Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh can't do much to fight public perception.
He's seen by many as a dirty player, but he doesn't view himself that way and he isn't apologizing for the bone-crushing, second-quarter hit he laid on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on Monday night.
"There were no harsh words between us," Suh told the Chicago Tribune after Detroit's 13-7 loss. "I wanted to make sure he was good. I'm never a person to injure anybody and take anybody out of the game.
"That's why I checked on him when he was there on the ground. I asked one of his people if he was OK. He got up, ran by me, hit me in my stomach and told me he was fine. And later on, I checked on him again."
Suh did kneel at Cutler's side after the play as the Bears quarterback wriggled in pain on the ground. Cutler suffered a rib injury, but expressed no outrage over the hit.
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"When he got a hold of me," Cutler said, "I knew it wasn't going to end well."
Suh has crossed boundaries during his NFL career, netting multiple fines for his play. He's a quizzical figure to many because, on one hand, he smiles at us while peddling Subway sandwiches and full-length luxury cars. Next he's shattering bodies in the pocket.
He feels like two people to some. Of course, he's paid well to play these contrasting roles.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
