Hall of Fame defensive lineman Deacon Jones said today that he has a problem with Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh: According to Jones, Suh doesn’t know the correct way to play the game.
That’s not to say that Jones, who was one of the toughest players in NFL history, has any problem with Suh going near the line of dirty play, or even sometimes crossing the line. No, Jones’s problem with Suh is that Suh hasn’t learned that if you’re going to take a shot at an opponent, you need to do it in a way that won’t hurt your team with a penalty or a suspension.
“I don’t like the fact that he hasn’t learned the right way to step on somebody,” Jones told PFT. “You’re damn right there’s a right way. . . . The right way is not standing there in front of all the cameras and the referee stomping people. . . . You kick him, you don’t stomp him.”
Jones said he thinks Suh needs to be smart enough not to act out of anger and hurt his team.
“I’m angry with him because he didn’t learn how to cover it up,” Jones said. “We spent more time practicing things like that. Knew when to do it. I’m not going to hurt my defensive unit, I’m not going to cost us 15 yards, but I am going to kick your ass.”
Jones was a brutal pass rusher in his day, and he shudders at the modern rules that limit defensive players and doesn’t think he could survive under today’s rules.
“I’d probably be arrested with this bunch of guys, they’re soft -- give me a break: These guys are soft,” Jones said. “I hit the head. I started there. . . . This game ain’t never going to be safe.”