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Heads up, Brett. A man named Suh doesn't like QBs

When's the last time anyone feared a Lions' defensive player?

August 31, 2010 at 4:43PM

Four Downs while wondering whether Ndamukong Suh cares if Brett Favre turns 41 on Oct. 10 ...

FIRST DOWN:

When's the last time the Vikings needed to worry about a Lions' defender? Can't think of one off the top of my head. But come Sept. 26, we may see one they'll have to worry about for years to come.

We knew Ndamukong Suh was a dominant player before the Lions selected him No. 2 overall. What we're finding out as the preseason progresses is Suh's one mean, nasty dude and potentially Brett Favre's worst nightmare.

Above is the video of Suh nearly ripping the head of Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme during Saturday's preseason game. Suh probably will be fined, and at least one Browns player, backup QB Seneca Wallace, is on record as saying Suh should be suspended. The Vikings weren't consulted, but they'd prefer the suspension be served on Sept. 26 and/or Jan. 2.

On this play, Suh did three things that could get him fined or suspended. He reached out and grabbed a QB's facemask. That's bad. Then he wrenched the QBs head violently. That's really bad. And then he threw the QB to the ground like a sock puppet. That's really, really bad.

Suh also says he won't change his style of play even if he is punished.

"It's not my job to really worry about whether I hit a guy too hard or not," Suh said. "I was just going after the ball and trying to make a play and that's what I'll continue to do."

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If you look at where Suh lined up, he beat the right guard with a spin move and then power. It's possible the Vikings will have a rookie fifth-round pick, Chris DeGeare, lined up across from Suh when the teams meet next month.

What Suh did to Delhomme was wrong. It's also a heads up to the Vikings to make sure this guy doesn't get his hands on Favre. Something tells me Suh won't care that he's got a 40-year-old future Hall of Famer in his grip.

SECOND DOWN:

Speaking of Delhomme, I have to issue a tentative apology based on the preseason. He's looked fantastic and has given the Browns a sense of direction and leadership they never had with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

With that in mind, I had to laugh that Browns Hall of Famer Jim Brown has told new team prez Mike Holmgren that he won't be attending the ceremony for the team's new ring of honor. Brown is miffed that Holmgren stripped him of his consulting position with the team.

Frankly, what Holmgren did was long overdue in Cleveland. The Lerner family has let Brown and other former greats gain too much power in making decisions the previous 10 years. It was time that a legitimate, proven winner like a Holmgren came in and tossed Brown and all the others out the door.

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Brown is being petty by not showing up for the ring of honor.

THIRD DOWN:

The Vikings and Jets, the two losing teams in last year's conference championship games, have a certain impending implosion feel about them. I'm sticking with them to win their divisions, but I'm not feeling real good about it.

The Vikings have pass protection issues and a QB that could break down. The Jets have a second-year QB (Mark Sanchez) who wasn't particularly great last year and appears to be heading smack dab into the dreaded sophomore slump. But I still like these teams because of their defenses, particularly their front walls.

I think the Vikings' defense will be better than it was last year, especially against the pass. Not sure about the Jets without Darrelle Revis, but I think Rex Ryan will figure it out.

FOURTH DOWN:

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Might the Vikings be able to justifiy keeping four quarterbacks if they incorporate rookie Joe Webb into a Wildcat scheme as either a QB, RB or WR? Personally, I'd rather have that kind of athletic specialist on the roster than a guy who's only job is to kick off.

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about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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