Ndamukong Suh could have been a Jet
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

In the buildup for Super Bowl 53, the Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman spoke about how close he came to wearing green.

Geoff Magliocchetti

In Sunday’s Super Bowl 53, Ndamukong Suh and his Los Angeles Rams will take on the New England Patriots in Atlanta (6:30 p.m. ET, CBS). According to Suh, he came close to seeing New England twice a year as a member of the New York Jets.

During Monday’s Super Bowl media day at State Farm Arena, Suh took some time to look back at the past. Before Los Angeles inked him to a one-year deal worth $14 million, the Jets were the front-runners for the services of the former Detroit Lion and Miami Dolphin. The Jets, however, rescinded their offer, allowing Suh to join the future NFC champions.

According to Brian Costello of the New York Post, Suh was interested in what the Jets had to offer, mentioning he was a fan of then-head coach Todd Bowles.

“It was close,” Suh said in Costello’s report. “I wanted to take a visit there. I had some good conversation with Todd Bowles and the defensive staff, but some things fell apart and I kind of went from there.”

Suh, 32, was released by the Dolphins in March. He wound up tallying 59 tackles, including 4.5 sacks, in 2018. The defender came up huge in the NFC Championship Game over New Orleans, earning four tackles and 1.5 sacks of Drew Brees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J3li2Fw1z8

He’s now looking forward to the big challenge Tom Brady and the New England offense will present on Sunday.

“It’s a moment to create legacies, not just individually but as a team,” Suh said according to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports.

Often labeled one of the NFL’s dirtiest players, Suh is looking to shed the villain label that has followed him throughout his career.

“I would say they think I am a villain on and off the field,” Suh said, per WEEI’s Ryan Hannable. “I like to impose my will. I like to be a dominant force when I am in between the white lines, but that is not who I am 24/7, 365. Just don’t pick my play as a form of who I am as a human being.”

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