Ngata is active Sunday against Cleveland.||||||| Ngata missed practice time with a shoulder injury.

The Baltimore Ravens signed defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to a five-year, $61-million contract on Tuesday. His agent, Mike McCartney, said Ngata will get $40 million in the first two years of the deal.||||||| The deal came before Tuesday's NFL deadline to sign a multiyear contract or extension to a franchise player. Ngata headed into this season with a $12.4 million franchise tender that was fully guaranteed. The All-Pro defensive tackle has 10 tackles, six solos, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Ngata was drafted 12th overall by the Ravens in the 2006 draft. The former Oregon star has 12 career sacks and three interceptions.

In an effort to improve his stamina, Ngata lost 20 pounds during the offseason.||||||| Over the next few weeks, Ngata hopes to enhance his bank account by dropping his franchise tag and signing a long-term contract. Ngata says he doesn't mind being Baltimore's franchise player, but wants more money over a longer period of time. He says "that's what I am really trying to shoot for." The 27-year-old Ngata had 65 tackles last year and ranked second on the team with a career-high 5 1/2 sacks.

The Baltimore Ravens have designated 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.||||||| 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 5 1/2 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.