Like any good defensive player Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs hates quarterbacks. That did not stop him from paying his respects to San Francisco 49ers wunderkind Colin Kaepernick who came thisclose from engineering the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Suggs appeared on the Jim Rome show and proclaimed “that kid’s the truth.”

“Going into the game, I thought it was all hype,” Suggs said. “He’s only had nine starts and then I’m going down the line at the teams he’s playing and I’m like ‘OK, alright, he’s got some good stats, but we will see.’”

The Ravens did see but it took Kaepernick nearly two-and-a-half quarters and a blackout to get going.

The electric fashion in which Kaepernick shook off the side effects of what appeared to be a blowout in progress was impressive.

According to Suggs it’s also worthy of respect.

“When you go in there and you’re playing a guy like that, I hate quarterbacks, but that kid is the truth and I have the upmost respect for him,” Suggs said.

Suggs has always been one of the most polarizing figures on the Ravens.

He is quick to defend his team on one hand and usually downplay the competition.

In this turn, not only did he tip his hat but he he predicted that the big game has not seen the last of Kaepernick.

“I don’t think he needs to hold his head down at all because he’s going to play in a few [Super Bowls],” Suggs said.

Suggs has had a busy media week. He spoke his peace on the subject of his quarterback Joe Flacco’s contract situation on the NFL Network’s Total Access program.

“He deserves to get paid,” Suggs said on Friday. “Where he scales at, that’s between our front office and his agent. But he definitely deserves it. The man has a championship ring and you reward your champion by paying him.”

Duncan Steel | Elite.