Suggs' million-dollar question; Falcons' gamble; more

Terrell Suggs has accumulated 45 sacks in five seasons with the Ravens. Scott Wachter/Icon SMI

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Here's a literal million-dollar question: Is Terrell Suggs a defensive end or an outside linebacker?

Suggs recently filed a grievance against the Baltimore Ravens, claiming himself to be a defensive end after the team labeled him an outside linebacker when it slapped the franchise tag on him. As a franchised OLB, Suggs will earn $8.065 million in 2008, about $800,000 less than a franchised DE ($8.879 million).

The value on a long-term contract is ultimately where the decision will have the biggest impact. Dwight Freeney's six-year, $72 million contract is the highest deal received by a defensive end, and it contains over $30 million in guaranteed money. Meanwhile, the top contracts for outside linebackers average a shade over $7 million per year and fall in the range of $38-42 million over the life of the deal.

Obviously, Suggs wants to be compensated as a defensive end because his pass-rushing skills will command top dollar on the open market. With teams splurging on less established pass rushers such as Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Calvin Pace, Suggs could easily command over $9 million annually as a defensive end when he hits the open market in 2009.

The resolution of Suggs' grievance will greatly impact the financial future of premier pass rushers in 3-4 defenses, including the Chargers' Shawne Merriman and DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys. Suggs' strongest argument is, as a "hybrid" defensive end, he plays over 70 percent of the game with his hand on the ground and has a scope of responsibilities closely resembling the assignments of pass rushers.

But several league officials have their doubts. "I don't know how he can win the case regarding his position," says one AFC scout. "He is listed as an outside linebacker in their 3-4 and he spends time in coverage like other linebackers. ... Regardless of how he views himself, when you look at the tape, his role is not different than other top pass rushers who play in 3-4 defenses."

Denver upheaval

The Broncos dismissal of general manager Ted Sundquist, which came as a surprise to him, was not viewed that way in league circles. The Broncos had been to the playoffs three times in Sundquist's six-year tenure as GM, but a series of questionable personnel moves have kept the Broncos from reaching the ranks of the elite in recent years.

Though the deals to acquire Champ Bailey, Dre Bly and John Lynch significantly upgraded the Broncos' talent, they couldn't offset the disappointing tenures of Daryl Gardener, Gerald Warren, Sam Adams and Simeon Rice. Additionally, the Broncos' drafts under Sundquist's direction only produced one Pro Bowl player (Clinton Portis in 2003) in the past six years.

One league insider said, "They repeatedly gambled on character risks, and none of those moves paid off for them. ... You wonder if they began to feel the pressure after failing to sustain success after their Super Bowl runs."

While some league executives feel that coach Mike Shanahan is absolving himself from responsibility for the Broncos' recent failures, the move to dismiss Sundquist will ultimate leave Shanahan in the crosshairs if the Broncos fail to make significant progress next season.

New Seahawks philosophy

The Seahawks' recent signings of running backs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett may have been a surprise to Shaun Alexander, but the former league MVP should have seen the writing on the wall when Seattle hired a new offensive line coach this offseason.

Mike Solari was part of an offensive staff in Kansas City that relied on a power running game, built around the physical Larry Johnson. Solari's addition to Seattle's offensive staff will change the types of runs featured by the Seahawks, who repeatedly failed to convert short yardage situations the past two seasons. Previously, with Alexander as the feature back, the Seahawks utilized a perimeter running game that allowed him to bounce outside when running lanes were clogged. Jones and Duckett are straight-forward runners who do the majority of their damage between the tackles and thus are better suited for Solari's new schemes.

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