Ndamukong Suh: NFL Reportedly Expedites Appeal Hearing on Lions' Behalf

Roger Goodell and the NFL office isn't all bad.

According to a source (via ESPN) the league office has set up a conference call for which Suh can appeal his suspension today:

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Ndamukong Suh's appeal of his two-game suspension for stomping an opponent will be held Thursday afternoon, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Suh will present his appeal of his two-game suspension for stomping Packers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith to Art Shell via conference call, the source said. The league handed out the suspension Tuesday, but Suh immediately appealed.

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Shell, a Hall of Fame tackle and former head coach of the Raiders (Los Angeles and Oakland), certainly knows a thing or two about playing after the whistle.

In all honesty, Suh couldn't have a better ear to talk to than Shell.

But that doesn't mean he will, or deserves, to have his suspension reduced.

First and foremost, the league is doing Detroit a favor by holding the hearing today. Normally it takes up to 10 days for such a hearing to be scheduled, but considering the high-profile nature of the case and the Lions' current postseason situation, the league decided to work quickly.

That is about all the kindness they deserve.

Detroit takes the field Sunday night against the New Orleans Saints in a key NFC battle. Losing Suh for that game will be a huge blow to the Lions. 

But Suh deserves to sit out because he obviously doesn't get it.

I'm all for playing with tenacity; going to the whistle and beating the living hell out of an opponent on every snap.

But not after the snap.

Suh's intention of stomping on Dietrich-Smith, even if he didn't completely connect, was atrocious. I'm not calling out Suh for being a dirty player and I don't care what he does or doesn't do during any given play. But his stupid decision deserves to be punished this time around.

According to the NFL statement it was "Suh's fifth violation of on-field rules in the past two seasons that has resulted in league discipline." The decision to suspend Suh is based on the fact that he's a repeat offender.

The NFL is doing the Lions a favor by at least giving them the opportunity to game plan with or without Suh.

They don't need to do any more favors in this situation.