MILLER: Building up NFL Suh-spense 

COMMENTARY

Published: Monday, November 30, 2009 4:15 PM CST

Members of the Nebraska football team cant look ahead.

There is a Big 12 championship to play for against Texas on Saturday.

But how about the rest of the state? There are four days left before the big game, and only about 22 hours can be devoted to dissecting the Longhorns each day.

So, following the Worldwide Leader, ESPN, its never too early to talk about the NFL draft.

Aprils big event will have something strange for Cornhusker fans a reason to tune in during the first hour.

Since the 1998 duo of Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter were each drafted in the first round, NU has had a total of two first-round picks Fabian Washington in 2003 and Adam Carriker in 2007. Thats a big difference from the nine first-rounders the Huskers had from 1989-98.

In the last two years, no Husker went before the fifth round.

Things will change in a big way this year thanks to the big man, Ndamukong Suh.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle has been sitting atop Mel Kiper Jr.s big board and projected as the top overall pick.

And while Mr. Suh as those TV commentators afraid to pronounce his first name call him has bigger things to worry about than where he will play next fall, that shouldnt stop the rest of us from keeping an eye on the most exciting race for the No. l draft pick in years.

Forget anticipating a Colts-Saints Super Bowl that would make the scoreboard look like the Arena Bowl had returned.

Forget wondering who will be left to perform at Super Bowl halftimes after The Who exhausts the supply of old guys who still rock.

After all, the Detroit Lions arent already on the clock, unlike last year.

With five weeks left, there are still 20 teams in the running for the top pick. Thats parity at its best and worst.

Where will Suhs destination likely be?

Tampa Bay, Cleveland and St. Louis are the clear frontrunners as a stop for the top draftees.

If Suh becomes a Buccaneer, he proved in last years Gator Bowl that he plays well in Florida. The bad news is that hed play for a franchise who has pewter as one of its colors.

If Suh joins the Browns, hell be supported by a fanbase that has always appreciated a hard-nosed defensive player. Hell also be stuck on a franchise that rotates coaches and quarterbacks quicker than Tiger Woods gives an explanation for his NASCAR tryout.

The Rams might be a good fit. The franchise hasnt been a longtime inept team like many of the others. The bad news is that since Rush Limbaugh wont be part the ownership, Suh wont get a big signing bonus for playing college football in such a pro-Republican state.

The Detroit Lions are hanging in for a chance to get another top pick. Playing for them wouldnt be bad. No other NFL team improved its win total by an infinite amount this season. The bad news is if Detroit takes Suh, hed be expected to play wide receiver.

Washington, Oakland and Kansas City could all string together a nice losing streak to end the season and move up. Suh plays well in red, so the Chiefs would be a nice option. In Oakland hed learn from his head coach how to throw a good haymaker, and the Redskin organization would be a nice change of pace from the well-run, team-focused Nebraska program under Bo Pelini.

Dale Miller is a sports writer for The Independent.