Why Ndamukong Suh will NOT sign a long term extension with the Detroit Lions

Suh will enter the last year on his contract this season. He will not sign a long term extension with the team. I understand his position.

Will stomp somewhere else in 2015.

Here are the reasons:

1. The Lions, led by GM Martin Mayhew, do not have a plan to build a championship caliber franchise. Suh has witnessed first hand the plight of Calvin Johnson and knows of the Barry Sanders story. Hall of Fame career with zero hope of winning.

2. He has the leverage. He becomes a free agent or is franchised next year. The tag will cost the Lions $26.9 mil off the cap. Suh holds all of the cards.

3. He hates Detroit. He lives in Birmingham and has had nothing but problems there. He has been sued and pulled a pellet guy on a guy.

He wanted to see how the Lions would react this off-season to yet another complete mess of season in 2013.

Here is what the Lions did:

1. Decline the 5th year option on Nick Fairley.

Suh and Nick both in their last year in the Lion uniform.

Fairley will become a free agent following the season. Fairley will slim down and have a great year. No way is he back in Detroit in 2015.

2. Waive Chris Houston.

55 games in Detroit.
10 picks 210 tackles 50 PBU

The Lions knew he was hurt. Signed him to a 5 year $25 mil contract. Cut him eating $5.2 mil on the cap this year and did not replace him. They drafted Nevin Lawson in the 4th round, signed one of the worst defensive players in the NFL Cassius Vaughn, signed Bronco cast off Aaron Hester and got Chris Greenwood a 2nd groin surgery.

3. The Draft.

What could have been?

They drafted a TE with the #10 pick. With a stud DT Aaron Donald and CB Kyle Fuller sitting there. Donald would have allowed us to let Suh walk and Fuller would start at CB.

Traded up to draft OLB Kyle Van Noy. This trade cost us a WR or CB in the 4th round.

2 year captain at Arkansas

Drafted a back up Center in the 3rd round. Plenty of WR or CB help at that pick.

Bottom Line:

Suh will play somewhere else in 2015 or sign the franchise tag. He knows the Lions under have Mayhew do not have a plan and the window on the Calvin/Stafford era is almost closed.

Suh does not want to be the next Barry or Calvin.