Ravens LB Terrell Suggs Getting Closer to a Long-Term Deal

A recent story in the Baltimore Sun reported that Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs said he is nearing a long-term deal with the team. “We are close to an agreement. We just have a few little things to work out,” Suggs told the paper. “I don’t want to go into great detail, but it’s things like the years of the agreement and incentives, but the basic framework has been done.” The move by the Ravens and their star pass rusher was probably initiated due to the league mandated rule that a player receiving the “franchise” tag has until July 15th to sign a new deal. If a deal between the two sides cannot be struck, Suggs would play the 2009 season under the franchise tag for a second straight season, earning the NFL salary cap unfriendly sum of $10.2 million dollars and leaving an opening for him to be free agent in March 2010.  Suggs, 26, is considered one of the best defensive stars in the NFL along with players like Steelers LB James ... (link)