Based on some of his hits last year and during this year's preseason, quite a few people have labeled Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh a dirty player. The latest "incident" to cause people to call Suh a dirty player came during Saturday's New England Patriots game. Suh took a swing at Patriots offensive guard Logan Mankins, who had a handful of Lions defensive end Lawrence Jackson's facemask.
↵Because Suh threw a punch -- albeit a very soft one -- some columnists have decided to once again rant about how he is a dirty player. Interestingly enough, Mankins, the player who was on the receiving end of the punch, disagrees with those who call Suh dirty. In fact, Mankins had nothing but good things to say about Suh.
↵↵↵"I wouldn’t say Suh’s a dirty player," said Mankins, who also tussled with Suh when the teams met last Thanksgiving in Detroit. "I think Suh’s a great player. He’s got a load of talent. He plays good and he plays hard. He defends his teammates. He does all the things that I would want in a teammate."
↵
Nobody in the media has been calling Mankins a dirty player based on what happened Saturday, but Jackson didn't hold anything back when asked about the Patriots guard, calling him a "dirty bastard." Jackson said he called Mankins out on being dirty, and that is when "things got a little rough."