Domenic Raiola Calls Out Ndamukong Suh to Sign
The Detroit Lions top draft pick, defensive tackle (DT) Ndamukong Suh still hasn’t signed and has been absent from training camp. That certainly doesn’t do the Lions and Coach Jim Schwartz any favours, nor does it do Suh any favours regarding the beginning of his NFL career.
The Lions are in firm rebuilding mode and are counting on Suh to be the building block of a strong defence. Suh was seen in the draft as perhaps the most talented defensive tackle to come out of any draft in NFL history. With Sam Bradford signing a record deal with $50 million guaranteed, it’s being speculated that Suh is looking for a similar deal.
One thing’s for sure. Suh’s decision to sit out does not go over well with the team’s veterans who are in training camp right now working their tails off. Lions Centre (C) Domenic Raiola is getting impatient with the unsigned rookie as well.
"I haven't even sent him a text or anything, but I'd like to tell him, 'Just sign the d**n contract already. You are missing some good things here,'" Raiola said, according to the Detroit News.
Suh has already missed four days of practice, including the team’s first full-equipment practice while his agents are still working on a contract with the team. All time he misses is some valuable learning time as a rookie that you can never get back.
Raiola also claimed that a couple extra million is not worth it if it means Suh will continue to miss time. He feels that the money that has been offered should be sufficient for Suh to take the field.
"I understand the business side of it, but when you are talking $40 million, $42 million, $43 million, I don't know what the big difference is," Raiola said. "Any way you cut it, after taxes, that's $20 million. So you've got to get that name signed and get out here," he said, according to the News.
This is one of those problems that many owners are complaining about and has been an ongoing issue in talks of a new CBA deal.
Whatever the deal is, Suh better start training soon, for his benefit and for his team's.
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