It was Terrell Suggs unplugged Tuesday night as the Ravens' veteran linebacker took questions from PSL season-ticket holders Tuesday night for nearly an hour.
Suggs is always entertaining, insightful and smart – both on gamedays and just in general conversation.
Here are some of the top takeaways from the Q&A:
On what he would say if HE COULD go back in time and talk TO his rookie self:
"Pay attention. Do not take for granted the people that are in this building. It's a lot. First thing I would do is whip his [butt]. [I was a] 20-year-old kid [who] need his [butt] whupped. I was in a different world. I was really remedial. Ray Lewis, he tried to teach me so many things. When he was talking to me, it was like he was speaking German and French. I couldn't comprehend. I was like, 'Look, man, I'm just here to pass rush.' He was like, 'Nah, we don't draft just pass rushers in the first round. You have to do everything.'"
On what drives him heading into his 16th NFL season:
"To do it all again. It's a trip to get to do it all again. I love playing ball. I love playing ball. I love being Sizzle. When the time comes for me to be a full-time dad, full-time actor/writer/director/producer, I'll do all that. But right now, it's the Flock. Go Flock.
"To be totally honest with you, I don't see my peak in my near future."
On the rookie class, especially quarterback Lamar Jackson:
"They have a tremendous amount of potential. It's up to them to cash in on that. They're only going to reap the reward if they come in and put in the work. If they come in and work to earn that Ravens decal, the future is bright for them."
"Potential never won a game. It never made a play."
On the favorite play of his career:
"Super Bowl. As crazy as it sounds, the last defensive play of that Super Bowl, the guy who was involved is on this team now [Michael Crabtree]. I walked in [the locker room] and Jimmy [Smith] and Michael Crabtree were talking about it. I was like, 'To be totally honest with you, Michael, it was an uncatchable ball.' … Definitely, when that ball flew over Michael Crabtree's head, that was my favorite play.
"In 2012, going into the playoffs, Jimmy Smith was very upset. He wanted to play more. He had an up and down year because he had injuries and all that. … I told him, 'If you think we're not going to need you to win this, you're mistaken. We're going to need you to win the Super Bowl.' And he made the last three plays. It's crazy, it's like déjà vu."
On why he picked No. 55:
"I walked into the building and that was the jersey they gave me. There were some other numbers that were available that weren't too flattering. I asked who had 56. They said they didn't give 56 out to rookies. Ed Hartwell had it. It was the only good number that was available, so I took it."
On how he got the nickname "Sizzle":
"It's actually very funny. My cousin, D'Marr Suggs, played basketball at Idaho State University. And he was a really good player. They gave him the name 'D-Sizzle.' Naturally, with me being at Arizona State and me trying to live up to my big cousin, I inherited the name 'T-Sizzle.'"
On who will be this year's young defensive breakout player:
"Willie 'Earl' Henry. He's going to have a breakout year. Tyus Bowser. I'm really optimistic about all our young guys. Peanut, Patrick Onwuasor, Maurice Canady, pretty much all the guys that's here. The whole team is here. With the new coordinator, I think all our young guys are going to have a breakout year. It's going to be a fun year."
On why he's excited about new Defensive Coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale:
"He's taking the handcuffs off the guys. Sometimes a player can be shackled just by the rules and confines of the defense. I think Wink is going to allow us to go make plays and be the fast-moving defense that this city and the fans love. That's why I'm very excited for the season."
