OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens have reached a compromise with franchise player Terrell Suggs, his agent said.
Suggs filed a grievance against the team in March after the Ravens tagged him with the one-year, $8.065 million linebacker tag. He was seeking to be paid the defensive end franchise designation of $8,879,000.
Now, Suggs will be paid a one-year tender worth nearly $8.5 million as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker, according to his agent, Gary Wichard. The compromise was prompted by a suggestion from Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome to jump-start stalled negotiations.
The NFL Players Association and the NFL Management Council are still working out the final details of the new designation.
As an unsigned franchise player, Suggs hasn't been required to attend offseason minicamps. Although Suggs showed up for coach John Harbaugh's first minicamp practice as a gesture of goodwill, he wasn't allowed to practice due to league regulations regarding unsigned players.
The 2003 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year filed a grievance March 5, claiming he played more than half of his snaps at defensive end last year. Suggs has 45 career sacks and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, but he slumped to a career-low five sacks last season while notching a career-high 80 tackles.
The Ravens have been trying to negotiate a long-term contract with Suggs since last year.
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