NFL won't suspend Ndamukong Suh for low blow against Matt Schaub

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) picks himself up after a hit by Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. / AP Photo/Paul Sancya

DETROIT Ndamukong Suh might lose some money for his low blow against Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.

The Detroit Lions defensive tackle, though, will be able to play Sunday at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tweeted Monday that the Lions have been notified that Suh won't be suspended for last Thursday's "incident," though it will be reviewed for a potential fine.

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Suh was on his chest after being taken down by an offensive lineman and extended his left foot to hit Schaub below the belt. Suh's left cleat connected with Schaub's groin area after he threw a pass in the first quarter of Houston's 34-31 overtime win. (Watch the play here.)

Schaub went to his knees, doubled over in pain, but stayed in the game.

It wasn't clear on replays Thursday whether it was intentional and Suh hasn't spoken publicly.

Schaub told a local radio station on Monday that he didn't appreciate the kick - or the kicker.

"You don't want a player like that. The stuff that he stands for and the type of player he is, that's not Houston Texan worthy," Schaub said. "That's not what we're about as a football team -- as individuals, collectively as a group, we're not that type of person."

Texans linebacker Connor Barwin said he did not think Suh should have been suspended.

"I didn't think it was malicious, or a really violent thing, but it was definitely unnecessary," Barwin said Monday. "Just a little something extra at the end."

Suh was suspended for two games a year ago after he was ejected for stomping on the right arm of Green Bay offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith during a game on Thanksgiving. He has been fined in previous seasons for roughing up quarterbacks: Cincinnati's Andy Dalton, Chicago's Jay Cutler and Cleveland's Jake Delhomme.

"He's building quite a track record of just unnecessary plays," Texans left tackle Duane Brown said. "I consider him to be a very talented player, a very physical player. There's just stuff that you have to do away with. It can get people hurt and it's uncalled for.

"It's our job up front to keep him away from our quarterback. But if our quarterback is able to get rid of the ball, he should be protected from that point on. He can't take kicks to the groin, he can't be pulled down two seconds after the ball is gone. It's nonsense."

[Forty-Four]

I do believe that I mentioned before that slow motion is perhaps the ONLY way that this looks intentional. Look at it in real time (or even watching it live) and you can tell that it was not intentional. I've been in that situation before personally...

[CJoseph1999]

Why are morons like this guy rewarded for acting like criminals? This waste of space should be banned from the NFL and forced to work a job more suited to his intelligence level - like pumping septic tanks.

[mecury69]

Guys, it's not about this single incident. Just because it was not that bad this time is irrelevant.

This is a pattern and he has done this in the past and that time it WAS enough to warrant a suspension.

You are required to look at past conduct because it is an indicator to future ones.

Those who say he should not be suspended are basically just waiting until he REALLY spikes someone bad.

What a bunch of dopes to not see that this on empowers him further. Each incident should be more severe.

The same way I handle my kids and obviously no one has taught this punk how to be a real man. He is a man-child and must be treated as such.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

HE SHOULD BE BOTH SUSPENDED A HAVE TO PAY A HEFTY FINE.!

If you let one player get away with this, there is nothing to stop other players from doing it.

Players are no longer allowed to go for other players heads because of the consequences from repeed concussions.

It didn't take long for these rotters to figure out another vulnerable area.

Football and a lot of other sports are nothing but legal, organized assault.

One coach even stated "Football is no longer a sport and should be rferred to as "sports entertainment".

Maybe somevody should give this coach a good swift kick in the groin and then ask him how "entertaining" he thought it was.

[Forty-Four]

Did you even watch the play? I highly doubt you did based on your response. The way he was moving in the play, there was absolutely no way that it was intentional; but merely a result of the game. Suh gets a lot of bad press, and people like you are those that make this kind of thing take off in the news. Never do you hear about the positive things that Suh does for the community. He plays no dirtier than most anyone else in his position...but yet you don't hear about those guys in the news. the announders were the ones that started the whole things about this being "intentional" simply because of WHO was involved...not that it happened. I can guarantee that no one would have thought twice if it was BJ Raji that did the same thing.

[mecury69]

That was a kick 44, as plain as day.

[Forty-Four]

It was a complete accident. The only 2 things that made it even seem remotely intentional were the slow motion replay and the announcers going on and on and on and on and on about it. Suh gets a lot of bad press because that is what gets the ratings. You never hear about the good things or charitable things he does for the community. He plays with passion. He does not play any dirtier than anyone else but receives more bad press than anyone else. The vast majority of those who claim that he does play dirty are people who do not follow him week in and week out. He was voted dirtiest player based on that press.

[mecury69]

Dude, he STOMPED on a player last year and was suspended for TWO games! You have to be a relative or his agent because you are delusional.

[Forty-Four]

As for the stomping incident. I have argued this for the past year...Yes, the stomp was intentional. However, I do not believe that he actually meant to stomp on the guy; but more or less didn't realize where his foot actually was. See? I doubt that you follow him week in and week out like I do. In that instance all you see is bad press and maybe one or two weeks of him depending on who your team is.

[ReasonableVoicesAmongUs]

A foot to the groin while falling backwards? Maybe a gymnast could orchestrate that. Not Suh.

[rich2777]

I agree it's a thug sport. Then, the NFL officials doesn't do anything about it. Maybe a fine ? Cheap shots are nothing new and are always thrown by cheap shot people, because cheap shots require no skill. These cheap shot people have a character content that always equals 0.

[Scimajor]

I totally agree. Dirty play is encouraged in almost all professional sports. Everything is OK as long as you don't get caught. What great role models for our children. Not!

[rich2777]

I agree. Then, the NFL officials doesn't do anything about it. Maybe a fine ? Cheap shots are nothing new and are always thrown by cheap shot people, because cheap shots require no skill. These cheap shot people have a character content that always equals 0.

[rich2777]

I agree, it's definitely a sport for thugs.

[Decoverly]

Mountainstates, maybe you should stick to watching swimming. Football is turning into a pansy sport. What happened to footbal the way the hall of famers played. Suh is no where near as bad as guys like Joe Green, Dick Butkus, or Alex Carris or the many others who were known for there hard hits and trying to knock out quarterbacks. These people are loved by football fans and the media so why are we being so hard on Suh. He isn't doing anything those HOF's didn't do and became famous for. Don't get me wrong, I believe is newer helmets, padding and such, but something as trivial as a foot to the groin (which is protected) come on...It's sad what football is becoming even within it's own ranks.

[mountainstates1]

This action just further validates that pro-football in this country is nothing but a thug sport!