slaunius

March 8th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^

I think that's just GM-speak. Didn't want to be seen as 1) not making an effort or 2) disrespecting one of their best players who, despite his controversies, was a major contributor to Detroit's recent (relative) success. That run D the last few years was nasty.

Tater

March 8th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^

To the Lions, I am guessing "everything" means a cap number they could actuall afford.   Suh is a great player, but he is a flag magnet whose presence influences refs to perceive everything the Lions do as "dirty" while the other team does whatever they want.

How many playoff games did the Lions win with Suh?  The same as with everyone else: none.  Suh didn't elevate the team to being a true contender for championships.  In other words, he doesn't deserve nearly what he got.  

The Lions were right to stay out of the bidding war past a certain point.

Rodriguesqe

March 8th, 2015 at 2:51 PM ^

Yep. Don't know if Suh was worth the money, I don't pay attention to NFL financials. But it seems like we're paying Stafford elite money for mediocre returns. With Suh gone Stafford better turn the corner or we're not going back to the playoffs.

Sad to see Suh go. The defense was fun to watch last year - mostly due to him.

Brian Griese

March 8th, 2015 at 7:26 PM ^

Is it top 3?

Top 5?

Top 7?

Top 10?

 

Do you realize that after Luck and Wilson get their extensions, Stafford won't be in any of those catergories above that I just listed.  If anything we're getting a very fair deal.  Keep in mind, Jay Cutler is the HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN THE NFL.

davking1980

March 8th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^

they restructured his contract figures in the past, the franchise tag figure would have been $27 million, meaning they would have been paying 3 guys somewhere around 50% of the total salary cap

Danwillhor

March 8th, 2015 at 3:47 PM ^

Watt money. Detroit was unlucky to be SO horrific when they were: right before the rookie cap. We had 3 guys drafted #1 or 2 in a three or four year span right before the cap. The #1 was a QB so we got crazy money & then more later. Johnson, the first #2, was given huge rookie money for a WR & got a whooole bunch more later. Suh, the last #2, signed for a high but "fair at the time" amount for a DT at that spot and looking to get mega paid. It sucks when you drafted them & you can't afford to keep the ones that pan out but you can't have 3 guys on one team maxing out their pay not only for position but in general without killing that team. It's a huge loss - period. You can't just replace Suh. Even if we keep NF he hasn't proven anything & has a rep for only working hard TO get paid. That was last year & he got hurt after playing well....next to Suh. DL arguably became better without him. Ansah is good but he'll suffer (all the DEs will suffer) without Suh eating up 2 guys every play, sometimes 3. We'll find out what kind of DC Austin really is without arguably the best DT in the NFL (I don't consider Watt a DT). No pick in the draft this year is close to Suh. There is no Donald, McCoy, etc this year IMO. Wilfork is unlikely to both come here or be the guy he was in NE if he did. BB just knows when not to pay a guy. He's rarely wrong. Never pictured "that Lions group" winning a SB but the playoffs were hard enough. No chance now. Johnson is going to go down as the WR version of Barry Sanders.

I Like Burgers

March 8th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^

Considering their current DTs are Xavier Proctor and Caraun Reid, they are going to need to pick up more than 2 DTs this offseason.  Suh, Fairley, and Mosley -- their top three DTs -- are all FAs.  And its actually their top four if you want to thrown in Fluellen too.  Their entire two-deep is gone.

APBlue

March 8th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^

I'm a Lions fan and I'm glad they didn't commit the money to him.  He's a great DT, but the team's salary cap isn't in great shape.  Signing Suh to that kind of deal would've made it worse - too top heavy.  

Good luck to him.  Hopefully, the Lions will spread out what Suh would've earned here.  

Space Bat

March 8th, 2015 at 1:23 PM ^

Thank god the lions didn't pay that. Great player but that money is insane- use it to sign multiple players that will make the team better overall

xxxxNateDaGreat

March 8th, 2015 at 1:25 PM ^

Sucks to lose him because he is a much better player than many people I know give him credit for, but that price tag is ridiculous, especially for a guy with a blinking neon target on his back.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

March 8th, 2015 at 1:27 PM ^

Not too surprising.  Out of 31 other teams it's no surprise one of them would step up with money the Lions don't want to match given the contracts they had to hand to Stafford and Megatron.  Would be smart of them to try and bring Fairley back, and they'll basically have to draft a DT in the first two rounds.