Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh claimed there was no intent to injure Jay Cutler when he slung the Chicago Bears quarterback to the ground Monday night and fell on top of him.
Cutler injured his ribs on the second-quarter sack but returned to the game and helped lead the Bears to a 13-7 victory.
“There were no harsh words between us,” Suh told the Chicago Tribune. “I wanted to make sure he was good. I’m never a person to injure anybody and take anybody out of the game.
“That’s why I checked on him when he was there on the ground. I asked one of his people if he was OK. He got up, ran by me, hit me in my stomach and told me he was fine. And later on, I checked on him again.”
Cutler wasn’t bitter about the hit.
“When he got a hold of me,” Cutler said, “I knew it wasn’t going to end well.”
But Cutler’s teammate, wide receiver Brandon Marshall, wasn’t so forgiving.
Marshall said via Twitter: “A Suh. What u did to Jay wasn’t cool. Great players don’t have to do that.” “A Suh. Something I’ve learned and now passing down to you. Succeed with character.”
Any possible fines or punitive action from the league could come Friday against Suh, who has a history of aggressive play since he arrived in the NFL.