The Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he stepped on Aaron Rodgers twice because his feet were numb with cold, according to ESPN.
Suh was originally suspended for one game after he appeared to stamp on the quarterback’s legs during Green Bay’s victory over the Lions on Sunday. That ban was changed to a $70,000 fine after Suh’s successful appeal on Tuesday. A source told ESPN that part of Suh’s defense was that he couldn’t tell Rodgers’s legs from the ground due to numb feet.
The Lions face the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs on Sunday, and Suh will play a crucial part in stopping the NFL’s leading rusher, DeMarco Murray. The Lions’ opponents average 2.84 yards per rush when Suh is on the field and 4.12 yard when he absent.
Speaking on Tuesday, Rodgers seemed sceptical that Suh’s action were accidental. “The only thing I can say is if you step on something in your everyday life or if you step on somebody on the field, the first reaction seems to be looking back and maybe apologizing with your hands or maybe pulling your foot back right away, and I’m just not sure that’s what happened on Sunday,” he said.
Suh has been fined more than $200,000 over his career for ill-discipline. He was suspended for two games in 2011 after he stepped on another Green Bay player, center Evan Dietrich-Smith. This week’s fine is Suh’s first of 2011, his last one was at the start of last season when he was docked $100,000 for a chop block on Minnesota Vikings center John Sullivan. It was the NFL’s biggest ever fine for on-field conduct.
