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WESTMINSTER, Md. (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens and top draft pick Haloti Ngata agreed on a five-year deal late Friday, ending the defensive tackle's one-day holdout.
Ngata, the 12th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft, is expected to report to training camp Saturday. He missed both practices Friday, the first day of camp.
"I'm really relieved that it's done and I can go play football. I couldn't afford to miss too much time because I only had that one minicamp," Ngata said in a telephone interview. "It was a good deal. The Ravens were very fair to me."
The Ravens expect Ngata to join the team before Saturday's afternoon practice.
"I'm in Baltimore and I plan on signing my contract as soon as my agent finishes my paperwork," Ngata said.
The 350-pound Ngata is expected to vie for a starting spot on the Ravens' line. He was the Pac-10 co-defensive player of the year last season at Oregon, where he finished with 151 career tackles, 10 sacks and a school-record seven blocked kicks.
After going through a practice without Ngata on Friday morning, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis figured it was only a matter of time before the rookie came to camp.
"It will get done," Lewis said. "Just let him know when he comes in that nothing slows down. He has to pick it up. Hopefully he's getting in great shape and will be ready when he gets here."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-07-28-06 1546MDT
