Friday Notes: Ndamukong Suh Projected To Receive $38 Million Guaranteed

by Sean Yuille on Jul 23, 2010 1:45 PM EDT in Detroit Lions Notes

Dez Bryant is the first first-round pick to agree to a deal with his team. The 24th pick of the 2010 NFL Draft agreed to a five-year, $11.8 million deal on Thursday that includes $8.3 million guaranteed. Since the Cowboys begin training camp tomorrow, this deal means he will be able to report on time.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, Bryant's agent is Eugene Parker, who is one of the agents that represents Ndamukong Suh. Although Parker has been involved with many holdouts in the past (see below), Bryant wanted to report on time and that is what ended up happening. Suh has also made it known that he wants to report on time, so hopefully Parker and Roosevelt Barnes, Suh's other agent, make sure that's what happens.
The one thing that does concern me a little bit is this tidbit from the Detroit Free Press:

There’s good news and bad news about the Lions’ history of having rookie draft picks hold out for more money.

The good news? The last first-rounder who missed significant time in training camp as a holdout was cornerback Bryant Westbrook, the fifth overall pick in 1997.

The bad news? His agents were Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker — the same agents for Suh, whom the Lions picked No. 2 overall this year.

I'm not going to start panicking until the first practice begins and Suh isn't on the field. I have faith in him that he will make sure his agents get something done on time, so unless he isn't out there next Saturday when practice begins, there's no reason to start stressing too much.
When Suh does end up signing, Pigskinology projects he will get a deal that includes slightly more than $38 million guaranteed. Matthew Stafford, by comparison, got close to $42 million guaranteed, and one unnamed agent stressed that Suh shouldn't get more than that.

"If the Lions are smart, they are going to say 'Hey look Suh, this is the deal,' and of course the agent is going to fight it for a while, but if the Lions go over Stafford with guaranteed money they are stupid. Why would you give a second-overall pick, who is a defensive tackle, more than your franchise quarterback who was taken No. 1? There is no reason to. Even if the economy was up, you don't do it. That doesn't mean Suh shouldn't get a great deal, because he should get a great deal. But he shouldn't get more than Stafford."

Jahvid Best, by the way, is projected to receive close to $7 million guaranteed. Contract negotiations for him are at the "very early stages," according to his agent.

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Comments

We need these guys to be in camp...

Its a must that they be there. Yes Suh is a great player. But I am sure there be growing pains in the NFL for him. The more time he has to learn the better off the team and he himself will be. He needs to get in there and learn as much about the system and what it requires of him as he possibly can.
As far as Best goes..i would like to see him there too. But I am not as concerned about him as I am Suh. We do not need our 2nd overall pick, whom our defense is going to rely heavily upon behind in the game.

by hellspawn138 on Jul 23, 2010 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

IMO..

he absolutely should NOT be given more money than Staff gets.

by hellspawn138 on Jul 23, 2010 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

He won't be.

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Jul 23, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

He should be ...

getting money more in line with the number 2 pick from last year, not Stafford.

by detroitSteve on Jul 23, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Offer him $1.00 less that Stafford

And call it good. Get him in camp

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain. Lily Tomlin

by Leapin Lion on Jul 23, 2010 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

does not look like

best will be in camp on time.

by IAmGross on Jul 23, 2010 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah he will

Suh will be, and he’d look stupid holding out at pick 30. Best will be there.

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Jul 23, 2010 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

didnt a similar thing happen with WIlliams and Jones

Roy Williams was signed first and kevin was a few days late?

by IAmGross on Jul 23, 2010 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I just hope

that they will both be on time.

"I’d probably get arrested because football’s my only time I get to go out there and hit people as hard as I can, and it’s legal," Follett said. "I need that once a year."

by Rick Chaffee on Jul 25, 2010 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions

They will be in camp

It’s all positioning and waiting on Bradford to sign. If Bradford holds out and misses some camp, which I really don’t think he’ll do, they’ll sign right before training camp starts. Either way, we’re looking at July 28th or 29th before they’re both signed….and that is when they will sign.

Suh literally said he would not be holding out. If Suh holds to his word, than Best will definitely be there too.

GO LIONS! RESTORE THE ROAR!

by Twon82 on Jul 23, 2010 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

I think Best will sign before Suh

Since Best was signed closer to Bryant…his pay is closer to being set. Suh has no one around where he was picked signed and that is why people wait. To see who near them gets signed to make their top dollar. That is why people on the low end sign first and it goes back to the top pick, USUALLY.

by Joey-P on Jul 23, 2010 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

you use bryan to speed up negotiatons with Best

Suh is a tough one with Bradford and Mccoy still out there. I thinkwe would be smart to just pay him may more than we should ( less than stafford obviously) I just want him in camp. If overpaying him does that then I am ok with it.

Me and Pheonix Marie..be Jealous (pic)

"When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening." - James hetfield (Metallica)

by The Profiler on Jul 23, 2010 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

I don't really care how much they get paid

Just as long as they get into camp on time.

RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.

by Hyperion Ecta on Jul 23, 2010 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Oh boy

I just hope Suh isn’t going to be as overpaid as Bradford will be. Sounds like Best is going to be paid pretty fairly, though I can already picture him holding out of camp in 2012 for a new contract. What do you guys think the over/under is on that happening?

by motown313 on Jul 23, 2010 8:29 PM EDT reply actions

the only way Best holds out next year, is if he puts up 2000 yrds.

Ala Chris Johnson. And if he gains 2000 yards this year, I’d be f@#king ecstatic!

But even if he does have major success, I don’t see him taking that route.

by j16941 on Jul 24, 2010 6:25 AM EDT reply actions

Anytime some one gives you $$$$$ that much should be thankful, even before you have played one game. That is more money then most people earn in two or three lifetime.

by J.F on Jul 24, 2010 10:41 PM EDT reply actions