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There's no telling just how good Terrell Suggs will be once he grows up and becomes a starting linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite being used almost exclusively on passing downs, Suggs made enough of an impression to receive The Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award Tuesday. He had 12 sacks, forced six fumbles and had an interception.
If he can do all that as a 21-year-old, it stands to reason that Suggs should be even better with experience and increased playing time.
``It's something to look forward to,'' Suggs said. ``It's like, if he only played third down and won it, just imagine what happens when he plays every down and really becomes a linebacker. Then it's going to be something to see.''
If Suggs can lift his game with the speed that he gets to the quarterback, then he ultimately could be one of the better linebackers in the league. As far as he's concerned, the Ravens already have best in the business.
``You're a work in progress until you get to Ray Lewis level,'' Suggs said. ``That's some big shoes, but it's definitely something to strive for.''
Suggs is no Lewis
-- not yet, anyway. But his skill at pursuing quarterbacks earned him 23 votes
from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the
NFL.
Dallas cornerback Terence Newman finished second with 15 votes.
``Every rookie in the NFL knows it's hard to come into the league and perform good enough to get an award for it,'' Suggs said. ``This has been a really great year.''
Suggs set a Division I-A record with 24 sacks in 2002 with Arizona State before coming to the Ravens as the 10th overall pick in April's draft. Proving his college numbers were no fluke, he tied an NFL record by getting a sack in each of his first four games with the Ravens.
Suggs' 12 sacks broke the Ravens record for rookies, surpassing the 11 1/2 that Peter Boulware had in 1997. Suggs got his first NFL start Sunday night in place of an injured Boulware and performed admirably.
``It's been fun to watch Terrell's maturation, particularly the last two weeks,'' Ravens coach Brian Billick said. ``He's had to step his game up, and he has.''
Suggs finished tied for seventh in the NFL in sacks, ahead of such stars as Jevon Kearse and Dwight Freeney.
Newman, the fifth overall choice in the draft, was followed in the voting by Green Bay linebacker Nick Barnett with six votes. Minnesota defensive tackle Kevin Williams received three, Chicago cornerback Charles Tillman got two, and New England safety Eugene Wilson received one.
Suggs is the second Ravens linebacker to win the award; Boulware got it in 1997.
``It's a team achievement,'' Suggs said. ``Everybody kind of pitched in to mold Terrell.''
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