Lions’ Ndamukong Suh remains on league’s radar

Last Updated: November 14. 2011 1:00AM Lions: Notebook Chris McCosky/ the Detroit News

Chicago — It looks like Ndamukong Suh is going to test his newly-strengthened relationship with Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The league’s operations staff will be looking at some new footage of Suh’s ferocity today, trying to decide if he again crossed the line.

Late in the second quarter, Suh chased down Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. he caught him from behind after a 10-yard gain and in the process of taking him down, ripped his helmet off.

It was a clean hit and it didn’t draw a penalty. but, as usual, Suh completed the process with a flair, flinging the helmet toward the sideline.

Several Bears players felt he should draw a fine for that.

“Crossed the line?” Bears coach Lovie Smith said, repeating the question. “I think it’s safe to say you shouldn’t do that. I’ll leave it at that.”

Suh, who met with Goodell during the bye week to get a better understanding of what he can and cannot do on the field, wasn’t available for comment afterward. and Cutler pleaded the fifth, saying, “I don’t know. I will have to see it on film.”

The Bears echoed what several other teams have said this season – the Lions like to talk and be chippy,

“Once they got behind it got that way,” linebacker Brian Urlacher said.

Nate Burleson didn’t disagree.

“We are a passionate team,” Burleson said. “I don’t care if we’re at home or on the road, when teams are having fun (at the Lions’ expense), that really (ticks) us off. maybe we got a little chippy once we were down, and frustrated. and they maybe got chippy because they are home and don’t want any signs of disrespect.

“But at the end of the day, we shook hands and walked off the field like men.”

Rough duty

Punter Robert Malone couldn’t have picked a tougher environment to make his Lions’ debut. Not only did he have to kick into a swirling wind that was gusting up to 35 mph at Soldier Field, but he also had to kick it to arguably the best return man in the history of the game — Devin Hester .

Malone, a former Buccaneer, was signed Friday to fill in for Ryan Donahue (quad). he kicked the ball surprisingly well — five punts, 49-yard average — but it was too good, as it turned out.

He outkicked the coverage on a couple, including one that Hester ran back 82 yards for a touchdown.

“We tried to sideline the ball,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “But, have you ever played golf? you try to hit the fairway and it goes in the woods. It doesn’t always go where you want. but that being said, our coverage wasn’t very good.”

Malone’s net was only 24.6.

Hester, who didn’t practice all week (ankle) and left the game in the first half because of strep throat, upped his NFL records — 12 punt returns for touchdowns and 17th total return for a touchdown.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take for a returner to get voted in the Hall of Fame, but I am going to make sure that it’ll be a hard decision to pass me up,” Hester told NFL Network. “There is a first for everything. I want to be the first.”

Smith ready

Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said it on Thursday, Kevin Smith , just acquired on Monday, was active and ready to contribute Sunday.

“Well first of all, he knows the offense,” Linehan said. “So it is a natural fit for him to come in and be comfortable with everything we are doing. he picked it up right away. we just kind of gave him a couple nuances that maybe are new since he was here last year and he just basically took the ball and ran with it. I feel really good about him being able to be called upon in any situation.”

Smith wound up with four carries for 19 yards.

Extra points

Defensive tackle Sammie Hill (ankle) missed three days of practice last week, but showed enough on Friday to be active. Andre Fluellen was scratched.

…also inactive for the Lions Sunday were Donahue, quarterback Drew Stanton , cornerbacks Alphonso Smith and Don Carey and offensive guard Leonard Davis .

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Lions’ Ndamukong Suh remains on league’s radar

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