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Detroit Lions Favorites To Sign Ndamukong Suh, According To Report

By Matt Snyder

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Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

We’ll obviously have to wait and see how Ndamukong Suh’s free agency plays out, but apparently the chances he remains with the Detroit Lions are a lot better than most of us thought when the season ended with the playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys last month.

Earlier today Zac passed along some comments from team president Tom Lewand regarding his confidence in the organization re-signing the star defensive tackle. That’s all well and good — it’s important to know the team is interested in making a contract work — but sometimes these sorts of things represent more posturing and less actual negotiation. A “well, we tried” of sorts that’s for the benefit of the fans to say they did all they could.

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But today we also have word, via ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, that

“multiple sources” also think the Lions will retain Suh

.

We don’t get much in the way of actual facts, but Mortensen mentions the always promising “positive vibes” before (quite correctly) noting the sizable salary cap hurdle that will have to be cleared for Suh and the Lions to get something done.

Mortensen seemed optimistic that the Lions could restructure contracts to clear cap room, and that Pro Bowl wide receiver Calvin Johnson would be willing to help out.

"Cash is not a issue for the franchise, which allows for some manipulation of restructured contracts and guaranteed money. Johnson’s contract could be among those who restructure their contracts to create space for Suh, if necessary.At the NFL Honors awards show on Saturday, Johnson said he would “do whatever I got to do” to help the Lions keep Suh."

Re-signing Suh would appear to be an excellent move as far as next year’s on-field product goes, but doing so by means of more contract restructurings — a strategy they’ve employed time and again under Martin Mayhew — would likely hamper future editions of the Detroit Lions. They’re going to have to pay the piper eventually.

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