ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) -The Detroit Lions have opened training camp without Ndamukong Suh.
The Lions practiced Saturday afternoon while team officials and Suh’s agents, Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes, worked on reaching a contract agreement.
“I just got off the phone with those guys a minute ago,” Lions president Tom Lewand said soon after practice started. “We had an extended conversation and I’m sure we’ll have another one shortly. Both sides are focused on getting this done as quickly as possible.”
The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have agreed to terms with their draft choices, leaving Suh the only unsigned player picked in the top three.
“The more reference points we have the more helpful it becomes, but at the same time, every deal is unique,” Lewand said. “The only thing we can do is continue to work hard at getting a fair deal done for Ndamukong Suh and for our club.”
first-round pick, Jahvid Best, to a five-year deal and he was on the field with Kevin Smith and the team’s other running backs. Smith is back after knee surgery.
Detroit drafted Suh hoping the former Nebraska defensive tackle could bolster its defense, which has ranked among the league’s worst the past two seasons. The Lions won just two games last year after becoming the first team in league history to go 0-16.
“Our goal is to stop talking about contracts and to start talking about football,” Lewand said.
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