Billick Gets New Deal; Lovie In Limbo

Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick reached a contract extension with the club, according to Baltimore-area media outlets.

The contract, first reported by WBAL in Baltimore, is reportedly a four-year deal that will keep the coach in Charm City until 2010. In January, the Baltimore Sun reported Billick got a one-year, $5.4 million extension.

Last season Billick led the Ravens to a 13-3 regular-season record. Baltimore won the AFC North by five games. Billick also led the Ravens to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants.

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Barring what Lovie Smith's agent calls an "unforseen breakthrough," the Chicago Bears coach expects to return for the 2007 season without a new contract.
Smith has one year remaining on his original contract. He was the league's lowest-paid coach at $1.35 million in 2006 and will remain No. 32 on the paylist at $1.45 million in '07.

Smith suspended contract talks shortly before the playoffs when he led the Bears to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1985 after a 13-3 regular season. Negotiations picked up shortly after the Bears lost to the Colts in the championship game, but Bauer said there were significant gaps on the contract terms between management and the coach.

Coaches that have taken their teams to the Super Bowl, even in a losing effort, are making at least $5 million per year, such as Carolina's John Fox.


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