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Terrell Suggs, who never minded playing under one-year franchise tags, found the financial security he was looking for Wednesday when he agreed to a six-year, $63 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, according to a source.
The key to the contract was the structure. Suggs will receive signing bonus and option bonus money that will total $33.1 million in 2009 and 2010, according to a source. That is believed to be second only to Peyton Manning, who received a $34 million signing bonus. Defensive end Dwight Freeney received $31.5 million in signing and option bonus money during the first two years of his contract with the Colts. Freeney and Suggs were both represented by Gary Wichard.
Suggs had until 4 p.m. ET to sign a long-term deal. Had he not found the long-term solution, he would have played the season at $10.17 million and become a free agent next season. Now, on a long-term deal, Suggs becomes the highest paid linebacker in NFL history.
The payout of the contract was the reason for the signing. Over the first two years of the contract, Suggs will make $40 million. Over the first three years, he will make $43.4 million. Over the first four years, he will make $48.3 million.
Suggs has been the Ravens' franchise player for the past two seasons. He has 53 sacks during the first six years of his career and is considered one of the best pass-rushers in the league. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Suggs came out of Arizona State in 2003 as a first-round pick. He played defensive end until the Ravens started using more 3-4 schemes. In some seasons, he played more at defensive end than linebacker, but the position didn't matter.
Suggs' job was to get to the quarterback for sacks. Now, he has sacked the contract of a lifetime.
Terrell Suggs, who never minded playing under one-year franchise tags, found the financial security he was looking for Wednesday when he agreed to a six-year, $63 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, according to a source.
The key to the contract was the structure. Suggs will receive signing bonus and option bonus money that will total $33.1 million in 2009 and 2010, according to a source. That is believed to be second only to Peyton Manning, who received a $34 million signing bonus. Defensive end Dwight Freeney received $31.5 million in signing and option bonus money during the first two years of his contract with the Colts. Freeney and Suggs were both represented by Gary Wichard.
Suggs had until 4 p.m. ET to sign a long-term deal. Had he not found the long-term solution, he would have played the season at $10.17 million and become a free agent next season. Now, on a long-term deal, Suggs becomes the highest paid linebacker in NFL history.
The payout of the contract was the reason for the signing. Over the first two years of the contract, Suggs will make $40 million. Over the first three years, he will make $43.4 million. Over the first four years, he will make $48.3 million.
Suggs has been the Ravens' franchise player for the past two seasons. He has 53 sacks during the first six years of his career and is considered one of the best pass-rushers in the league. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Suggs came out of Arizona State in 2003 as a first-round pick. He played defensive end until the Ravens started using more 3-4 schemes. In some seasons, he played more at defensive end than linebacker, but the position didn't matter.
Suggs' job was to get to the quarterback for sacks. Now, he has sacked the contract of a lifetime.
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