Lions notes: LB Devon Kennard names Terrell Suggs his sports hero

Terrell Suggs has been a force for the last decade and a half. The outside linebacker has played in 229 games over the first 16 games of his career, all for the Baltimore Ravens. He leads all active players with 132.5 career sacks and is 13th in sacks all time. The edge defender has been a crucial part of the Ravens defense that has terrorized the league over the past 20 years, and he played alongside Ray Lewis as they led the team to a 2013 Super Bowl. While his career in Baltimore is most likely over—he signed with the Arizona Cardinals this offseason—he will forever be a legend in the Charm City.

The linebacker has also made an impact on the Detroit Lions roster.

ESPN took some time to ask athletes from all around the sports world who their sports hero was this week, and Lions linebacker Devon Kennard was included.

Kennard chose Suggs as his hero, saying:

To see another guy that came from the same area I did and I knew growing up. My brother and him are kind of friends. ... I have his college highlight tape, which is, to this day, one of the most insane highlight tapes ever. I used to watch it when I was in college; I used to watch it before games and stuff. I know all his plays from college.

Kennard is from Tempe, Arizona, where Suggs played college at Arizona State University.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback and Detroit native Jourdan Lewis was included as well, and he chose former Lions running back Barry Sanders, saying:

I’m from Detroit. [Barry Sanders] was like the hometown hero. I was a running back when I was younger, so just remember trying to do what he did. I wore his number. He was like the guy.

• Bleacher Reports Kristopher Knox named a move that he believes each team should make before the start of the 2019 season, and he thinks Detroit needs to bolster its pass rush.

• NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger put together a great “Baldy Breakdown” on how the sophomore duo of Kerryon Johnson and Frank Ragnow could fuel the Lions offense this upcoming season.

• Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr put together a list of what he believes to be the most combustible teams in the NFL at the moment. Despite the many narratives that have surrounded Detroit regarding head coach Matt Patricia, the Lions did not make the list. The Cleveland Browns did, though.

• Former Detroit safety Glover Quin retired Tuesday, and the Lions official PR Twitter account reflected on his amazing years in Detroit.