When Browns linebacker Jabaal Sheard looks across the field at Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh on Sunday, he’ll be looking at a great player. But not a player he respects.
Sheard told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he doesn’t understand why Suh has to go beyond just playing hard and cross the line toward trying to hurt his opponents.
“I just watch the highlights y’all put on ESPN with him hurting somebody,” Sheard said. “It’s crazy. It’s the league, so guys play hard. I respect how hard he plays, but I’m not a dirty player, so I don’t care for it. There are offensive linemen that play like that. There are a few guys that play that way. I don’t know, man, I don’t respect it. I don’t like it. He’s a great player, he’s a dominant player. I don’t think he needs to do all the dirty stuff.’'
Sheard was the most direct about it, but it sounds like other Browns players don’t think much of Suh personally, either. Browns left tackle Joe Thomas said, “I don’t care for all of the extracurriculars and personal fouls,” while Browns center Alex Mack would say only, “I’m not going to answer that” when asked if Suh is dirty.
For his part, Suh told Cleveland reporters, “I’m never going to change.” That probably means he’s never going to be a popular man on opposing teams.