Ndamukong Suh choked Ryan Mallett because he 'tried to attack me'

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh apparently felt threatened when Ryan Mallett confronted him, and that’s why he grabbed the Baltimore Ravens quarterback by the throat.

That’s what Suh said anyway. In the fourth quarter on Thursday night, Suh went offsides and hit Mallett just because. When Mallett got angry at it and stepped to Suh — Mallett had his hands at his sides — Suh figured it was fine to reach for Mallett’s throat and push him away.

“He came at me,” Suh told the Palm Beach Post. “Tried to attack me. And I’m protecting myself. Regret what? No, I’m never going to regret protecting myself.”

It would be easier to buy that tale if Suh didn’t have a long history of cheap shots on the field. Or if Mallett was a threat to Suh, who is 305 pounds and one of the NFL’s most intimidating players. But that’s Suh’s story and he’s sticking to it.

Amid the debate about Kiko Alonso’s hit on Joe Flacco earlier in the game Thursday night, Suh had no problem with Alonso.

“I didn’t see it, but I know Kiko’s not a dirty player,” Suh said.

No matter how the Dolphins try to pass off their various dirty actions — let’s not forget Dolphins end William Hayes poking Ravens offensive tackle Austin Howard in the eye — the NFL is going to look into it. Perhaps the league will also feel they were all being unfairly accused.

Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he was just protecting himself during a confrontation with Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett. (AP)
Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh says he was just protecting himself during a confrontation with Ravens quarterback Ryan Mallett. (AP)

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!