OWINGS MILLS – Terrell Suggs spent his offseason overseeing his successful independent Maryland film company, approving scripts, giving creative input and personally conducting auditions.
He hasn’t gone Hollywood, though.
Now the Baltimore Ravens’ four-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, has returned to his regular blue-collar job in the trenches: relentlessly pursuing quarterbacks.
Suggs sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger three times and forced two fumbles during the Ravens’ 35-7 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the season and was named the AFC defensive player of the week.
Instead of supervising the latest short films that have won national cinema awards, Suggs is devoted to spending time in darkened film rooms to memorize opponents’ blocking strategies.
“I’ve taken my film study up to a new level,” said Suggs, whose film company is called Team Sizzle Worldwide. “I can see things before they happen now.”
Over the past eight seasons, Suggs has generated 71 ½ sacks to rank atop the franchise all-time list over Peter Boulware.
By eclipsing Boulware’s mark, Suggs will have a game ball placed in the players’ entrance of the Ravens’ training complex at the end of the season to recognize his place in team history.
“It’s very flattering because that’s one of the few things they can see when you walk into the building is the all-time leaders of the organization,” Suggs said. “I’m honored that my name gets to go up there. It’s very flattering, I’m glad to have it, but I have a bigger goal in mind. I hope I just add this to that list.”
Considering Suggs’ recent track record, there’s a very good chance of that happening.
He has recorded 19 sacks, including the playoffs going back through last season, for the highest total in the league over the past 19 games. And the former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has eight sacks in the Ravens’ last three games, including the postseason.
“Terrell Suggs is multi-faceted, no doubt,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He gets to the quarterback. He’s one of the premier pass rushers, but he’s also a great run player. He drops in coverage and plays screens. He’s one of the most well-rounded players in the NFL.”
He’s also one of the more entertaining players in the league.
Suggs is known for his colorful quotes, and jokes, cracking up teammates. His locker stall doubles as a mini-cinema, playing the latest action films and comedies.
“Terrell is one of the most entertaining people I’ve ever been around I’ve ever been around,” outside linebacker Jarret Johnson said. “He’s exactly what people think. No, he’s a lot more. People see him as a character and a good player.
“He is all of those things, but he’s also a great teammate, a great friend, very dependable. I’ve never been around anybody who cares about his teammates and their actions more than Terrell does.”
His opponents don’t usually share those feelings, especially when they’re subjected to his verbal assaults.
“Great trash-talker, that’s another skill that he has that he pulls out of the bag every now and then,” defensive end Cory Redding said. “Terrell, he lives for the moments. That’s what makes him unique.
“In pregame, he does an inspirational talk. In the game, he just plays and does his thing. For the most part, he’s quiet and out there busting heads.”
Suggs has cut back on the celebratory dancing after sacks that was once his trademark.
He hasn’t stopped rapping every time he walks onto the practice field, though.
“We’ve got to start blowing people out big, and then I’ll start dancing,” Suggs said. “Until then, it’s business as usual.”
Suggs’ leadership qualities are developing.
Suggs, 28, is in his prime and might eventually pick up the torch as the Ravens’ next unquestioned defensive leader.
For now, the men atop the leadership flow chart are middle linebacker Ray Lewis and free safety Ed Reed. Suggs’ day is coming, though.
“Ray is the general, Ed is the lieutenant and I’m the captain,” Suggs said. “Yeah, Captain Suggs, I like it.”
Only seven players have more sacks than Suggs since he entered the league.
It’s a distinguished company of pass rushers, including Jared Allen (83 ½ sacks), DeMarcus Ware (82), Dwight Freeney (81), Julius Peppers (79), John Abraham (77), Robert Mathis (75) and Jason Taylor (74 1/2).
“Seems like every year he hits double-digits in sacks,” Redding said. “Dudes really have to look out for him. Quarterbacks really have to find him on the field. They have to account for this guy because if they don’t he’s going to put the quarterback on his back.”
Suggs loves movies, but his preference remains sacking quarterbacks along with spending time with his two young children.
