INDIANAPOLIS—Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh decided to compete at the NFL Scouting Combine, hoping to convince any doubters that he should be the No. 1-overall pick. Sporting News Today’s Clifton Brown and other reporters spoke to Suh.
Sporting News: What is your relationship with Gerald McCoy?
Ndamukong Suh makes it clear: “I’m a competitor. I want to be No. 1…”
Ndamukong Suh: I don’t think it’s a rivalry. We’re definitely competitive, but we’re definitely good friends off the field.
SN: Would you be happy for McCoy if he were the first-overall pick?
NS: I’d be happy for him. I’d be disappointed with myself not getting it. I’m a competitor. I want to be No. 1, so that’s what I’m going to strive for.
SN: The Lions hold the No. 2 pick. Based on your conversation with Lions coaches, how would you fit in Detroit?
NS: I think I would be able to adjust to anything. Obviously, I think our scheme was a little bit different at Nebraska from what the NFL’s asking me to do. But I think I’m a player who can adjust.
SN: How do you respond to people who say McCoy is a better pass rusher?
NS: We played two different schemes. He had the freedom to penetrate. I was more or less in the scheme of reading and playing through my man.
SN: What is the most surprising part of the draft process?
NS: The media attention and just the limelight—everybody kind of knowing who I am.
SN: What separates you from McCoy?
NS: The coaches make that decision. I think we’re both great players. I think we have similarities but differences. I think we’re two great players worthy of the positions that we’re in.
SN: You played a lot of soccer as a kid. How good were you?
NS: I was fairly good. I could play every position but midfield. I didn’t like to play midfield because it was a little bit too much running. I got a lot of fouls. That’s kind of the reason I moved away from soccer, because I got too many red cards.
SN: When your mom wasn’t too sure about you playing football, what did you tell her?
NS: She figured I’d be the one getting hit. I had to let her realize that I was the one attacking people and getting after the smaller guys.
SN: Why did you decide to work out at the Combine?
NS: I don’t have anything to hide. I’ve been working hard these last six weeks. There’s no point in working out and then not showing up here. You’re just kind of wasting time. You might as well showcase it and then go back to work, showcase it again at pro day and then move on.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
INDIANAPOLIS—Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh decided to compete at the NFL Scouting Combine, hoping to convince any doubters that he should be the No. 1-overall pick. Sporting News Today’s Clifton Brown and other reporters spoke to Suh.
Sporting News: What is your relationship with Gerald McCoy?
Ndamukong Suh makes it clear: “I’m a competitor. I want to be No. 1…”
Ndamukong Suh: I don’t think it’s a rivalry. We’re definitely competitive, but we’re definitely good friends off the field.
SN: Would you be happy for McCoy if he were the first-overall pick?
NS: I’d be happy for him. I’d be disappointed with myself not getting it. I’m a competitor. I want to be No. 1, so that’s what I’m going to strive for.
SN: The Lions hold the No. 2 pick. Based on your conversation with Lions coaches, how would you fit in Detroit?
NS: I think I would be able to adjust to anything. Obviously, I think our scheme was a little bit different at Nebraska from what the NFL’s asking me to do. But I think I’m a player who can adjust.
SN: How do you respond to people who say McCoy is a better pass rusher?
NS: We played two different schemes. He had the freedom to penetrate. I was more or less in the scheme of reading and playing through my man.
SN: What is the most surprising part of the draft process?
NS: The media attention and just the limelight—everybody kind of knowing who I am.
SN: What separates you from McCoy?
NS: The coaches make that decision. I think we’re both great players. I think we have similarities but differences. I think we’re two great players worthy of the positions that we’re in.
SN: You played a lot of soccer as a kid. How good were you?
NS: I was fairly good. I could play every position but midfield. I didn’t like to play midfield because it was a little bit too much running. I got a lot of fouls. That’s kind of the reason I moved away from soccer, because I got too many red cards.
SN: When your mom wasn’t too sure about you playing football, what did you tell her?
NS: She figured I’d be the one getting hit. I had to let her realize that I was the one attacking people and getting after the smaller guys.
SN: Why did you decide to work out at the Combine?
NS: I don’t have anything to hide. I’ve been working hard these last six weeks. There’s no point in working out and then not showing up here. You’re just kind of wasting time. You might as well showcase it and then go back to work, showcase it again at pro day and then move on.
Clifton Brown is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at cliftonbrown@sportingnews.com.
