- Thread starter
- #1
http://www.detroitlions.com/news/oh...r-to-Suh/0cf0a89b-ab18-40bd-8b35-0a3313eaa04e
Mayhew was quoted this offseason as saying they wouldn't sign Suh at any cost. Well, he stayed true to that. In a recent interview, he said they reached their limit, and Suh decided to sign elsewhere.
He also said he's glad they don't have that contract on the books.
However, he was firm in saying the Lions did not apply the franchise tag – which would have guaranteed Suh $26.9 million for 2015 – because it would have exacerbated salary-cap issues that have hurt the franchise’s negotiating flexibility in recent seasons.
“We’ve always had that kind of top-heavy (cap situation) with a few guys up there,” Mayhew said. “The thing about the franchise tag, really, was continuing to kick the ball, kick the can down the road and restructure deals to make that happen."
He stated that fielding a sustainable, competitive football team was more important and that couldn't happen with what Suh wanted. Short term, losing Suh hurts. But this franchise might just be realizing how to economically run a team. Time will tell.
Mayhew was quoted this offseason as saying they wouldn't sign Suh at any cost. Well, he stayed true to that. In a recent interview, he said they reached their limit, and Suh decided to sign elsewhere.
He also said he's glad they don't have that contract on the books.
However, he was firm in saying the Lions did not apply the franchise tag – which would have guaranteed Suh $26.9 million for 2015 – because it would have exacerbated salary-cap issues that have hurt the franchise’s negotiating flexibility in recent seasons.
“We’ve always had that kind of top-heavy (cap situation) with a few guys up there,” Mayhew said. “The thing about the franchise tag, really, was continuing to kick the ball, kick the can down the road and restructure deals to make that happen."
He stated that fielding a sustainable, competitive football team was more important and that couldn't happen with what Suh wanted. Short term, losing Suh hurts. But this franchise might just be realizing how to economically run a team. Time will tell.