PFT: Suggs case results in new "defensive end-linebacker" franchise tag

[WoodysGirl]

SUGGS CASE RESULTS IN NEW CATEGORY FOR FRANCHISE TENDERS

Posted by Mike Florio on May 13, 2008, 8:20 p.m.

When the Baltimore Ravens applied the franchise tag to Terrell Suggs, they described him as a linebacker. But Suggs claimed that he’s actually a defensive end, which would have resulted in a higher one-year salary for the 2008 season.

The difference was more than $800,000.

So Suggs filed a grievance. And the grievance has been resolved via the creation of a new designation for franchise tag purposes – defensive end-linebacker.

We like the idea, and we think it’s fair to both sides.

Permalink | 8 Comments Back to Top

Ravens' Suggs to be designated as franchise defensive end-linebacker

By John Clayton
ESPN.com
(Archive)





Updated: May 13, 2008, 7:01 PM ET

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Terrell Suggs entered his franchise free agency with a debate over whether he was a linebacker or a defensive end.

Suggs



Thanks to an agreement by the Ravens, Suggs' agent, the Management Council and the NFL Players Association, Suggs gets the best of both worlds. The settlement, which is being finalized by lawyers for the NFLPA and the Management Council, creates a new position in franchise designations -- a defensive end-linebacker. Once the paperwork is completed later this week, Suggs, designated as a franchise linebacker, will be re-designated as a defensive end-linebacker, and his one-year franchise tender will increase from $8.065 million to around $8.5 million.


Suggs challenged his designation as a franchise linebacker by claiming he had more snaps as a defensive end than he did at linebacker last season. A franchise player is tendered at the average of the top five cap numbers at that position. The difference can be substantial. A franchise linebacker has a $8.065 million tender. A franchise defensive end has an $8.879 million tender.


The differences in negotiations are even more pronounced. The highest paid defensive ends -- Dwight Freeney of the Colts and Jared Allen of the Vikings -- make around $12 million a year. Top linebackers make in the $7.7 million to $7.8 million a year range.


For months, negotiations were stalled because of the debate over the position. Suggs filed a grievance, asking a Special Master to determine his true position. Being a team player, Suggs showed up at the first minicamp under first-year coach John Harbaugh to show him he was on board with his hiring.


Recently, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome went to Suggs' agent, Gary Wichard, with the idea of creating a hybrid position to move negotiations forward.


The new position doesn't officially have a name. It could be called "defensive end-linebacker." It could be called hybrid for the players who move between defensive end and linebacker during the course of games.


What Suggs and the Baltimore are hoping is that they can come together on a deal that will make Suggs a Raven for a long period of time.

Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

 

[TheCount]

Thanks WG, was just talking about him in another thread.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

smart move--who is his agent?

 

[Angus]

Money in Ware's pocket!

:starspin

 

[JPM]

Money in Ware's pocket!

:starspin

If he is ever franchised, which I don't think Jerry will do. I do see him as the highest paid D player in history very soon.

 

[starfrombirth]

If he is ever franchised, which I don't think Jerry will do. I do see him as the highest paid D player in history very soon.

In this case I see us losing DWare. We are under 4 mill under the cap now and we aren't done signing yet. Now we are going to try and get Ware more than 8 mill a year. We are in trouble everyone. Get used to the idea now.

 

[Cowboys2008]

In this case I see us losing DWare. We are under 4 mill under the cap now and we aren't done signing yet. Now we are going to try and get Ware more than 8 mill a year. We are in trouble everyone. Get used to the idea now.

Whatever. Ware is not going any"ware".

 

[big dog cowboy]

In this case I see us losing DWare.

He won't be going anywhere.

Uncapped years are coming don't forget.

 

[kevwun]

That uncapped year could be big. Jerry could rework his deal, paying him an ungodly amount for that one year and then have his contract go back to normal. We could do that for a couple of guys.

 

[JPM]

In this case I see us losing DWare. We are under 4 mill under the cap now and we aren't done signing yet. Now we are going to try and get Ware more than 8 mill a year. We are in trouble everyone. Get used to the idea now.

No way Ware is going to play anyplace else but Dallas.

 

[BigDave95]

Cowboys won't need an uncapped year to keep Ware.

The salary cap is extrremely flexible and can always be manipulated if there's a player you really want to sign. Ware is that kind of player. There is ZERO chance he goes anywhere. Jerry would restructure half the team if that's what it took to sign him.

I expect Ware to become the highest paid defensive player in the league. Look at Freeney's and Jared Allen's contracts for some guidance.

Allen got six years, $72.36M with $38.4M in the first 3 years.

Freeney got six years, $72M with a $30M signing bonus and $37.72M in the first 3 years.

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

ware will be here no doubt, even if had to cost someone else's job on this team.

 

[superpunk]

In this case I see us losing DWare. We are under 4 mill under the cap now and we aren't done signing yet. Now we are going to try and get Ware more than 8 mill a year. We are in trouble everyone. Get used to the idea now.

Noone is in any trouble. Do you know how many salaries come off the books next year? I'd expect us to be near 20-30 mil under the cap once free agency starts, or projected to be near there. Then we ca decide how to allocate it, whether that is in extensions for guys like Ware, new contracts forguys like Newman, TO and Barber, or somewhere else.

There is no trouble, and no reason to worry about losing Ware. He's the LAST person you can expect to be a casualty of cap limitations.