(Photo: Associated PressAP)

Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is quickly gaining a reputation as a dirty player in just his second season in the league.

The NFL is perhaps trying to send a message to its defensive rookie of the year by fining the former Nebraska star $20,000 for a late hit on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton in last week’s preseason opener.

Understandably, that fine amount seems high, especially for the preseason, and he plans to appeal. But obviously there is a message in the amount of the fine because it’s Suh’s third such violation.

“$20,000REALLY???!!!” Suh tweeted.

Yes, really.

Suh was assessed an unnecessary roughness penalty after he threw Dalton to the ground well after he had thrown the football. Suh was also fined last season for illegal hits on Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and Cleveland Browns quarterback Jake Delhomme.

He was fined $7,500 for the preseason hit on Delhomme and then hit with a $15,000 fine for the regular shot on Cutler, which shows a pattern of the NFL increasing its penalty with each cheap shot.

Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris