National Football League

Lions' Suh ejected in 3rd quarter against Packers

Published Nov. 24, 2011 8:34 p.m. ET

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Ndamukong Suh was ejected from Detroit's game against Green Bay on Thursday after he appeared to step on an opposing offensive lineman.

Suh was ejected early in the third quarter after the Lions thought they'd stopped the Packers on third down near the Detroit goal line. A replay showed Suh and Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith scuffling on the ground briefly before the All-Pro defensive tackle got up and appeared to stomp at Dietrich-Smith's upper right arm.

Green Bay took advantage of the penalty, scoring a touchdown to take a 14-0 lead. The Packers had a player ejected in the first half, when Pat Lee appeared to take a swing at a Detroit player while covering a punt.

For Suh, it was another data point in the growing discussion about whether the 6-foot-4, 307-pounder plays dirty. In less than two seasons as a pro, Suh has established himself as one of the game's strongest and most athletic defensive linemen, but he's also received his share of fines.

Suh requested and received a meeting earlier this season with Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss his play. He said that dialogue was helpful, but now the league will have to decide whether more discipline - be it a fine, a suspension or both - is merited in this case.

In August, Suh was fined a third time for roughing up a quarterback after grabbing Cincinnati's Andy Dalton and throwing him to the turf after he had gotten rid of the ball in a preseason game. He was fined twice last season for hits on Chicago's Jay Cutler during the regular season and Cleveland's Jake Delhomme in the preseason. He shoved Cutler hard and high in the back and twisted Delhomme's face mask and slammed him to the ground.