OWINGS MILLS, Md. | The Baltimore Ravens have designated Pro Bowl defensive tackle Haloti Ngata as their franchise player.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says the move, announced Tuesday, locks up Ngata for the 2011 season while the team keeps working out terms on a lengthy contract.
Newsome says: “We want him to be a Raven.”
Ngata was drafted by Baltimore in 2006 with the 12th overall pick. The 6-foot-4, 350-pounder had 65 tackles and a career-high 5½ sacks this season in making the Pro Bowl for a second straight year.
Ngata has missed only two games in his five seasons with the Ravens.
The last two players to be franchised by the Ravens, linebacker Terrell Suggs and cornerback Chris McAlister, received long-term contracts from the team.
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