The Baltimore Ravens made linebacker Terrell Suggs the highest paid defensive player in NFL history on Wednesday. Sports betting information tells us that Suggs was given a six-year, $63 million dollar contract which includes $33 million dollars in bonuses. “This is a good day for the Ravens franchise,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said.
NFL betting information shows that the Ravens will pay Suggs $40 million over the first two years of the deal. “This feels good to get it over. Now I can get back to football. I’ve never been the type to be a contract guy, and I never wanted to go through this process. Like I said, I just wanted what was fair and what I thought I was worth,” Suggs said to the Baltimore Sun.
NFL betting statistics tell us that Suggs had 12 sacks last season for the Ravens and has 53 sacks in his six seasons with the team. “I guess I will be at training camp on time now,” said Suggs, “I’m only 26 years of age, and my best years are ahead of me. I can only get smarter as my years of experience pile up. I wasn’t sure this deal was going to get done even though I kept saying it was close. I thought the chances were about 50-50, and I definitely didn’t want to get franchised again.”
NFL betting info already had the Ravens in the news this week as on Monday wide receiver Derrick Mason announced that he is retiring. The news that Suggs will be around a while definitely lessens that blow. “I was already excited to start training camp, and now having Terrell there makes it that much better,” Ravens Coach John Harbaugh said, “He’s a foundation for our defense to stay at the highest level. Having him in training camp will take him to higher levels.”
Baltimore made the AFC Championship game a year ago and they are one of the contenders in NFL odds at the sportsbook to make the Super Bowl this season. Suggs is definitely one of the reasons why. “Getting a deal done with Terrell is consistent with our history of retaining our best Pro Bowl players, like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Jonathan Ogden, Todd Heap and Jamal Lewis,” General Manager Ozzie Newsome said, “Securing Terrell for six seasons gives us a premier pass-rusher whose ability to stop the run does not get enough credit.”
Baltimore is 19-1 in NFL betting odds to win Super Bowl XLIV. The Ravens open up the regular season at home against Kansas City and they are 9-point favorites in NFL odds.