The Ndamukong Suh Thread

[tomahawk247]

On Saturday, we read a report in Detroit that indicated No. 2 overall pick defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh should sign by the end of the day. That didn't happen.

On Sunday morning, we learbed why. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports that Suh's representatives asked for more money than No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford received -- $90 million over six years for Suh with a whopping $56 million guaranteed.

ProFootballTalk can confirm that Suh's reps were interested in busting out of his slot; that's why Florio posted on Friday that signs pointed towards a Suh holdout. (We're on Day Two of the holdout.)

It's hard to believe Suh will get more money than Bradford, but that's the negotiating point Suh's agents started with. They could try to make the case Suh was the top player in the draft.

PFT heard the word "Crabtree" last week in connection with Suh's possible holdout. Lions fans can only hope they get Crabtree-level rookie production from Suh, but without all the drama leading up to it.

Asking for more than Sam got, even with Sam's QB premium and Bradford being the number 1 pick? Ouch, unlucky Detroit

[Bralidore(RAMMODE)]

One more reason I'm glad we didn't draft him.

[Nick]

One more reason I'm glad we didn't draft him.

Strange response. Obviously this issue wouldn't have come up had the Rams drafted Suh, because by doing so, that actually would have made Suh the top player in the draft, which is the point his agents were trying to use as a bargaining chip (they've since conceded he'll get less than Bradford).

[Nick]

Lions rookie Ndamukong Suh won't demand more than Sam Bradford
Published: Sunday, August 01, 2010, 12:20 PM
Tom Kowalski

ALLEN PARK -- It appears a deal might be worked out soon between the Detroit Lions and Ndamukong Suh, the second overall pick in the draft.

After several reports that Suh's agent, Eugene Parker, wanted more than the $50 million in guaranteed money paid to Sam Bradford, the first overall pick, Parker now says the market has been established and they'll take less.

At this point, it seems reasonable that Suh will get more than the $41.7 million of guaranteed money Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford got last year. But how much more?

So, where does it stand now? Hard to tell, but my experience with these things is that negotiations don't always build to a conclusion. Two parties could be far apart at one moment and then have a deal done in the next. It's just the way it works sometimes.



******


Lions' Ndamukong Suh still unsigned, might want more money than Matthew Stafford
By CARLOS MONARREZ
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
Posted: 9:23 a.m. Aug. 1, 2010 | Updated: 3:40 p.m. today

Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh missed his second day of training camp, and one of the key sticking points in reaching a contract agreement is whether Suh gets more guaranteed money than quarterback Matthew Stafford, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick last year, received a six-year contract for $78 million, with $41.7 million guaranteed. The Lions are concerned about paying Suh, the No. 2 pick this year, more guaranteed money than Stafford, their franchise quarterback.

According to reports today, Suh’s agent Eugene Parker wanted a six-year deal for $90 million, with $56 million guaranteed. That would have been more than the six-year, $78-million deal -- with $50 million guaranteed -- that St. Louis paid quarterback Sam Bradford, this year’s No. 1 pick.

But Parker said in an e-mail to the Free Press that he was not looking for a contract larger than Bradford’s.

That means Suh’s contract will fall somewhere between Bradford’s and that of No. 3 pick Gerald McCoy, the Tampa Bay defensive end who got a five-year deal for $63 million, with $35 million guaranteed.

Suh cannot join the Lion for practice until he signs his contract. He has missed three practices over the first two days.

Meanwhile, tight end Brandon Pettigrew (knee) came off the physically unable to perform list and practiced this morning.

[TekeRam]

All I want to say is that Suh brought this upon himself. Reading through the early posts in this thread Suh is quoted as saying that he picked Parker as his agent because he knew that Suh wanted to be in camp on time. So much for that.

And while we're at it, what kind of moron is Parker anyway? As broken as the payouts for top draft picks are, there's at least a slotting system going on(1 makes more than 2, who makes more than 3). Last year Parker had Crabtree sit out practically half the season because he wanted to break the slotting system, and now he wants to completely shatter any kind of reason within NFL salaries. $90 million? For a player who hasn't played a single snap in the NFL? That would make him the 4th highest paid player in the NFL by average salary, I believe, behind Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Nnamdi Asomugha.

As much as I wanted Suh before the draft, I have to say that given these reports, the Rams made the smartest decision ever by not selecting him in April. Thank goodness Sam is a Ram!

[Nick]

All I want to say is that Suh brought this upon himself. Reading through the early posts in this thread Suh is quoted as saying that he picked Parker as his agent because he knew that Suh wanted to be in camp on time. So much for that.

And while we're at it, what kind of moron is Parker anyway? As broken as the payouts for top draft picks are, there's at least a slotting system going on(1 makes more than 2, who makes more than 3). Last year Parker had Crabtree sit out practically half the season because he wanted to break the slotting system, and now he wants to completely shatter any kind of reason within NFL salaries. $90 million? For a player who hasn't played a single snap in the NFL? That would make him the 4th highest paid player in the NFL by average salary, I believe, behind Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, and Nnamdi Asomugha.

As much as I wanted Suh before the draft, I have to say that given these reports, the Rams made the smartest decision ever by not selecting him in April. Thank goodness Sam is a Ram!

Every rookie says they want to be in camp on time. Bradford missed three practices and a team meeting despite saying he wanted to be in camp on time. That's just what you say because you're being optimistic and want to say the right thing. What's the alternative? "I picked __________ as my agent because he'll do whatever it takes to get me the most money, even if it involves showing up late for camp?" That'd be a great start to a career!

Earlier reports claimed Parker was asking for more money than Bradford, but he shot that down later in the day. We don't know for sure - and may never know - what was actually proposed. But while there is a general slotting system for the first round, it certainly doesn't always hold true that the guy above you gets more money. Just ask Bradford's agent, who represented third overall pick Matt Ryan in 2008 and got him a bigger deal than first overall pick Jake Long. Is anyone really naive enough to think that Condon wouldn't try to get Bradford the draft's biggest contract had Sam gone third or fourth instead?

The Rams may or may not have made a smart decision by taking Bradford over Suh. Only time will tell. But what's happening in contract negotiations now, at least IMO, certainly doesn't prove whether they did or not. That just seems like a very knee-jerk sentiment to me.

[LA Rammer]

glad its not my money

[Nick]

Ndamukong Suh's holdout tests Jim Schwartz's patience
Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
Last Updated: August 02. 2010 12:31PM

Allen Park -- Ndamukong Suh missed his fourth practice Monday morning and Lions coach Jim Schwartz is starting to grow impatient.

"We have six practices in shoulder pads and six full-padded practices in training camp and we already finished two shoulder-pad practices," Schwartz said. "Those are opportunities that, once they are gone, they are gone forever. He's not getting them back. I am not going to change the schedule and put everybody else back in pads.

"I think the disappointing thing from his standpoint is this is work that you can't get back."

Lions president Tom Lewand said there was no news regarding the negotiations Monday morning.

In other news from Lions camp, linebacker DeAndre Levy (back) and receiver Mike Moore (shoulder) missed the morning session.

"Levy's back has been tight for the last couple of days and what you don't want is to let it get into a spiral situation where it gets worse," Schwartz said. "It's been getting better and we want to keep it that way."

Schwartz didn't rule out Levy's participation in the afternoon session.

Tight end Brandon Pettigrew (knee) sat out the morning session but will participate in the afternoon.

Tight end Will Heller, safeties Louis Delmas and Ko Simpson, and cornerback Jack Williams remain on the physically unable to perform list.


***********


Suh still holding out from Lions training camp
(AP) – 2 hours ago

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Ndamukong Suh has missed his third straight day of practice with the Detroit Lions.

Coach Jim Schwartz says it's disappointing Suh has missed some opportunities in training camp that are gone forever.

Suh is the former Nebraska defensive lineman who was the No. 2 pick overall in the NFL draft.

The Lions have had only one player, Calvin Johnson, miss more than a couple days since Bryan Westbrook was a long-term holdout in 1997. Westbrook's agents were Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, both of whom are representing Suh.

"Both sides are working hard to get this resolved," Barnes wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Suh posted a message on his Twitter account Sunday that quoted a biblical passage: "Judge not by with appearances, but judge with the right judgment."


********


Nothing to fret about with Ndamukong Suh's holdout
By JAMIE SAMUELSEN
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER
Posted: 3:44 p.m. Aug. 2, 2010

Jamie Samuelsen, the sports director for the morning show on WCSX-FM (94.7), blogs for freep.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. You can reach him at jamsam22@gmail.com, follow him on Twitter @jamiesamuelsen and read more of his opinions at freep.com/jamie.

Do you begrudge Ndamukong Suh for holding out of Detroit Lions training camp, even if it’s just for a few days?

He’s just a football player.

He has been portrayed since that epic game against Texas as a savior, a Hall of Famer, a quarterback killer, a superhero, a one-man wrecking crew, a god and the answer to all of the Lions' problems.

But it’s important to remember that Ndamukong Suh is just a kid who plays football and wants to make a lot of money.

There’s no crime in that. He’s no different than Matthew Stafford or Sam Bradford or Gerald McCoy or Michael Crabtree or others who have played this negotiating game. The only difference is that Suh is here -- and hasn’t signed yet. So he raises our dander a little bit. Since the day he was picked, he said and did all the right things. He gave a load of money to his alma mater, Nebraska. He said there wouldn’t be a holdout. But that’s naive talk. That doesn’t involve agents and salary slots and reality.

The reality is that this is a violent business in which the combatants get paid a great deal of money, especially the best ones. And Suh is one of the best ones. At least he had better be.

Today is day 3 of training camp, so there is no great damage … yet. If we’re still talking about this in a week, maybe we’ll have something. But even then, I doubt it. When Lions fans drool over the phenomenal career of Barry Sanders, they seldom recount that he held out of his first camp. Jeff Hartings didn’t sign until after the 1996 season had started. Bryant Westbrook missed 27 days in 1997. All three were good/great/Hall of Fame players for the Lions. Missing their first camp didn’t hold them back much. And it shouldn’t hold back Suh, either.

This is just a game of chicken. Suh’s agent Eugene Parker knows how important his client is to the team. And he knows how popular Suh has become with the fans. No. 90 jerseys are everywhere in Allen Park. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said that the only question he was getting from Lions fans Sunday was, "When will Suh sign?" It’s Aug. 2. The Tigers are out of it. The Red Wings and Pistons are months away. The Lions are the biggest story in town. And (knock on wood) as long as there are no injuries, the only story that matters is the holdout. But Suh also should know that he is losing a little bit of his luster each day he holds out. He reminds the fans that he is just a typical football player, looking for more money being led around by his agent. Will it hurt him in the fans' eyes? Probably very little. But it’s a lot easier to sell jerseys and shoes when you’re actually wearing that jersey and those shoes.

This is one of those stories that we’ll spend a lot of time debating and spend a lot of energy arguing when it won’t amount to very much. It’s just a reminder that it’s a business, and it’s not quite as pure as it once was.

[Nick]

Suh signs a five-year, $68 million deal with Lions
Published August 04, 2010
FoxSports

As reported by FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer, the Detroit Lions and their first-round pick, DT Ndamukong Suh (6-4, 307, Nebraska, second overall), agreed to a five-year deal worth a maximum of $68 million, with $40 million guaranteed. The base of the deal is worth $60 million.

Last year's second overall pick, OT Jason Smith (St. Louis Rams), signed a six-year, $61.75 million deal, with $33 million guaranteed. That deal can void to five years provided Smith meets minimum time requirements (probably 35 percent) in one season and is on the roster 20 days before the start of the new league year in 2014, a source said.

The Lions reported to camp Friday, so Suh hasn't missed a lot of time, but he still has a lot to learn. But one thing is for certain, much is expected of him, even as a rookie.

Suh was one of college football's most dominant defensive linemen last season. He's known in scouting circles for his strength and hands to go along with a great motor. A personnel source said he's even capable of moving to defensive end if the team uses a 3-4 look. The only issue for personnel evaluators around the league was whether he'd be a better fit for a 3-4 scheme as opposed to the 4-3 the Lions use.

Detroit, which has had its share of problems on the interior defensive line, should be much improved in that area. They've added Suh and veteran DT Corey Williams in recent months, and both should play a big role in 2010 and beyond.


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Sources: Ndamukong Suh, Lions agree
By Adam Schefter
ESPN
Updated: August 3, 2010, 8:49 PM ET

The Detroit Lions and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh reached an agreement Tuesday on a five-year contract, according to team sources.

The two sides have agreed on the terms of the deal, but still are signing off on the language of it. The deal will not be signed until the language is completed.

The numbers were projected to come in north of $12 million a year, which means the deal will be worth more than $60 million dollars. Suh is guaranteed $40 million.

Lions spokesman Bill Keenist said the team had nothing to announce or confirm at this time.

There now are two first-round picks without deals: Seattle's No. 6 overall pick Russell Okung and Buffalo's No. 9 overall pick C.J. Spiller.

The second overall pick in April's draft missed six practices, including the team's first workout in full pads on Tuesday morning.

"We have six days in shoulder pads and we have six full-padded practices in training camp. And we've already finished two of those shoulder-pads practices," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "Those are opportunities that, once they're gone, they're gone forever. You're not getting them back. ... That's the disappointing thing from his standpoint. That's work that you can't get back there."

Veteran center Dominic Raiola also seemed anxious for his teammate to get to camp.

"I haven't even sent him a text or anything, but I'd like to tell him, 'Just sign the damn contract already. You are missing some good things here,'" Raiola said, according to the Detroit News.

Detroit hoped the former Nebraska star could bolster a defense that has ranked among the league's all-time worst in points allowed the past two seasons. The Lions won two games last year after becoming the first team in league history to go 0-16.

The 6-foot-4, 307-pound Suh was the first defensive player to win The Associated Press College Football Player of the Year award since its inception in 1998. He had 4½ sacks against Texas in the Big 12 title game and finished the season with 12.

Suh, a Heisman Trophy finalist, was the first defensive tackle to be drafted among the top two picks since Oakland took Darrell Russell in 1997.

The Lions have had only one player, Calvin Johnson, miss more than a couple days since Bryant Westbrook was a long-term holdout in 1997. Westbrook's agents were Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker, both of whom are representing Suh.

Suh posted a message on his Twitter account Sunday that quoted a biblical passage: "Judge not by with appearances, but judge with the right judgment."

[Nick]

Some Twitter updates from John Niyo of the Detroit News, sounds like Suh is already running with the first team defense...

Ndamukong Suh has arrived. Has to pass conditioning test prior to 3:15 practice. I like his odds better than Haynesworth.

Ndamukong Suh has reported, weighed-in, and passed his conditioning test with flying colors. He will be on the field for 3:15 practice.

Suh worked with first-team defense alongside C. Williams in first practice this afternoon. Sammie Hill to No. 2 unit with Fluellen as DTs

Suh passed conditioning test easily, with teammates cheering him on. Played rookie role afterward carrying helmets for Vanden Bosch & Avril

Suh checked in at 305 lbs, but after p.m. practice on humid 90-degree day joked he's probably down to 300 already

[sjacksonrules]

Wow I'm glad we are paying 50 mill to a qb and not 40 mill to a d tackle that's just ridiculous.

[Nick]

$40 to $50 million for a rookie who has never played a down of pro football is ridiculous regardless of what position he plays. The need for a rookie wage scale has never been more clear.

[fliptalianstallion]

Associated Press
Published: Aug. 30, 2010 at 03:53 p.m

BEREA, Ohio -- Lions rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh grabbed Jake Delhomme's face mask, twisted it, wrapped his arms around the Browns quarterback's head and slammed him to the ground.

It was hard to watch -- in real time or instant replay.

The Browns hope the NFL looks at it again.

Cleveland coach Eric Mangini expects the league to review Suh's rough treatment of Delhomme in Saturday's exhibition game in Detroit.

In the second quarter, Delhomme was scrambling out of the pocket when he was grabbed by Suh, the No. 2 overall pick in April's draft. Suh flung the 35-year-old to the ground, and Delhomme got up waving his arms in protest. Suh was assessed a 15-yard penalty for the infraction, which seemed severe enough to warrant an ejection.

Mangini said at his news conference Monday that he will ask the league to investigate the play, but he assumed it would do so anyway.

League spokesman Gregg Aiello said in an e-mail the play was being reviewed.

"I was just going after the ball, and I had no clue that he had gotten rid of it," Suh said. "I don't know what to expect from the league. I've gotten personal fouls before, but that was in college, and they can't fine you there."

Browns backup quarterback Seneca Wallace called for Suh to be suspended, but one of Suh's veteran teammates thought that was an overreaction.

"It definitely is," Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "I asked him what happened, and he said he thought Delhomme still had the ball. We're going after the quarterback and trying to make a play, and sometimes you make a mistake, but he wasn't trying to hurt anyone."

Mangini does not believe there was any intent on the part of Suh, the former Nebraska standout, to injure Delhomme. Mangini was impressed with Suh during Cleveland's predraft evaluations.

"When I met the kid, he was a good kid," Mangini said. "I don't think he's a malicious guy, from what I know about him. It was just a poor decision."

Mangini would not say if he felt Suh should have been ejected.

"It put the quarterback at risk, but I'm not the official," Mangini said. "You don't want to see that at any point, but my experience with him in the draft process is that he's a good kid and it was just not a great decision."

Delhomme, too, said he would leave any discipline up to others.

"I'll let the league office handle that," Delhomme said with a smile. "We got a first down out of it and that made me happy."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

It's only the preseason and the guy already plays dirty. Hope Bradford doesn't become a victim to that
And props to Delhomme for not making it personal because the way Suh pulled it looked very intentional.

[makersncoke]

Gotta think Suh is going to be quite a bit lighter in the wallet when the commish get's done with him. I'm not buying the " I thought he still had the ball" story, you wouldn't tackle a guy by the head if he had the ball anyway. Wasn't one of his better moments that's for sure.

[r8rh8rmike]

Just watched the replay and all I can say is WOW. I don't know what the intent was, but on the face of it, a very dirty play by Suh. He grabbed Delhomme's facemask and violently yanked it back as Delhomme threw the ball away, then grabbed his helmet with both arms and twisted it around as he slammed him to the ground. There is no doubt a fine is coming and maybe even a suspension.