NFL: Baltimore Ravens Ink Haloti Ngata to Five Year Extension

According to several published reports, including the Baltimore Sun, the Baltimore Ravens have agreed on a long-term deal with arguably the best defensive player in the NFL, Haloti Ngata.

The five-year deal is for $61 million, making Ngata one of the highest paid defensive linemen in the NFL. The deal includes $40 million over the first two years, which is essentially guaranteed.

Ngata is a deserving recipient of the contract. You would be hard pressed to find another defensive lineman that dominates the inside the way he does in the game.

This is a great feeling, and I can’t explain how many different emotions I have,” Ngata said in a statement released by the Ravens. “What I want to do now is continue to get better every year and help the team get better. Our goal is to win Super Bowls, and I want to do my best to help us make that happen. ... You rarely see players around the league play with one team their entire career. For me to be here another five years is great, and I’m thankful for the opportunity the Ravens have provided me. Hopefully, I can retire here.”

Ngata's agent, Mike McCartney, announced the deal being official on his Twitter account. The Ravens later confirmed the deal.

The Ravens had a deadline to reach and the agreement came as it neared. According to the Ravens web site, there were reports that talks between the Ravens and Ngata’s representatives broke down Monday evening, which would have meant Ngata would be playing under a nearly $12.5 million franchise tag.

But apparently, both sides got back together on Tuesday, when the deadline to take the franchise tag off players was 4 p.m. McCartney, Ngata's agent tweeted the announcement at 2:56 E.S.T

The 6-foot-4, 330-pound former first round pick of the Ravens has been to two Pro Bowls and has recorded 178 tackles and 12 sacks as he enters his sixth season. He even has three career interceptions, as he possesses deceptively quick speed for his size when he drops back in zone coverage.

Ngata is the latest of many stars to develop in the Baltimore defensive system, and begins the 2011 season on a Pro Bowl level. In the Ravens’ 35-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ngata had four tackles, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and a batted pass which led to an interception. On Sunday during a loss to Tennessee, he recorded six tackles and had two passes deflected, one led to a Terrell Suggs interception.

After cries from future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis for a bigger interior line, the Ravens drafted Ngata in the first round during the 2006 draft. Since then, Ngata has become a massive run stopping machine, who occupies space and blockers, giving Lewis the freedom he once enjoyed when lineman like Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa occupied the middle. Since Ngata joined the team in 2006, the Ravens have allowed a league-low 31 rushing touchdowns in 80 regular-season games.

The Ravens are thrilled to have Ngata locked up for the long term. "This is another commitment from [owner] Steve Bisciotti making sure we keep our best players," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement through the team. "Haloti's re-signing is significant as we push to win consistently and battle for championships. His leadership is not only integral to our defense, but also the entire team."