Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was greeted with another FedEx delivery to his locker this week, this time a $31,500 fine for a hit on Brandon Weeden in Week 6.
The hit was hardly egregious. Suh charged at Weeden and shoved the Cleveland Browns quarterback to the ground as he released a pass. Suh's helmet came in contact with Weeden's chest, enough, the league decided, to warrant discipline. No flag was thrown on the play.
During Friday's edition of NFL Network's "NFL Total Access," NFL vice president of operations Merton Hanks explained why Suh was fined more than the league minimum for what appeared to be a borderline offense.
"The fine amount is more than the minimum because he is a repeat offender, and I want to get Ndamukong Suh's attention in this regard," Hanks said. "I've got to help him course correct."
Hanks told NFL Media's Andrea Kremer that Suh wasn't targeted because he's repeat offender.
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"In the big scheme of things, it's not an egregious play," Hanks said. "It is a violation, that's why he was fined."
This was Suh's second fine of the season after being docked $100,000 in Week 1 for an illegal low block. In his three-and-a-half-year career, Suh has been fined seven times for a total of $209,000, plus an additional $165,294 in game checks for a two-game suspension in 2011.
In other words, Merton Hanks can sleep well in knowing he has Suh's attention. Suh knows he's under a microscope. Then again, he knew that $131,500 ago.
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