The Ravens are active in discussions about what do with outside linebacker Terrell Suggs' big contract.
On Tuesday, General Manager Ozzie Newsome indicated that Suggs may not be back in Baltimore at his current salary cap number.
Suggs could get a contract extension or walk away.
"Terrell is a real good football player. He not only shows up in the pass game, but he shows up in the run game," Newsome said.
"But with that being said, we let a good football player go last year. So I'm not afraid when it comes to letting guys walk out the door. What we'll do is we'll look at every aspect of it and see what's best for the 2014 and '15 and '16 Ravens and make that decision."
The Ravens tried to work out a contract extension that included a reduced salary and salary cap hit with wide receiver Anquan Boldin last offseason. He declined and was traded to San Francisco. Baltimore also watched longtime defensive icon Ed Reed leave for Houston via free agency.
Newsome isn't afraid to make hard decisions, even when it comes to a six-time Pro Bowler like Suggs.
Suggs is getting up there in age (31), and after getting off to a torrid start with nine sacks in eight games last season, he finished with two sacks in the second half.
But in the final year of his contract, Suggs is reportedly slated to eat $12.4 million of next year's salary cap – a prohibitive figure. If the Ravens cut Suggs, they would reportedly save $7.8 million.
Newsome said the Ravens will not restructure contracts. But there's another solution.
"There's a difference between restructuring and offering guys extensions," he said.
"We have guys that are heading into the last year of their contract. We have a history of being able to get good deals done with guys heading into that last year. I don't think we'll embark on doing any more restructuring, but we will probably look at doing some extensions."
If the Ravens and Suggs reached an extension, he could finish his career in Baltimore and the Ravens would have more spending flexibility.
Newsome said he, Owner Steve Bisciotti, President Dick Cass, Head Coach John Harbaugh, Senior Vice President Of Football Administration Pat Moriarty and Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta will talk at length about Suggs when they convene at Bisciotti's Florida residence next week.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata wasn't mentioned by name, but could also be in the mix for an extension. He's got two years left on his contract and is scheduled to make $16 million next year. Cutting Ngata would only reportedly be a cap savings of $1 million.
