NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Ndamukong Suh is ready to start training camp — and he says any uncertainty about his contract shouldn’t be a distraction.
“That’s what you’ve got agents for,” the Detroit defensive tackle told The Associated Press. “They can take care of business, and just go from there.”
Veterans report to camp Sunday, and the Lions will practice Monday. Suh is entering the final season of his contract, and as always, the spotlight will be on the two-time All-Pro when he takes the field for Detroit.
Suh does not seem overly concerned about the status of contract talks.
“I don’t have a timetable,” Suh said. “That’s my agent. I don’t have to worry about it. I can focus on football, and that’s my job, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Suh was drafted in 2010 by the Lions with the second overall pick, and he has 27 1/2 sacks in his four pro seasons. Suh and Nick Fairley form an imposing interior of Detroit’s defensive line, and the Lions are hoping for a big season under new coach Jim Caldwell.
Detroit finished 7-9 last season, and coach Jim Schwartz was fired, but the Lions have a strong core of marquee talent in Suh, Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford — all of whom are in their 20s. The 28-year-old Johnson is the oldest of the three.
“Looking forward to the start of the Caldwell regime,” Suh said. “Got a great group of guys coming back — very young, guys starting to get into their prime.”
The 27-year-old Suh enjoys traveling and immersing himself in different cultures, and the offseason is often a good opportunity for that.
“It’s always nice to get out of the states and kind of disappear,” he said.
This offseason included a trip to Brazil for the World Cup. Suh played soccer growing up, and the sport runs deep in his family.
“Brazil was an absolute blast,” he said. “A lot of fun — enjoyed every bit of it. Super-excited to go down there with my dad and enjoy some great international soccer.”
Suh said he saw the U.S.-Portugal match, and he also went to see Cameroon play Brazil. Suh’s father was born in Cameroon.
Now it’s back to American football — and although there will be plenty of questions in the next few days about his future with the Lions, Suh expects to stay relatively quiet about his contract.
“Obviously, starting here soon on Sunday, I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to just dive back into football 100 percent, and just put all my energy into that,” Suh said. “I like to be a person that has ability to multitask, but at the same time, you understand the task at hand and what’s most important.”
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