ALLEN PARK -- Only a handful of players have ever been able to successfully appeal their NFL punishments. But Ndamukong Suh beat the rap.

He's probably never been so happy to fork over $70,000 in his life. Not when the original punishment called for him to miss the Detroit Lions' playoff game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

So how did Suh, who twice stepped on Aaron Rodgers over the weekend, successfully appeal his one-game suspension down to a $70,000 fine?

Apparently the league modified its repeat offender policy earlier this year, according to NFL Network's Judy Battista. Now players can wipe their slates clean if they go 32 straight games without committing the same crime.

That includes the regular season, postseason and two games in the preseason.

And that modification could not have come at a better time for Suh, who had gone exactly 32 games since his last safety-related violation, a low block against Minnesota's John Sullivan in the 2013 season opener that drew a record $100,000 fine.

So despite eight previous fines, seven of which were for safety violations, the defensive tackle was actually considered a first-time offender when it came to the Rodgers play.

And with those priors thrown out, hearings officer Ted Cottrell didn't think Suh stepping on Rodgers warranted a suspension.

That's a pretty lucky break for Suh, who was playing his very first game with a clean slate. And it gets even luckier.

Suh originally was docked $31,500 for driving his helmet into Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden during a Week 6 game last year, which would have cast him right back into that repeat offender pool. But that fine was later rescinded.

That explains why the NFL didn't cite Suh's prior violations when handing out the suspension, like it did the previous week with Dominic Raiola. And that also explains why Suh was able to do something almost no one can.

Beat the NFL.

Suh has now lost $420,669 for his nine fines, plus a two-game unpaid suspension in 2011. Here's a look at each of the bill:

2010

Preseason:

$7,500 for facemasking Cleveland QB Jake Delhomme

Week 9:

$5,000 for using opponent as leverage on Jets field-goal attempt

Week 13:

$15,000 for unnecessary roughness against Bears QB Jay Cutler

2011

Week 2:

$20,000 for roughing the passer against Bengals QB Andy Dalton

Week 12:

Lost $165,294 while sitting two games for stomping on Packers OL Evan Dietrich-Smith

2012

Week 12:

$30,000 for kicking Texans QB Matt Schaub in groin

2013

Week 1:

Record $100,000 for low block on Vikings C John Sullivan

Week 12:

$7,875 for throat slash gesture against Buccaneers

2014

Week 17: $70,000 for stepping on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Note: NFL donates player fines to charity.

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