The Oakland Raiders faithful love playing up the darker aspects of their team's personality.
It's not often that people prefer to play the villain, but Raider Nation sure loves to doll themselves up in black face paint, silver spikes and relentlessly harangue the opposition with threats of Black Hole oblivion.
Not only do the fans enjoy playing a villainous role themselves, they like players who seem to fit this mold as well.
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, slated to hit free agency this offseason, has developed a reputation league-wide as just this type of imposing, intimidating bad-boy and, if Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck has his way, could end up in the Silver and Black.
"(He's) Raider-ish," Tuck said, per a report from Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "And that's one of the reasons why I know Raider Nation would applaud that move, beyond the fact that he's an awesome football player. He kind of fits the mold of ... the toughness and the ferocious player that built the Oakland Raiders."
Suh, who has been fined nine times and suspended once in his five-year NFL career, is scheduled to hit the open market on March 10, sans a new deal from the Lions. He is reportedly looking to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL, seeking a deal in the $100 million range.
Tuck says it would be worth it.
"The thing about him, you know what you're getting every day. Some of the tactics, you could probably do without, but he's a hell of a football player," Tuck said. "I would love to have the opportunity to line up beside of him and let him take all the double teams that I normally take."
With over $56 million in cap space - the second-highest figure in the league - Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and owner Mark Davis have more than enough dough to make a deal work.
The new-look Raiders are moving forward with recently added head coach Jack Del Rio and some young pieces in quarterback Derek Carr and outside linebacker Khalil Mack, but they'll need a bevy of reinforcements.
Adding a player like Suh would immediately elevate their NFL standing.
"I know Raider Nation would love to have him," Tuck said. "I think Detroit would love to keep him, but hopefully, it works out for us, and I get an opportunity to play with that guy, because it would be phenomenal for what we're trying to build in Oakland."
