Notebook: Former Lions Safety Suspended, Suh Visits

Suh returns to Detroit

Former Lions star Ndamukong Suh was present at the Lions' Wednesday practice, wearing a media credential for his new podcast 'No Free Lunch.'

The recently retired defensive tackle spent the first five seasons of his career in Detroit, where he was the 2010 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and a three-time First Team All-Pro selection.

However, his tenure with the Lions did not end on the best of terms, as he left to sign a big contract with the Miami Dolphins. Suh has been open about the fact that he believes he should've been paid what the team wound up paying quarterback Matthew Stafford, and he made note of his rocky relationship with the organization at the end of his tenure.

“(We) were talking about it last nigh. First time back in this building since I was kicked out, for lack of better words," Suh said, via the Detroit Free Press. "But yeah, it’s always a warm welcome when I come into the city, which is like a breath of fresh air."

Suh stated that he took a pay cut on his rookie contract to accomodate for Stafford, and that the organization told him he would get the money back on his next deal. When the time came, he gave the Lions an opportunity to match the contract he was going to sign with the Dolphins at the time.

Ultimately, the organization did not choose to pay up. He went on to play eight more seasons across four different organizations, including a 2020 season with the Buccaneers in which he won the Super Bowl.

"And really the most upsetting piece was that, when I look back and reflect on that, I remember vividly, just left church and my agent called me and he's like, 'We got a done deal, exactly what you want in Miami. What do you want to do with Detroit?'" Suh explained. "And I said, 'Give them an opportunity to match, even though I'll take less money because of taxes and all those particular pieces going into it, I want to give an opportunity to match.'"

Holmes' confidence in Tate Ratledge

There appears to be a winner in the Lions' center position battle.

After Tate Ratledge took first-team reps early in camp, Graham Glasgow has done the bulk of the work in recent days and appears to be the favorite to be the team's starting center.

This decision is linked to Glasgow's veteran experience at the position, while Ratledge is a rookie who played exclusively guard in college.

Speaking with 97.1 The Ticket, general manager Brad Holmes said that Ratledge will still get center reps at times, and the team has confidence in his ability to play the position, but the overall scope of work required may be too much for the incoming rookie to handle right away.

“We started off with Tate, giving him a lot of reps at center, and he still can do it," Holmes said. "But I think, just really as we work through these combinations, I feel like in all fairness, Graham and his experience in the offense being at that position — it’s a lot. As you know, that’s a lot. And Tate can handle it, but I think early on with him back at guard, but he’s still gonna get some reps at center.”