Suggs signs 4-year extension with Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As a 20-year-old fresh out of college, Terrell Suggs never intended to spend his entire NFL career with one team.
Now the Pro Bowl linebacker embraces the idea of going the distance as a Baltimore Raven.
Suggs signed a four-year extension Monday that saves the Ravens salary cap room and puts Suggs in position to finish his career in Baltimore.
“That’s the plan,” Suggs said. “Sizzle will be a Raven for life.”
Suggs, 31, signed a six-year deal in 2009 that expired after the 2014 season. Now he’s signed through 2018. He was expected to count $12.4 million against the salary cap. With his new deal, that figure becomes a far more manageable $7.8 million.
Suggs earned his sixth Pro Bowl invite in 2013. He is the franchise leader with 94½ sacks, ranks second in tackles behind Lewis and is first in forced fumbles.
Ravens await details on Rice arrest
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens intend to talk to Ray Rice before deciding how to deal with the running back’s arrest in a New Jersey casino.
Atlantic City police say Rice was arrested early Saturday morning after an argument with his fiancee turned physical.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said Monday that he’s waiting to get all the details before deciding what action to take, if any.
Atlantic City police said Rice and Janay Palmer were both arrested on simple assault charges and were released on a summons after an incident at the Revel Casino.
Eisenhower Tree removed at Augusta
The Masters will have a very different look in April, one that even the most gifted greenskeepers in the world could not prevent.
The iconic Eisenhower Tree on the 17th hole was so badly damaged by the ice storm that ravaged Georgia and the Southeast last week that it had to be removed over the weekend.
The tree, a 65-foot loblolly pine estimated to be at least 100 years old, is among the most famous landmarks in golf and has vexed a number of golfers, including a club member for whom it was named — former President Dwight Eisenhower. It was located about 210 yards from the tee, at the left of the fairway, and had required the support of cables in recent years. It is believed that Augusta had been anticipating the loss of the tree and has selected a replacement, but it won’t be Ike’s Tree.
“The Eisenhower Tree is such an iconic fixture and symbol of tradition at Augusta National,” Jack Nicklaus, a six-time Masters winner, told ESPN. “It was such an integral part of the game and one that will be sorely missed. Over the years, it’s come into play many, many times on the 17th hole. When I stood on the 17th tee, my first thought, always, was to stay away from Ike’s Tree. Period. … I hit it so many times over the years that I don’t care to comment on the names I called myself and the names I might have called the tree. Ike’s Tree was a kind choice. But looking back, Ike’s Tree will be greatly missed.”
If Ike, a member at the club beginning in 1948, had had his way, it might have been gone long ago. He lobbied for its removal, but a five-star general and president only wields so much power at Augusta National. Eisenhower was ruled out of order over the matter at a meeting in 1956.
More recently, Tiger Woods hurt his leg when it got caught in the pine straw as he hit from beneath a big bough in 2011 and missed the next two majors. It may have been beautiful, but a lot of golfers felt the way Eisenhower did.
By wire sources