Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Raiola thinks Suh will show up like Adonis

DETROIT -- Dominic Raiola hasn't seen Ndamukong Suh work out yet, but on Monday night he told reporters he expects the Detroit Lions defensive tackle to be at this week's voluntary organized team activities.

Oh, and he expects he'll be in prime shape as well.

"Wait until you see him Wednesday," Raiola said after an appearance at the MGM Grand in Detroit, referring to the media's first open OTA. "He'll probably be in amazing shape.

"Look like Adonis."

That's what the Lions coaching staff is hoping for as they have had to answer question after question this offseason about the absence of the team's best defensive player. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell defended Suh on Sunday, saying some of his leaders in prior stops have not shown up to voluntary activities but that it has not changed their abilities to lead.

"That's a decision that he made. He likes to work out in Portland the first few weeks of the offseason," Raiola said. "I can't tell you why he was not here but I fully expect him to be keeping up with his lifting and he's in shape. I know he is."

Suh is entering the final year of his original contract and has yet to sign an extension with Detroit, although the club has maintained it expects to have a deal done with their best defensive player. But Suh's absence during the first part of the voluntary workouts -- a year after he was named a captain and in a season under a new coaching staff -- has caused a lot of consternation among the Detroit fan base.

That's something Raiola thinks has been made too much of this offseason.

"He's a pro and he knows what he has to do," Raiola said. "Smart guy. It's not going to take him long [to get caught up]."

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