UH Oh, Lions talking to Fairly and expect to bring back Tulloch

[Old Lion]

Getting a bad feeling that the Lions are preparing for life without Suh after everything that has come out in the last week with FAs.

Anyone else getting the same feeling?

 

[tpaulus_2]

No, I'm not getting that feeling at all. They're just doing some house work and tidying things up before next season. I think we might get Fairley on a team-friendly one year deal so he can rip it up for a year in our awesome defense and help his free agent stock for next year. Just a hunch, though.

Tully might be asked to take a pay-cut or restructure. I think Austin really values his interior pass rush- he was on pace for a helluva lot of sacks when he went down this year...

 

[RP-29]

Obviously, you don't want to lose out on Suh, but do you really want the Lions to sign him for the money he's seeking? It's downright impossible to sustain a competitive team when you've got three players locked in at 40% of your cap space and are forced to split the remaining 60% on the other 50 guys.

 

[Dr. Evil-er]

If they don't talk to him there is no way to know what the player thinks he's worth. You have to at least have the conversation. I think you can make him a contract offer that is affordable to the Lions and attractive to him.

Simply make it a 2 yr deal worth say $15m. But put a 3rd year that is voidable, that's key here. Guarantee $8m and pay him a $4m signing bonus. Amortize that over two years and put a $4m option bonus in the second year that you also amortize over two years. This is how you carry $2m into that voidable year. Making the cap work does involve writing off some dead $ each year. Set his salaries at $4m year one and $3m year two and you have cap hits of $6m, followed by $7m, and $2m dead.

A $15m deal is solid $ for a guy who has underperformed his entire career and had his season cut way short when he was finally starting to play. 2 years lets him have a short term crack at free agency again.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

gotta agree with you there Dr. in your above post.

I still see no way in hell the Lions tag Suh despite all the front office mumbo jumbo B.S. talk. Tagging Suh will come at a very heavy price with cuts to many other players that shouldn't be cut at this time, IMO.

 

[gandydancer]

I have not read into anything about Suh last few months. From either side, we can't control anything that happens. Why get a ulcer?

I will ask this... Why is it a bad thing if they are preparing for March 10th with both Suh scenarios being played out?

 

[Naughtymax]

If Fairley (or Tulloch) is re-signed (kept), it's proof that the tag for Suh is off the table, since the math will be impossible. It'll be sign a multi-year deal or walk.

 

[Old Lion]

Maybe they can do something for a lower amount with Suh, but with a absurdly high percentage of guaranteed money.

I just see a team like Oakland offering him way more than we can pay in a long term deal