Defenses are full of bullies, who's stopping them?

The topic of bullying has landed on center stage of NFL Fest, an appearance made possible by Incognito Productions' Miami office.

Emmanuel Sanders brought the concert to Pittsburgh. His announcement declaring passively that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, at the very least, contains traits that may indicate to some he is, in fact, a bully.

The NFL is facing the scrutiny of anyone who's been hit in the head over the last 40 years, and now, defensive players are being accused of maliciously exerting will and negative influence on another person.

The NFL used to be a place where that kind of behavior was acceptable - nay, rewarded - by teams.

Perhaps the actions allegedly taken by Dolphins OG Richie Incognito, and likely several other unnamed assailants in locker rooms all over any sport, should not be condoned, but the association of that topic within the chalk of the field is silly.

Even complimentary. Sanders is right. Suh is a bully. Bullies respond to force. If that bully hasn't learned to abstain from such behavior, it could be because no one's made him.

Is Sanders going to make him? Incognito? Roger Goodell? Suh plays the game hard, hits people hard and yes, he's a bully.

If he really wants to pop off, Sanders should simply avoid the use and the intonation of the word, and talk about how the team is going to beat his ass between the whistles, and they're looking forward to the competition.

Calling him a bully means absolutely nothing if you can't put him in his place. But if the Steelers can't stop him, no one will save them from it.

It will be telling, amid a poor offensive season, how much fight that side of the ball has in it.

More from Behind the Steel Curtain:

• Lions vs. Steelers: Everything you need to know
• Weekend Checkdown
• Swirling rumors not distracting Steelers locker room
• Steelers injury report: Keisel, Woodley, Foster miss again
• Defenses are full of bullies, who's stopping them?
• Ike Taylor faces big challenge, but that isn't anything new
• Emmanuel Sanders says Steelers won't be bullied

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