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**Professor** · 08-01-2007, 01:00 AM

Preston: Suggs' pursuit of sacks worth bundle for Ravens -- baltimoresun.com

excerpt:

Suggs is in the final year of his contract and involved in negotiations on an extension with the Ravens. More sacks mean more money. Suggs could be leaving all kinds of subtle messages about a new deal throughout the year, but the negotiations won't bother him. In the past, contracts have affected the play of others such as Lewis, Ed Hartwell and Gary Baxter.

But Suggs is different. He's too young, too big, having way too much fun and possibly on the verge of NFL superstardom. Sooner or later, he is going to command a big contract either with the Ravens or as a free agent.

"I'm not worried about it," Suggs said of the negotiations. "I'm happy to be a Raven. Whenever that stuff happens, it happens. You all asked was I going to hold out for another one [contract]? I told you no. I was here five days earlier instead of one like I usually do. I'm trying to grow up professionally."

It sounds almost too good to be true.

Even when athletes say one thing in public, they sometimes behave differently in private. The Ravens know. Years ago, several players who were more concerned about their contracts than the team almost destroyed it. But there is no panic from Suggs or team officials about trying to get a deal done soon.

According to Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, Suggs will benefit from a new trend in the NFL in which owners are shelling out enormous sums of money for mediocre players. Who would have thought former Ravens offensive tackle Tony Pashos would have signed a five-year, $24 million contract during the offseason? And who imagined that former Raven Ovie Mughelli would become the highest-paid fullback in league history? "These kids are so aware that there is so much money out there that they are blowing it up that last year," Newsome said. "There is, and should be, no concern by Terrell Suggs."

Suggs is only 24 and growing. He has added 9 pounds of bulk since last season. In four seasons, he has been named to the Pro Bowl twice, including last season when he made 86 tackles according to Ravens statistics and was tied for third on the team in sacks with 9 1/2 .