Suh Finally Signs, Will Practice with Team after Conditioning Test
The Detroit Lions have to be relieved about this one. Ndamukong Suh, the team’s no.2 overall draft pick and perhaps the most talented defensive tackle to ever come out of the draft has signed and will report to training camp as soon as possible.
Suh and the Lions agreed to a five-year deal worth $68 million with $40 million guaranteed. The contract gives only $1.7 million less in guaranteed money than the team’s first overall pick in 2009, quarterback (QB) Matthew Stafford received.
Lions President Tom Lewand is relieved that the deal’s done and that Suh and the Lions can turn their focus to football.
"I give a lot of credit to (Suh’s agents) Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker," said Lewand, "Obviously, and most importantly to Ndamukong himself because it takes a player's involvement to really get a deal done. While we would've liked to do it earlier -- I'm sure he would've liked to do it earlier -- we're just glad it's done and over with and he's got a lot of training camp ahead of him."
Stafford was drafted last year as the first step to rebuilding the Lions. He is expected to be the anchor of the offense, while Suh has to be expected to be the big star on defence. Not only that, but he is expected to make an immediate impact with the team, according to Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz. “Did you see the contract? We expect big things from him.” Schwartz said.
The Nebraska alumnus provides a very dominant presence up the middle on defence and he’s expected to bolster a defence that has been last in the NFL for two years straight. The team has a 2-30 record to show for it.
Suh’s coach and some teammates were very disappointed that Suh missed a valuable four days of practice.
Lions centre (C) Domenic Raiola had called on the rookie to sign, saying a couple extra million in guaranteed money was not worth missing valuable days as a rookie at training camp. Training camp is most important for rookies, and that learning experience never comes back. Suh must have heard his teammate’s comments. It appears he heeded them as he signed only hours after.
"That's all I wanted," Raiola said. "It was nothing personal toward him or anybody else. We drafted him high to help this team and I was anxious to get him in here."
Suh should give the defence a huge boost if he makes an immediate impact. The Lions are showing strides better than they have in the last decade. They finally seem to be heading in the right direction of building a strong team for years to come.
Schwartz said that before Suh takes the field with his teammates, he must prove he’s in shape by passing a conditioning test. Hopefully for the Lions sake, it doesn’t take quite as long as Albert Haynesworth is taking to pass his test with the Redskins.
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