We’ve got two words for all you Detroit Lions fans — boo Suh.
By the time mean, nasty Pro Bowl defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh returns from his two-game suspension for stomping on a Packers’ player, his Lions could find themselves all but eliminated from NFL playoff contention.
They enter Sunday’s game at NFC South leader New Orleans in a wild-card playoff scramble with the likes of the Bears, Falcons and Giants. Suh could have played a huge role in leading the charge against Saints quarterback Drew Brees, but now the Lions will have fill a gigantic hole in the line, a task not easily accomplished.
So let the Motown boo birds sing away while their Lions head to the Big Easy for a big game without their big man in what can turn out to be a big loss.
Suh has far from cornered the booing market, but he’s so far ahead we felt it necessary to create a Pick Six of players, coaches and teams worthy of a boo or two.
— Andy Reid: With virtually the entire crowd at the Linc imploring the Eagles to “Fire Andy, Fire Andy,” in last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, imagine how high the heat will be turned up in Philly following Thursday night’s loss to the Seahawks? Perhaps it’s a good thing the Eagles’ next game on Dec. 11 is at Miami. So much losing with so much talent usually gets blamed on the coach, but Reid just keeps plugging along. For now.
— Ryan Pontbriand: The Browns aren’t very good. The coach is in his first year. Some of the losses have been excruciating. Many are to blame, but Pat Shurmur took aim at veteran long snapper Ryan Pontbriand, who was waived two days after his second poor snap in three weeks cost Cleveland another possible win. After his latest bad snap, Pontbriand said he was in a pretty tough slump. The day before he was let go, Shurmur said, “We can’t slump.” On Tuesday, he was waived.
— Indianapolis Colts: A loss to the Panthers in what looked to be the Colts’ last chance at winning a game this season drew the wrath of even the most loyal fans. Boos rang down from the home crowd, the only cheers coming at halftime when WR Marvin Harrison was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor and some of his fabulous plays were shown during a video tribute. Next day, the team fired the defensive coordinator, benched Curtis Painter and told Dan Orlovsky he’s starting against the Patriots.
— Jim Leonhard: The Jets safety may have to get used to the boos if the team doesn’t make the playoffs. Seems Leonhard was “frustrated” that the home crowd booed QB Mark Sanchez before last Sunday’s last-minute win against the Bills. Imagine the fans’ reaction if the Jets had lost.
— Caleb Hanie: This may be borderline, but if the Bears quarterback doesn’t know the rules, well, boo on him. We’re overlooking his three interceptions in a 25-20 loss to the Raiders — one late in the first half when Chicago was looking to take a lead — but a botched spike attempt in the final seconds cost his team a chance at a final play. After taking the snap from his own 46, Hanie took a couple of steps back and spiked the ball with 4 seconds left. He was called for intentional grounding, which carries an automatic 10-second runoff. Game over.
— Stevie Johnson: Not funny. A 15-yard penalty was called, followed a few days later by a $10,000 fine, but the Bills wide receiver’s post-TD antics may have cost the Bills a win over the Jets. After catching a TD pass, he celebrated by mimicking Plaxico Burress shooting himself in the thigh, then imitated a jet in flight before crashing to the turf.
Bills coach Chan Gailey said, “If I benched everybody for every dumb mistake that was made, there wouldn’t be any coaches or players out there because we’ve all made dumb mistakes.”
Which is why there’s a Pick Six this week.