DETROIT — Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh agreed to a contract Tuesday night that will bring an end to his holdout and allow him to join his teammates.
All it cost the Lions was $68 million with $40 million guaranteed.
All it cost Suh was invaluable practice time and a bit of his reputation.
So, who won the negotiation? Who lost?
"I think everybody is a loser when a guy misses training camp," said Gil Brandt, an NFL Network analyst who served as Dallas' vice president of player personnel in 1960-89. "He missed four days of practices and it's like entering school in a geometry class. I don't care how smart you are, if you miss the first eight or 10 days, it's hard to catch up."
One agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the conversation's nature, said the price tag itself made instant losers out of the Lions.
"The second you're picking in the top 10, I think you're a loser," he said. "I don't mean that as a team, I just mean that's why the system needs changing.
"If you're picking a top 10, you're overpaying. When the Chiefs signed (No. 5 pick) Eric Berry, the day they drafted him, they just made him the highest-paid safety in the entire NFL, ahead of Ed Reed, you name it."
One of the key sticking points in the negotiations was the guaranteed money. The Lions were concerned about paying Suh more than the $41.7 million they paid their franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford, last year.
From that perspective, Suh and his representatives lost. They didn't get more than Stafford. And they came closer to No. 3 pick Gerald McCoy's $35 million guaranteed than they did to No. 1 Sam Bradford's $50 million guaranteed.
Of course, you can parse the money any way you want. Over the life of the contract, Suh gets more guaranteed money per year than Stafford and almost as much as Bradford. Payment schedules also can vary wildly.
But Suh's image took a hit. The day after the Lions drafted him, Suh said: "I'm not a guy that likes to be a part of drama. I don't even like being in the limelight. I definitely don't want to hold out. We have an understanding that we want to be on time and in camp and ready to go."
Suh went 0-for-4 on those statements and an economically challenged town like Detroit isn't likely to understand the quibbling of a millionaire who plays a game for a living.
But the Lions don't deserve pity, either. They are in sore need of Suh's help and failing to get him into camp could jeopardize all the work they've done to upgrade their roster if Suh falls behind or gets hurt.
"I've seen it," Brandt said. "And what happens is that usually, and I hope I'm wrong when I say this, whether it's two practices or four days or whatever it is, usually those are the guys that are more susceptible to injuries."
He's right. The Lions' last lengthy holdout was cornerback Bryant Westbrook. He missed 27 days and then missed the season opener because of a groin pull.
"I've seen that happen every time," coach Bobby Ross said then. "It's not a surprise to me. ... It just seems to be the hand of fate or something that reaches out on you."
You don't wish that on anyone. Suh left minicamp in June in extremely good condition and it's hard to imagine he's let himself go.
"I would worry about some people," Brandt said. "I don't think in his case he's going to get heavy or get out of shape or anything like that. I think he's a prideful guy that will work hard and probably has worked hard."
But the real work has just begun for Suh. In the classroom. On the field. And in the image department.