NFL:Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh cemented his reputation as one of the National Football League's dirtiest players when he was ejected last night's defeat to Green Bay for stamping on an opponent.
Rather than stopping the Packers on third down early in the third quarter, Suh's ejection extended the Packers' drive and allowed the Super Bowl champions to build a 14-0 lead. Green Bay went on to win 27-15.
An unrepentant Suh apologised to Lions coaches, team mates and fans but made it clear that, as far as he was concerned, he had done nothing wrong.
"I don't do bad things and I have no intention to hurt somebody," Suh said afterwards. "If I want to hurt him, I'm going to hit his quarterback, as I did throughout the game."
The second pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Suh has quickly established himself as one of the NFL's dirtiest players for his aggressive, ferocious style of play that has at times crossed the line.
The reigning defensive rookie of the year has been fined three times for roughing up quarterbacks in less than a year, the latest coming in August when he grabbed Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and threw him to the ground after he had gotten rid of the ball during a pres-eason game
Suh vowed after that incident that he would not change his game but requested a talk with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this month to discuss his play and might be expecting another chat following his latest transgression.
The ill-tempered contest between division rivals turned nasty in the third quarter when Suh became entangled with Green Bay lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith, pushing his opponent's helmet into the turf and then stomping on his arm.
Suh said he was only trying to remove himself from the pileup and did not intentionally attempt to injure anyone.
"You see me pushing his helmet down because I'm trying to remove myself from the situation," said Suh. "As I'm getting up I'm getting pushed so I'm trying to get myself balanced and get out of the situation.
"A lot of people are going to create their own storylines seeing what they want but I know what I did and the man upstairs knows what I did."
Rookie Dan Bailey made a 28-yard field with the last play of the game to give the Dallas Cowboys a 20-19 win over the Miami Dolphins. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo recovered from two early interceptions by finding Laurent Robinson on a pair of touchdown throws as the Cowboys won for the fourth straight game.
The Thanksgiving Day matches were completed with John Harbaugh winning his coaching duel with younger brother Jim as the Baltimore Ravens topped the San Francisco 49ers 16-6.
Defeat ended the 49ers eight-game winning streak while the Ravens equalled a franchise best nine sacks.