Ravens' Suggs shows support for Harbaugh by showing up
In contrast to the turmoil that's going on with the Cincinnati Bengals and star wide receiver Chad Johnson, the Ravens' off-season is a picture of arm-in-arm cooperation.
Terrell Suggs, who was franchised by the Ravens but remains unsigned, says he's showing up to attend meetings during the current mini-camp even though he's not allowed to participate in on-field drills.
Here's what Suggs told ESPN.com yesterday: "I'm just going to walk in just as the meeting starts. I know some of my teammates will have their jaws drop when they see me."
And: "I want to show my coach (John Harbaugh) that I'm on board. I wanted to show him that I have total faith in him. We've had a couple of phone conversation in which he said he was the new coach. He laid out his plans on where he wants to go. I've liked him from our first conversation."
And finally: "Despite the whole business side to this game, the main goal is to win football games."
Also makes the Ravens look a little petty for wanting to shave $814,000 off Suggs' 2008 salary by designating him as a linebacker rather than a defensive end. The DE tag would put Sizzle in the high $8-million range and the LB tag puts him in low end of that bracket. An arbitration is pending on the dispute.
Photo credit: Doug Kapustin/Sun
Comments
Great gesture by Suggs. How many star players, and a player in a contract dispute no less, would do this to show support for a green head coach? If the vets rally around Harbaugh, the rest of the team should fall in line.
Posted by: Chris | April 17, 2008 1:24 PM
Good for him! If he was gonna be pain this offseason I would say to trade him for a first round pick but hearing this makes me want to keep him.
Posted by: Steve Sievers | April 17, 2008 2:07 PM
I disagree that saving the $814K was petty. They're tight on salary cap and need all the wiggle-room they can get. Plus, LB is the man's position. I understand why his agent wants the extra money, but the guy is a linebacker. All of that aside, this story is great news. Hopefully, they'll get a new contract done and this LB/DE debate will be moot.
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Jon,
Thanks for writing. You make a good point about the cap. ... My point would be that the franchise tag can be such a poison that if you get a guy to accept it without making a stink that this seems like aggravating the situation ... and in Rex's defensive scheme who knows what a guy's position is. We can agree on what you said in conclusion. A new deal solves the problem.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Jon | April 17, 2008 3:26 PM
Hey I don't care one or a nother, If he call a linebacker or end If he is doing the job I think he should get pay for and that is it.
Posted by: Kevin | April 17, 2008 4:04 PM
Pay this man. What a refreshing attitude. Oh and MOVE HIM BACK TO DE SO HE CAN DO WHAT HE DOES BEST!!!!!!
Posted by: Vince | April 17, 2008 4:32 PM