Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh defended charges that he and his team is dirty during an appearance Tuesday morning on ESPN SportsCenter.
During the second quarter, as Jay Cutler scrambled toward his team's sideline, he was tackled by Suh, who also ripped off the quarterback's helmet.
"Honestly, my particular play, I'm going in and tackling and it's within the play," Suh told ESPN. "His helmet so happened to come off.
"It's a part of the game. Things happen. It's not a big deal... You just get up and play the next play. That's why there was no flags on that particular play."
Suh also added that he has "never been considered a dirty player" and that he won't concern himself until family and close friends tell him that "I'm crossing the line."
As for accusations his entire team is dirty, Suh said, "I don't necessarily see what they see.
"Maybe because we're a little too physical, we don't take anything from anybody. And we're going to continue to play hard and not be pushed around. Maybe that's why we're considered dirty."
Suh also said he didn't see what happened in the brawl near his team's sideline. But he said Bears cornerback D.J. Moore "went after our quarterback."
"That's a no-no on our team," Suh said. "We had to protect our quarterback."
During an appearance Monday on ESPN 1000, Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher naturally defended Moore and added he shouldn't have been ejected.
Asked if the Lions are dirty, Urlacher said, "They play to the echo of the whistle.
"How about that? You can't be mad, because that's the way the game should be played. They play fast, they play physical, and sometimes they go a little bit too far. But you know what? Sometimes, they get away with it."
Urlacher added that he liked Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
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