Ravens and Suggs agree on tag salary

By Neal Coolong  |   Thursday, May 15, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens and DE/OLB Terrell Suggs agreed to the dollar figure of the one-year franchise tag he was given this offseason, ending a feud over which position Suggs really played.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Suggs will get "close to $8.5 million," as a hybrid DE/OLB. The Ravens gave Suggs the franchise tag as an OLB, meaning his one-year salary would be $8.065 million -- the average of the top five OLBs in the game. Suggs countered that, because he played more than half his snaps as a defensive end, his salary should be $8.879 million, the average of the top five DEs in the NFL.

In wake of the dispute, Suggs still attended the Ravens' first minicamp under new coach John Harbaugh.

Commentary: Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is one of the best in the NFL, and his creation of the hybrid franchise tag will go on his legacy. Now he must worry about signing Suggs to a long-term deal, while making a decision on veteran LB Ray Lewis' future in Baltimore. His contract is also up next season.

Fantasy Impact: Suggs is one of the most explosive pass rushers in the league, and despite the $8.5 million guaranteed he's getting this season, he's still playing for an extension. That should be enough motivation for a guy who has 45 sacks in five seasons, especially considering the bank-breaking deal the Vikings gave DE Jared Allen ($31 million guaranteed).
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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