Detroit Lions: America’s Most Wanted

The Raisin Review/Landon T. Horstman

Yesterday evening the Detroit Lions (11-5) squared off against the Dallas Cowboys (12-4) in a conference playoff battle. The contest presented an intriguing matchup, as both teams came equipped with explosive offenses capable of racking-up points in bunches.

Unfortunately, the excitement of the game wasn’t the only interesting storyline between said organizations, but also the revival of “America’s Team” (i.e. the Cowboys) in action against the NFL’s dirtiest team (i.e. the Lions) — or, in other words, “America’s Most Wanted”.

The last two years have been tumultuous for the NFL, enduring enough scandal and public embarrassment to make even a Kardashian blush. From a hazing incident that spurred a full-blown investigation into the Miami Dolphin’s locker room, to Adrian Peterson becoming indicted by a grand jury on charges of child endangerment, the iron shield is in dire need of a facelift — or at least a good buffing.

2014 is shaping up to be the NFL’s most raucous season to date, and it seems as if the Lions have taken it upon themselves to make sure the year ends in infamy.

If the league had an “All-Dirty” team — similar to the All-Pro team — than the Lions would have representatives on both sides of the ball; and not just representatives, but team captains!

Introducing Dominic Raiola: At 6′ 1″ and weighing in at 310 pounds, this perpetual meat-head has become a habitual sleazeball during his tenure, and has garnered the utmost disrespect from his peers (it’s no surprise here that he and Richie Incognito are both Nebraska alums).

Roughly a month ago, during the Lions final game against division rival Chicago Bears, Raiola “unintentionally” stomped on the right ankle of defensive tackle Ego Ferguson.

The blatant attack resulted in no injury to Ferguson; only making Raiola look like a moron with no sense of the term “nationally televised game”.

Not to be outdone by his peer, Lions’ defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh also has a laundry list of dubious behavior, with his latest “incidental” incident occurring only a mere several days after Raiola’s river dance (also, again, no surprise Suh is also a Nebraska alum).

During the Lions’ final game of the season against division rival Green Bay Packers, another well-documented, clearly visible — yet totally accidental — ankle stomp was attempted (I don’t know what it is with these guys and ankles, but maybe if they got rid of their cankles they wouldn’t be so angry — but I digress). In the video below, you can clearly see Suh step on the ankle of Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers multiple times before casually walking away.

Now, I will agree that the Suh incident borders closer on the line between intentional and accidental than the Raiola occurrence, but it’s Suh’s defense that makes that case conclusive in my opinion.

Suh claims that his feet were “numb and cold” and that he could not feel the difference between the ground and another man’s leg. Understandable, but could he also not feel Rodgers firmly shoving him either? And if said incident was “unintentional,” why wouldn’t he have turned around to apologize and help Rodgers up?

When most human beings accidentally step on another person, typically a swift emotional response occurs quickly thereafter, with the “stepper” expressing a visible appearance of shock and remorse. Suh conveys none of this, and just simply walks away like a man attempting to get away with something.

Inevitably, and hypocritically I might add, both men won their appeal, and were able to lift their suspension in order to play in the Lions’ lone playoff game of the season (somewhere Adrian Peterson is shaking his head in disbelief).

After the Cowboys’ come-from-behind victory last night, winning the ballgame 20-24, it is unclear whether Suh or Raoila will be returning to the team next year, as many experts believe it was the tandems final game in a Detroit uniform.

Their separation and departure from the team may be for the best, like two disruptive students who must sit in seats away from each other during class. One thing is for sure, Detroit needs to clean up its act, and possibly stay away from any Nebraska players in the future.

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