NFL teams
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Ndamukong Suh not looking ahead

NFL, Detroit Lions

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Ndamukong Suh started his media session Wednesday by stepping to the podium and then a moment later stepping off to find a Detroit Lions media relations official. He ended it by walking off and then loudly slamming a door heading into a meeting room.

What happened in between were numerous questions about Suh's intentions after the season and him answering queries about the report Sunday that the defensive tackle is planning to leave Detroit after the season.

During the news conference, Suh did not raise his voice or appear agitated -- it just seemed he didn't want to talk about his future.

"I cannot address that just for the simple fact that I have not spoken to any reporter about it or any reporters about supposedly what has come out," Suh said.

Suh said he didn't know where ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter's report originated from and had no interest in answering anything about his contract, his future or even his ties with Roc Nation, with which he signed last month.

"Looking forward to playing against Buffalo," Suh said. "It's as simple as that. If you have Buffalo questions, we can continue to talk. If not, we don't have much to discuss."

Suh is in the final season of his rookie contract and will be eligible for free agency in March. He and the Lions could not come to an agreement before training camp, and the team chose to table contract discussions until after the season.

Suh said "you've got to ask them" if he'd still be facing these questions had the Lions not tabled talks.

When coach Jim Caldwell was asked whether the Lions should have continued to negotiate with Suh instead of halting talks, he said: "You know you're not going to take me down that road."

Caldwell did say, though, that Suh and other players have to be themselves, which he said might explain Suh's agitation with the questions he faced Wednesday.

"What we try and breed is authenticity," Caldwell said. "There's nothing wrong with a guy that demonstrates whatever feelings he might have under any circumstances as long as it is not detrimental to the team.

"Obviously he probably hasn't had as much experience as I have had with guys that are very, very persistent and doesn't know how to let it roll down his back once in a while. So once in a while you may see something from some of these young guys. That does indeed occur. But if there's something we have to deal with, we'll learn to handle it as we go."

Teammates continue to say that Suh's contract situation is not a distraction and something he has to handle on his own.

"Honestly, his career is his career, and his contract is something he's got to handle," fellow defensive lineman C.J. Mosley said. "It's not something I got to worry about. I hope he's here. I wish he is here. I hope he stays here. But that's between him and whoever he has got to talk to."

In his four-plus seasons in Detroit, Suh has played in 66 games, making 194 tackles and 28.5 sacks since being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Suh also declined to explain why he was spotted by a reporter from the New York Post leaving the locker room and heading toward the bus at MetLife Stadium on Sunday still in some of his game gear. He was not seen in the Lions' locker room and did not speak with the media after Detroit's victory over the New York Jets.

He said Wednesday that he had no explanation for not meeting with the media. When asked whether business decisions intertwine with football decisions, Suh said "football is football and business is business."

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