The Baltimore Ravens have given linebacker Terrell Suggs a new contract, signing him to a six-year deal worth $63 million. Suggs has been demanding a new deal, but the Ravens have been reluctant to pay him a lot of money. They gave him the franchise tag, and Suggs has been very patient in negotiating for a new deal, unlike other players in the past. This will be Suggs' seventh season out of Arizona State, and he has been a stabilizing force in the Ravens great defense this decade. In this deal, Suggs will get $38 million guaranteed. They lost Bart Scott via free agency to the New York Jets, so it was essential they make Suggs happy.
I think this is a good day for the Ravens franchise and for Suggs. I am very impressed with the patience Suggs has shown. He has been looking for a long term contract since before the start of last season. The Ravens refused to do that and they gave him the franchise tag instead. They did that again for the second straight offseason and some thought Suggs would demand a trade. He never did. He just continued to negotiate quietly and his patience paid off, as he was honored with a long-term deal.
An example of a player not showing patience with his contract status is Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers. He has asked for a new deal and has asked that he not be given the franchise tag. The Panthers did that anyway, and he asked for a trade immediately. I understand why players demand new contracts and long-term deals. Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall have publicly demanded a trade because of their unsatisfaction with their current contract status. That is why I'm extremely impressed with Suggs. He never publicly said bad things about the organization. He just continued to work and he eventually got what he wanted.
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