After nine long months apart, Terrell Suggs and the Ravens had a chance to reunite, but the reunion was never meant to be. Suggs left Baltimore in March after the sixteen-year Raven elected to decline Baltimore’s contract offer and sign with his hometown Arizona Cardinals. His career in Baltimore seemed to be over, but after the Cardinals released Suggs on December 13, many hoped for a reunion. It seemed like a fairy tale ending to his storied career. Suggs would return triumphantly into Baltimore for one last ride, a potential Super Bowl run. The fairy tale took a sharp turn though, as Terrell Suggs was claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Returning to Baltimore was never a guarantee. Although he is a 17-year veteran, Suggs was subject to waivers, meaning any team could claim him. Because the Ravens boast the league’s best record, 12-2, they pick last. It felt certain that another team would claim Suggs, but T-Sizzle had a trick up his sleeve. He wanted to return to Baltimore so much, that Suggs said he would contemplate not reporting to any other team that claimed him. He purposely let this information leak to the media, knowing that teams would be deterred in wasting time claiming him. Despite this, there was a concern that the Tennessee Titans would submit a claim for the former Ravens pass rusher. The Titans’ current defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, spent many years in Baltimore with the same role. His familiarity with Suggs led many to believe that the Titans would submit a claim. Ultimately the Chiefs unexpectedly made the claim.

Adding Suggs to the roster would not have been just a feel-good moment for the Ravens. At the age of 37, Suggs would have still provided strategic importance to the Ravens. He sets the edge against opposing rushers very well, an area that the Ravens have struggled in all year long. Suggs also provides veteran leadership. He was a member of the Super Bowl XLVII team, and his presence on the roster would have helped others prepare for a potential Super Bowl run beginning this January.

Update – 4:27 PM

Per ESPN’s Josina Anderson, the Ravens did not submit a claim for Terrell Suggs, but this does not mean Baltimore was not interested in signing him. The Ravens were last on the waiver list, so Baltimore would have just signed him as a free agent if he cleared waivers.

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