http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2013/09/detroit_lions_ndamukong_suh_sa_2.html
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, twice voted by his peers as the NFL's dirtiest player, said he was a changed man this year.
It took him only one half of the 2013 opener to commit an ill-advised penalty that some are calling dirty.
Suh blocked the Minnesota Vikings' John Sullivan in the back of the knees following an interception by DeAndre Levy. The linebacker returned the ball for a touchdown, but the pick-six was wiped out when Suh was whistled for an illegal low block on the play.
Sullivan was injured by Suh's back-side hit and was forced from the game, which Detroit won 34-24. Minnesota's Jared Allen said the play was "uncalled for."
"Some things are going to be borderline. If it's in the heat of trying to make a play, you look the other way," Allen said. "But you can't take a dude's legs out from behind on an interception when he's running down the field. To me, there's just no room for that.
"It's just, it's sad to see because I got to know him a little bit and he's really a decent dude. He plays hard, I like his style of play, but if you end a guy's career like that? It's just uncalled for."
Suh said he didn't intend to block Sullivan in the back of the knees.
"On that particular play, I'm looking to make a block," Suh said. "I'm just throwing to make a block, and really cut him off so he doesn't get a chance to get home. I spoke to him. We're good.
"It wasn't intended, by any means. I wasn't going for his knee, and he knows that. We had a great conversation about it at halftime, and he understood. My aim point was his waist, to cut him off."
The penalty negated Levy's touchdown, and instead gave Detroit the ball at Minnesota's 39-yard line. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was intercepted a play later.
Suh has developed a reputation as someone who plays on the edge, and occasionally crosses it. That includes stomping on Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith in 2011, drawing a two-game suspension, and being accused of kicking Houston's Matt Schaub in the groin in 2012.
Suh wasn't suspended for that one, but was fined.
Suh said this preseason he hoped the Lions -- including himself -- would become more disciplined. It's part of his new persona as a team leader.
He was voted a team captain last week.