Lions stop contract talks with Ndamukong Suh until after season

The Detroit Lions are postponing contract talks with All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh until after the season.

Suh is entering the final season of his contract, and team President Tom Lewand and General Manager Martin Mayhew said before practice Monday that negotiations are being tabled. Lewand and Mayhew both expressed optimism that a deal can eventually be reached.

“He’s told me he wants to be here. I have a good relationship with him,” Mayhew said. “I know I want him to be here. I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Lewand said Detroit’s salary cap situation isn’t the reason for the delay in an agreement.

If the two sides can’t reach a deal after the season, the Lions could still keep Suh by using their franchise tag on him.

Suh was drafted in 2010 by the Lions with the second overall pick, and he has 27 1/2 sacks in his four pro seasons.

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Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice did not appeal his two-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, meaning he will miss the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Sept. 11 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rice also was fined three total game checks, a total of $529,000, by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Rice was accused of striking his now-wife, Janay, unconscious during an altercation in the elevator of an Atlantic City, N.J. casino in February.

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The Carolina Panthers are breathing a sigh of relief over rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said an MRI exam revealed the team’s first-round draft pick has a bone bruise in his left knee and will miss at least a few days of training camp.

Benjamin has been running with the starters at training camp. Rivera said Benjamin injured the knee Sunday when he “bumped knees” with another player.