Dwight Freeney signs record deal - how much will Suggs demand?

[Gabrosin]

From ESPN.com:

"Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts' franchise player, signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest paid defensive player in NFL history."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2935483

We've all been waiting for news of Terrell Suggs getting a contract extension since he hit his rookie deal escalator and his salary this year ballooned. We let Adalius Thomas go primarily to have the money to pay Suggs to stick around through the prime of his career. While Suggs doesn't have the same numbers or respect that Dwight Freeney does, I expect he sees himself as the best pass rusher in the NFL, and will demand a contract based on that. Ultimately, I don't expect him to get the amount Freeney did, but this sort of market-setting signing for one of the top three pass-rushers in the NFL is sure to increase Suggs' bargaining power. How much do you think it will cost the Ravens to lock Suggs up for the long term? And with the addition of McGahee and our rookies, having already locked up key players like Reed, Heap, and McAllister to big deals and having sizeable contracts for Trevor Pryce, Samari Rolle, Derrick Mason, and Steve McNair, not to mention late-year numbers for Ogden and Lewis, will we be strapping ourselves for cap room in the future?

[jonboy79]

O-U-C-H!!!!
Thats all I have to say about that. I expect Sugg's contract to fall between this and Charles Grant's from earlier in the year. Peppers' may play a role as well, if it's completed before Suggs'.

[Rex Thunder]

From ESPN.com:

"Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts' franchise player, signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest paid defensive player in NFL history."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2935483

We've all been waiting for news of Terrell Suggs getting a contract extension since he hit his rookie deal escalator and his salary this year ballooned. We let Adalius Thomas go primarily to have the money to pay Suggs to stick around through the prime of his career. While Suggs doesn't have the same numbers or respect that Dwight Freeney does, I expect he sees himself as the best pass rusher in the NFL, and will demand a contract based on that. Ultimately, I don't expect him to get the amount Freeney did, but this sort of market-setting signing for one of the top three pass-rushers in the NFL is sure to increase Suggs' bargaining power. How much do you think it will cost the Ravens to lock Suggs up for the long term? And with the addition of McGahee and our rookies, having already locked up key players like Reed, Heap, and McAllister to big deals and having sizeable contracts for Trevor Pryce, Samari Rolle, Derrick Mason, and Steve McNair, not to mention late-year numbers for Ogden and Lewis, will we be strapping ourselves for cap room in the future?

If we don't sign him to an extension before this season begins, which is doubtful, I expect him to get AT LEAST what Freeney just got. That scares me, but the truth is, Suggs hasn't hit his ceiling yet, and with the departure of Adalius Thomas, it opens the door for Rex Ryan to explore ALL of Suggs versatility. If Suggs has an AD type year, with his age, he will demand TOP DOLLAR next year.
Man, how dissappointing would that be is we couldn't resign Suggs, AFTER, letting AD go for the main reason being able to keep him. The thought kills me, but no doubt, even if he doesn't become the highest paid defensive player in history (which would be a serious ego check to Ray Ray and a few others)- He'll be close.

That's just the market in today's game. If Ovie Mughelli can get $18 and become the highest paid fullback in history, then Suggs can follow. YOU just need to look for a team with a poor defense, massive pockets, and well under the cap.

[camdenyard]

This is a happy day in the Suggs household.

The longer the Ravens wait, the more they will spend.

[Gwaihir]

I don't see how Suggs could settle for less than Freeney! Freeney ONLY rushes the passer, while Suggs does so much more and still picks up 10 Sacks a year! I believe he had twice as many sacks as Freeney this year!

[festivus]

The longer the Ravens wait, the more they will spend.
The Ravens have been supposedly ready to negotiate for awhile now. I wouldn't be surprised if the Suggs camp was waiting for Freeney to set the market.

[ravenmad71]

Sad to say.. but this maybe the last year for T-Sizzle in the purple in black. Although I know and most fans know he is a great asset to this team, itll be hard for the Ravens justify paying what looks to be another "boat load" contract to an already mutliple high paying player team. Suggs could very easily exceed Freeney's deal, just because he does so much more than be a factor on third down(see Freeney) In the end this is what the league wanted, more players to spread the weath. The Ravens have done there due diligence each year bringing in top talent.. its hard though to satisfy and pay them just as well too. If he were to leave.. hopefully he'll leave with a championship ring.

[pyite32]

I will be very sad is we lose Suggs...

That's about all I have to say.

[Gabrosin]

Sad to say.. but this maybe the last year for T-Sizzle in the purple in black. Although I know and most fans know he is a great asset to this team, itll be hard for the Ravens justify paying what looks to be another "boat load" contract to an already mutliple high paying player team. Suggs could very easily exceed Freeney's deal, just because he does so much more than be a factor on third down(see Freeney) In the end this is what the league wanted, more players to spread the weath. The Ravens have done there due diligence each year bringing in top talent.. its hard though to satisfy and pay them just as well too. If he were to leave.. hopefully he'll leave with a championship ring.

The Ravens have done exceedingly well in locking up their key players over the years. There's no way we let Suggs leave. If it comes to it, we WILL franchise Suggs for at least a year, and deal with the repercussions. Even over recent years, allowing solid players like Adalius Thomas, Tony Pashos, Ovie Mughelli, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Anthony Weaver, and Will Demps to leave, we always managed to retain our biggest stars (Reed, Heap, C-Mac, Lewis, Ogden) at key positions. And if the Ravens didn't believe they could keep Suggs around for the next several years, Adalius Thomas would still be a Raven.

This is going to happen, it's just a matter of how ridiculous the numbers will get. Pass rushers usually only get one big contract in their careers because their shelf life is so short. I know we'll make space for him; I just don't know who else besides Thomas is going to have to go to do that. Of course, it's a moot point if Ogden retires after the season, as the number coming off for him will give us the room we need; then it will be up to those young tackles we're collecting to fill the Hall-of-Fame-sized void JO will leave. Not something I'm looking forward to.

[Gwaihir]

I, too, am confident we will be able to keep Suggs. Ozzie always manages to keep the top talent around. When is the last time you can remember the Ravens letting a 25 year old superstar get away?

[PurpleRulz]

I haven't read, but Freeney's bonus has to be two tiered, or maybe even three tiered. 30M? Wow. That said, negotiations have been amicable and we haven't heard that Suggs is threatening holdout. That tells me that this will get done even if it is for Freeney money. Deals like this always take much time, because of the dollar amount and other details that will be included.

I have every confidence that Suggs will be signed. We just have to be patient.

[Sports Steve]

I think Suggs will be very hard to resign. We may even lose him. :(


:jester: :jester:

[TL24x7]

Aaron Wilson's exclusive blog on this topic here >>> SUGGS (http://insidetheravens.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-does-freeneys-deal-mean-for-suggs.html)

[PurpleRulz]

I think Suggs will be very hard to resign. We may even lose him. :(


:jester: :jester:

It will be hard for Suggs to resign. As for talks thus far, negotiations are amicable so far. He will be re-signed.

[Art-Florida]

This is beyond ridiculous. It has gotten totally out of control. To pay semi-literate professional athletes 72 million dollars to play a BOYS game involving a BALL.

The teams don't care, they just raise ticket prices and swindle the TV and radio media. (who then pass it on to their sponsors) The fans as usual, ultimately pay the freight for these spoiled adult boys so they can afford more crack. Maybe I ought to learn crocheting for something to do on Sunday afternoons.

[CDiPiranha]

Art,

whether football players are "semi-literate" or not, realize that they are the creme-de-la-creme performers in an industry that brings in HUGE dollars.

The top actors get paid exorbitant dollars, so do the top producers of block-buster movies. So do the producers of popular music and the elite artists who perform the music. It is so in all other aspects of sports as well as it exists in the realm of business. The best deserves to be rewarded financially if the dollars exist in their field.

Regardless if these folks are or aren't "well-rounded" in other aspects of life, the fact is in a big-money industry the top performing elite folks SHOULD BE PAID!

And as for your part about "these spoiled adult boys (being able to afford) more crack", that is just plain insulting. I guess famous highly-paid musicians, actors or eccentric highly-paid artists having vices or bad habits perhaps doesn't have the same level of disgust as "semi-literate" football players, huh?!

The players in ALL SPORTS deserve EVERY PENNY THEY CAN GET!

.02 fromC DiP

[birdbrain]

Locking him up before the season starts is a key boys.....if you let it go beyond that, you could have some nitwits come in and give Suggs the earth, moon and stars....way of the world right now....shame really...

[Art-Florida]

Art,

whether football players are "semi-literate" or not, realize that they are the creme-de-la-creme performers in an industry that brings in HUGE dollars.

The top actors get paid exorbitant dollars, so do the top producers of block-buster movies. So do the producers of popular music and the elite artists who perform the music. It is so in all other aspects of sports as well as it exists in the realm of business. The best deserves to be rewarded financially if the dollars exist in their field.

Regardless if these folks are or aren't "well-rounded" in other aspects of life, the fact is in a big-money industry the top performing elite folks SHOULD BE PAID!

And as for your part about "these spoiled adult boys (being able to afford) more crack", that is just plain insulting. I guess famous highly-paid musicians, actors or eccentric highly-paid artists having vices or bad habits perhaps doesn't have the same level of disgust as "semi-literate" football players, huh?!

The players in ALL SPORTS deserve EVERY PENNY THEY CAN GET!

.02 fromC DiP

You highlight a notion I have held for years, Pdip; entertainers and pro athletes are the two most essentially useless and overpaid professions in existence. They're just like your living room goldfish bowl. They need to be fed and cared for, in return you get some entertainment value by looking at them once in awhile.

As far as insulting them, good, that is the whole point. If a theif is seen disappearing into the back seat of a police cruiser I don't mind insulting him either.

Btw, welcome aboard. I have read your Library of Congress-sized views on the Crayola board and thoroughly enjoy them. I know you'll add interest and insight here too.

[pyite32]

While I typically agree that the money the sports stars receive is ridiculous at best. The problem with your argument lies in where is your solution? The NFL makes an ungodly amount of money, where is that money going to go. If it doesn't go to the players, then it will go to the Owners who are already filthy rich.

If you think that with the demand for the NFL the way it is, that they will ever lower prices to help the fans, you are the one smoking crack. Simple economics, the fans will pay the prices - they will problably even pay more than they pay now. Of course they are going to try to make money, this is business, not charity.

So I guess you have to pick your poison, owner or performer. We are not getting our money back.

[jonboy79]

If you feel so strongly abotu actors and athlets, well then do yoiur part.
Stop goiing to games, buying jersey's, watchign the games on TV, palying Fantasy Football. Stop watching Movies, and TV as well. Stop reading tabloids or even newspapers that highlight sporting events.
Oh you'd be bored if you did all ofthat... I thought so, that's why they get paid so much, is that entertianment is so important to us Americans, and we will pay what we have to, to get entertained in the manner in which we want.