't get is why he didn't participate in the victory lap. That meant so much to the fans, the team, and the city.

What? Chad Johnson is one of the biggest self promoters the NFL has seen. More than once he talked about how he needed to get the ball more. I would categorize that as complaining. He never mentioned names, so I'll give him that much credit. But never complained? I'm not buying that.

If you prefer to reserve judgement, that's fine. I can see that point of view. I'm not saying Suh is the consumate team first kind of guy, by any stretch. However, the article seems to indicate he's selfish, and the poll question is yes or no. Until he proves otherswise, I'd say he's a team player.

when you hear the newer guys talk about Suh, theyalways seem to mention how he works with them and shows them things that make that better. I'd call that being a team player.




truth be told I'd like it alot more if he spent the offseason with CJ and not Steensn and his dancing with the stars buddies....but he is is own persson and can make his own choices.

Someone want to define a "team player" ?

It is a stupid, ambiguous title. Just like saying a guy "has heart."

I don't care if Suh is a team player or not. I just want the Lions to win and I want Suh to get tackles and sacks. If he does that, and the Lions win, I'm happy.