ALLEN PARK -- Ndamukong Suh says he wants to stay in Detroit long term. The Lions say they want Suh long term.

But with just three days left before veterans report for the start of training camp, a deal has not yet materialized.

And now it appears that might never happen.

ESPN is reporting the Lions are "not optimistic" they will be able to sign Suh to a new deal.

Suh is in the final year of the contract he signed after Detroit selected him second overall in the 2010 draft. He is set to count $22.4 million against the cap in 2014, then will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

The Lions could retain Suh for another year under the franchise tag, though that would cost an exorbitant $26.7 million. So they are forced either to re-sign Suh now, or risk watching their most dominant defensive player become an unrestricted free agent in the prime of his career.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew originally hoped to have an extension wrapped up by the start of free agency. But then Suh fired his longtime agent, Roosevelt Barnes, and took a month to hire new representation.

He eventually signed with Jimmy Sexton in early March, and negotiations on a new deal began shortly thereafter.

Suh said during OTAs that "without question" he wanted to stay in Detroit long term, although wouldn't put a timetable on the negotiations.

"That's why I see myself here in Detroit -- being one of the cornerstones that gets this organization back to a championship level," he said. "Like coach (Jim) Caldwell said, we're not in a rebuilding year. We're in a year of going to get a championship and that's why I want to be here."

Team president Tom Lewand, the point man on most contract negotiations, including Suh's extension, said he expected a deal to get done because both sides were saying they wanted one.

"Ndamukong has said he wants to stay. We want him to stay," Lewand said. "Generally when you have those two things in place, you can get a deal."

Generally.

But not always.