Suh's character also hits below the belt

If your Thanksgiving was anything like mine, it included a lot of family, food and football. The NFL trifecta was a nice side dish that went well with all the turkey. However, a certain part of the Texans - Lions game left most of us with a feeling slightly worse than indigestion. Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is the reigning "dirtiest player" in the game as voted on by his fellow players. Suh has been suspended and fined multiple times for his behavior on the field. Yesterday's game just added to his less-than-desirable reputation. In case you missed it, check out the video below (email subscribers click here). Warning: The following video contains a violent act directed toward a sensitive part of the human body. This content may not be suitable for all viewers. Parental discretion is advised.



Please understand the point of this post. It's not to highlight the poor and dangerous behavior of a professional athlete. The bigger issue is for those of us who work with kids. Ndamukong Suh has immense talent. He's big, strong and fast. Many experts called him the best defensive lineman to come out of college in 30 years and he could have easily been the number one overall pick in 2010. Suh comes from a family that believes strongly in education. Knowing Suh would make millions in the NFL, his parents still required him to stay in school and finish his degree in construction management from the University of Nebraska.

Suh overwhelms most NFL offensive linemen. He's not a guy who needs to take cheap shots to gain an edge. Teach your kids to display character above their talent. Do the right thing for no apparent reason instead of the opposite. Knocking people down when they're not looking is easy. It takes much more to help them up. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol