National Football League

Report: Lions DT Suh won't attend team's voluntary minicamp

Published Apr. 21, 2014 7:58 p.m. ET

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Ndamukong Suh will be a no-show at the Detroit Lions' voluntary minicamp this week.

Suh won't be in Allen Park, Mich., on Tuesday with his teammates, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person, who said Suh will attend the team's voluntary workouts in May and mandatory minicamp next month, spoke Monday night on condition of anonymity because the defensive tackle was not announcing his plans.

Detroit's first-year coach Jim Caldwell said last week he wished Suh was at previous voluntary workouts. Caldwell added that he has spoken to Suh more than any other player on the team since being hired.

The two-time All-Pro has skipped voluntary workouts in the past, and the 6-foot-4, 307-pound Suh has stayed in good shape.

He has not missed a game because of an injury in his four-year career. He was suspended for two games in 2011 for stomping on an opponent.

Suh is entering the last year of his contract, and is scheduled to count more than $20 million against the salary cap this season. Lions president Tom Lewand has insisted it does not matter when a deal gets done with Suh even though a new contract could be restructured in a way that gives the team some short-term flexibility to make more moves this offseason.

Lewand has sounded optimistic an agreement will eventually be reached with Suh, drafted with the No. 2 pick overall in 2010. Caldwell told people at a season ticket holders' gathering that Suh is a thoughtful individual, who has his life planned out

Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said last week that Suh is "worth every penny," because he can disrupt what offenses want to do in the passing and running game.

Suh has cost himself some money with his on-field actions, including an infamous stomp on the right arm of Green Bay's Evan Dietrich-Smith in a nationally televised game on Thanksgiving in 2011.

The NFL was fined seven times for more than $200,000, leading to some in the league saying he's a dirty player. Suh has been able to afford it financially because he signed a five-year contract worth up to $68 million, but his reputation has taken a hit.

Suh had a career-high 10 sacks as a rookie and has made 27 sacks in his career. As a captain last season, he had five sacks. 

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