Miami Dolphins Repudiate Claims Surrounding Ndamukong Suh’s Rumored Departure

The Miami Dolphins were quick to deny claims made by CBS Sports Sunday morning regarding the team’s plan to move on from defensive stalwart Ndamukong Suh this offseason. According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is looking to prematurely end Suh’s tenure in Miami.

CBS Sports had this to say about Ross’ displeasure:

Ndamukong Suh's grabbing of quarterback Ryan Mallett's throat Thursday night was just the latest in a string of incidents that will hasten his departure from the team that made him the highest-paid defensive player in the game just two years ago, according to a source close to owner Stephen Ross. The Dolphins are preparing to move on from the defensive tackle in 2018, the source said, and are prepared to absorb a hefty -- but hardly impossible -- 2019 dead cap hit to do so.

After the release of the report, the Dolphins were quick to deny their plans to move on from Suh. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald gathered the following information from those close to the situation:

But the Dolphins publicly and privately insist this is not the case, that Suh remains very much in the 2018 plans. They say on the record that the report is “100 percent not true.”

Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke came forward to defend Suh in the aftermath of the report:

“Suh has been great,” Burke said. “Been giving a lot of feedback on the sideline on game days. Coming over to those guys and what he’s seeing. Been really receptive to me telling him, I need to move up over here to do this.

“I’ve known him for 10 years. We drafted him in Detroit. Biggest thing I’ve seen is how he’s been with the young guys. Really taken those two rookie tackles [Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor] and Jordan Phillips under his wing. More than I’ve ever seen him try to help those guys. He sees where he is in his career and say another way I can help is keep my legacy going with some of these guys and help them become good players. He’s been really, really good with the other tackles and being another coach out there for us.”

Even with some less-than-ideal behavior on the field, Suh has been an integral part of Miami’s resurgent run defense this season. The former Detroit Lions star has served as the anchor of the Dolphins’ defense since his arrival prior to the 2015 season. Suh has recorded 13.5 sacks in his 39 starts for Miami.