Grown-up discussion

Maturing Suggs deserves praise, long-term contract

On the Ravens and Terrell Suggs

That's a good, levelheaded reaction, especially considering that Suggs is right when it comes to which position designation he deserves.

You can split hairs, as Suggs is, over how many snaps he took at defensive end and at outside linebacker, or over what he was listed as for every start. The truth is that he played both positions, and as a loyal participant in Rex Ryan's quarterback-baffling schemes, he regularly lined up one way and executed another.

Even without factoring in who was missing on defense last season (Adalius Thomas, Trevor Pryce), the job required being a hybrid player, and being a great one. Last season, Suggs was only a good one, occasionally a very good one, a few times an invisible one. He probably should have been franchised at both salaries combined. One can hardly ignore that only five players have more sacks than Suggs since he came into the NFL, and all of them are, yes, defensive ends.

It would have been a show of good faith - albeit a show of economic recklessness, considering the Ravens' salary cap situation - to designate him at the higher figure.

It will be a similar show of good faith if Suggs and his people don't pin the Ravens to the wall about it and choose to stay on the high road.

This is a speed bump in the talks, not a brick wall. Whichever way the position designation goes, the winning side should make the appropriate concession in a long-term contract. If all stays as it is now, with Suggs getting the lower salary, that means he should get a little extra when the time comes.

Done deal. Shake hands, fellas. Smiles, everybody, smiles! (A reference to the old Fantasy Island for you young whippersnappers out there.)

And now that that's settled, Ravens, go figure out what to do at quarterback.

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