CelticsStrong
Other Discussions => Other / General Sports => Patriots / Football => Topic started by: Moranis on January 02, 2013, 01:04:14 PM
-
Ray Lewis will call it a career at the conclusion of the playoffs this year ending his career at 17 years. He may go down as the greatest defensive player ever and is certainly in the top five. Baltimore hosts Indianapolis on Sunday in what might be his last game (though I think he will play on at least one more week).
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
-
Ray Lewis will call it a career at the conclusion of the playoffs this year ending his career at 17 years. He may go down as the greatest defensive player ever and is certainly in the top five. Baltimore hosts Indianapolis on Sunday in what might be his last game (though I think he will play on at least one more week).
I hope they make a deep run. And he's made the right choice here. Ray Lewis's play had really fallen off, even before the injury. Give it one last playoffs and walk away into what will certainly be a successful career in broadcasting.
-
Sad day. Whenever I watched ray I felt like I was watching kg in a way. Hope he reconsiders.
-
Good.
-
Good.
Ditto. One less thing the Patriots will have to worry about.
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
-
What a career. One of the leagues legends on the defensive end.
-
I know the man is a great football player and inspirational on the field, but the guy got away with murder. If you look into it you will see he kept changing his story about that night, and destroyed the clothes he was wearing that night.....
-
I know the man is a great football player and inspirational on the field, but the guy got away with murder. If you look into it you will see he kept changing his story about that night, and destroyed the clothes he was wearing that night.....
Where are your informational sources? I would be interested in seeing and reading them.
-
didn't junior seau retire too before Bill b lured him out of retirement? probably doubtful that scenario could happen with Lewis, but worth a shot...he can flat out still play...
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
LT was a outside linebacker/ DE hybred. Him and Ray don't really compare since they play such diverse positions.
If you want to be specific, Ray is the best Middle Linebacker of all time, with lambert and singletary in the discussion.
If you want to open it up to "all linebackers" then LT is definitely on there...but he had a limited skill set when compared to a MLB's responsibility. He was absolutely AMAZING as a pass rusher, but he didn't cover or stop the ball.
LT wanted to sack the QB, ray wanted the ball anywhere it went on the field.
Thats why I always separate MLB and OLB, the position is really quite different, it makes no sense to just lump them all together.
Anyway, sad day, the end of an Era. he was by far the best middle linebacker and team leader I ever saw (to young to really comment on lambert or singletary).
to those saying "good" I don't think it really is, Tom was killing him in coverage the last 3 years, since he was a shell of his former self in pass coverage. He was still dynamite against the run, but the pats don't really care about that ha.
-
im from maryland so dis is like Jordan retiring from da bulls. M&T bank betta get to makin dat Ray Lewis Statue ASAP face of da franchise man played hard EVERY GAME gonna be hard seeing us without da GOAT great motivational speaker nd player 17 years of consistent high quality ball
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
LT was a outside linebacker/ DE hybred. Him and Ray don't really compare since they play such diverse positions.
If you want to be specific, Ray is the best Middle Linebacker of all time, with lambert and singletary in the discussion.
If you want to open it up to "all linebackers" then LT is definitely on there...but he had a limited skill set when compared to a MLB's responsibility. He was absolutely AMAZING as a pass rusher, but he didn't cover or stop the ball.
LT wanted to sack the QB, ray wanted the ball anywhere it went on the field.
Thats why I always separate MLB and OLB, the position is really quite different, it makes no sense to just lump them all together.
Anyway, sad day, the end of an Era. he was by far the best middle linebacker and team leader I ever saw (to young to really comment on lambert or singletary).
to those saying "good" I don't think it really is, Tom was killing him in coverage the last 3 years, since he was a shell of his former self in pass coverage. He was still dynamite against the run, but the pats don't really care about that ha.
What?
LT changed the LB position.
One of two defensive players to win the NFL MVP.
He was a lot more then just a pass rusher.
He pushed Joe Gibbs to create the two TE set. (and create the position of H-Back.
Anyways, it was probably time for Lewis to retire. For a decade, he was the best LBer in the game.
-
Good. When does he start his prison term?
A judge Monday approved a deal allowing Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis to avoid murder charges and jail time by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and testifying against two co-defendants.
Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and Superior Court Judge Alice D. Bonner sentenced Lewis to 12 months' probation, the maximum sentence for a first-time offender. Under the terms of the sentence, Lewis can not use drugs or alcohol during the duration of the probation.
Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard refused to say how the plea agreement was brokered but said his office made the right decision to prosecute Lewis.
[Cnnsi.com June 5, 2000]
So, he accepts a plea deal and testifies against his co-defendants...
Duane Fassett, the driver of Lewis' rented limousine, reluctantly admitted on the stand that after the brawl Lewis told everyone in the stretch Lincoln Navigator to "just keep your mouth shut and don't say nothing."
Evelyn Sparks, who was riding in the limousine, said she saw another passenger dump a white hotel laundry bag into a garbage bin outside a fast food restaurant. Prosecutors say the bag contained Lewis' bloodstained white suit, which has never been found.
Sparks also said a photograph of Lewis' entourage, taken at the Cobalt Lounge on the night of the killings, was destroyed by Jessica Robertson, a woman described as Lewis' girlfriend. "She said she burned it," Sparks testified.
[Cnnsi.com June 5, 2000]
He's accused, under oath, of orchestrating a cover-up...
On April 29, 2004, Lewis reached a settlement with four-year-old India Lollar, born months after the death of her father Richard, preempting a scheduled civil proceeding. Lewis also reached an undisclosed settlement with Baker's family.
[Sportsline.com May 2, 2004]
And, he pays off the families of the victims...
Yeah, sounds completely innocent to me. Man, did the D.A. railroad him or what?
He's a murdering thug who took advantage of his fame and money to weasel his way out of a prison term. I don't care if the guy can tackle. He's a disgraceful human being.
-
Ray Lewis was a heck of a football player. I wouldn't call him the best defensive player ever, or the best linebacker, but he was a dominant defender.
I don't think I'd like the guy much as a person, but on the field, he was amazing.
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
Yeah, I'm new to football.
-
(http://gifstumblr.com/images/haters-gonna-hate_917.gif)
yall some crybabies sometimes man, get ova da murder charge Ray has actually became more religious since then nd has done a lot for da city of Baltimore nd da community he's not a "murdering thug"
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
LT was a outside linebacker/ DE hybred. Him and Ray don't really compare since they play such diverse positions.
If you want to be specific, Ray is the best Middle Linebacker of all time, with lambert and singletary in the discussion.
If you want to open it up to "all linebackers" then LT is definitely on there...but he had a limited skill set when compared to a MLB's responsibility. He was absolutely AMAZING as a pass rusher, but he didn't cover or stop the ball.
LT wanted to sack the QB, ray wanted the ball anywhere it went on the field.
Thats why I always separate MLB and OLB, the position is really quite different, it makes no sense to just lump them all together.
Anyway, sad day, the end of an Era. he was by far the best middle linebacker and team leader I ever saw (to young to really comment on lambert or singletary).
to those saying "good" I don't think it really is, Tom was killing him in coverage the last 3 years, since he was a shell of his former self in pass coverage. He was still dynamite against the run, but the pats don't really care about that ha.
What?
LT changed the LB position.
One of two defensive players to win the NFL MVP.
He was a lot more then just a pass rusher.
He pushed Joe Gibbs to create the two TE set. (and create the position of H-Back.
Anyways, it was probably time for Lewis to retire. For a decade, he was the best LBer in the game.
He changed the OLB position, as I said.
but he was not known as a good cover guy, at all. he was an absolute beast at disrupting the pass game, but he had limited cover skills. He had 9 interceptions his entire career. Lewis has 31.
But, coverage is not a skill highly valued in OLB, which it is in MLB. it's nice for a OLB to have that skill, but if your using them to set the edge/ rush, they get limited coverage responsibility.
look, no one, especially not me, is saying that Lawrence taylor is not the best OLB of all time. What i'm saying is that the OLB position, contrary to popular belief, is as different from the MLB position as RB is from WR.
Which is simply a way to preface what I said, that it's folly to toss every person who played linebacker into a pool and rank them as "linebackers"
Lawrence taylor is the best OLB to ever play. IMO ray lewis is the best MLB to ever play.
but if you want me to rank them as "who is the best linebacker of all time?" then that's much more difficult, because the positions are vastly different. They'd both be top 5, but i tend to value a MLB who can do everything well and run my defense over a pass rusher who sets the edge as well.
so I guess if you put a gun to my head, I'd put lewis above LT just because they are all time talents, but Lewis plays a position i think is higher on the "value" depth chart on defense. Like, if we were drafting an all time defense, and both guys are magically available as a rookie, I'm taking Lewis first, but if i had the #2 pick it's gonna be LT. Third being prime time. ;)
-
Ray Lewis was a heck of a football player. I wouldn't call him the best defensive player ever, or the best linebacker, but he was a dominant defender.
I don't think I'd like the guy much as a person, but on the field, he was amazing.
Who's a better middle/inside line backer?
the only one (and again i didn't see him live) who I think I would put close to him is singletary.
-
All-Time Football Draft sounds fun. Have we done that?
-
(http://gifstumblr.com/images/haters-gonna-hate_917.gif)
yall some crybabies sometimes man, get ova da murder charge Ray has actually became more religious since then nd has done a lot for da city of Baltimore nd da community he's not a "murdering thug"
wow....
da dude dis da mudererda
-
Many criminals become "more religious." That doesn't make them any better of a person. They're still criminals.
And, no matter what you do for the rest of your life, you can never make up for murdering someone and taking that person away from their loved ones.
The victims in his case may not have been good men either, but it still doesn't remove Lewis' guilt. If he didn't commit the murder himself, he certainly helped cover it up.
And, then he used his fame and money to buy his way out of punishment.
I don't buy that his commitment to religion and the community wasn't simply a marketing ploy to get him back in the good graces of the league and fans. It obviously worked, as he is a top paid player and a sponsor for numerous products, but that doesn't change who he is inside.
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
LT was a outside linebacker/ DE hybred. Him and Ray don't really compare since they play such diverse positions.
If you want to be specific, Ray is the best Middle Linebacker of all time, with lambert and singletary in the discussion.
If you want to open it up to "all linebackers" then LT is definitely on there...but he had a limited skill set when compared to a MLB's responsibility. He was absolutely AMAZING as a pass rusher, but he didn't cover or stop the ball.
LT wanted to sack the QB, ray wanted the ball anywhere it went on the field.
Thats why I always separate MLB and OLB, the position is really quite different, it makes no sense to just lump them all together.
Anyway, sad day, the end of an Era. he was by far the best middle linebacker and team leader I ever saw (to young to really comment on lambert or singletary).
to those saying "good" I don't think it really is, Tom was killing him in coverage the last 3 years, since he was a shell of his former self in pass coverage. He was still dynamite against the run, but the pats don't really care about that ha.
What?
LT changed the LB position.
One of two defensive players to win the NFL MVP.
He was a lot more then just a pass rusher.
He pushed Joe Gibbs to create the two TE set. (and create the position of H-Back.
Anyways, it was probably time for Lewis to retire. For a decade, he was the best LBer in the game.
He changed the OLB position, as I said.
but he was not known as a good cover guy, at all. he was an absolute beast at disrupting the pass game, but he had limited cover skills. He had 9 interceptions his entire career. Lewis has 31.
But, coverage is not a skill highly valued in OLB, which it is in MLB. it's nice for a OLB to have that skill, but if your using them to set the edge/ rush, they get limited coverage responsibility.
look, no one, especially not me, is saying that Lawrence taylor is not the best OLB of all time. What i'm saying is that the OLB position, contrary to popular belief, is as different from the MLB position as RB is from WR.
Which is simply a way to preface what I said, that it's folly to toss every person who played linebacker into a pool and rank them as "linebackers"
Lawrence taylor is the best OLB to ever play. IMO ray lewis is the best MLB to ever play.
but if you want me to rank them as "who is the best linebacker of all time?" then that's much more difficult, because the positions are vastly different. They'd both be top 5, but i tend to value a MLB who can do everything well and run my defense over a pass rusher who sets the edge as well.
so I guess if you put a gun to my head, I'd put lewis above LT just because they are all time talents, but Lewis plays a position i think is higher on the "value" depth chart on defense. Like, if we were drafting an all time defense, and both guys are magically available as a rookie, I'm taking Lewis first, but if i had the #2 pick it's gonna be LT. Third being prime time. ;)
I am taking the guy that changed the game and won the NFL MVP.
-
All-Time Football Draft sounds fun. Have we done that?
I don't think so, but that would be fun.
I'd request we DONT draft an O-line (and I was an offenselineman) just because that will be super tedious and everyone will argue thier line is amazing and invalidates any defensive players chossen ;D.
maybe we can draft a Left tackle/ marquee lineman and assume compatance at every other oline position.
I'd be up for that though, mabey post superbowl?
-
Ray Lewis was a heck of a football player. I wouldn't call him the best defensive player ever, or the best linebacker, but he was a dominant defender.
I don't think I'd like the guy much as a person, but on the field, he was amazing.
Who's a better middle/inside line backer?
the only one (and again i didn't see him live) who I think I would put close to him is singletary.
It's hard to compare eras, but for middle linebackers, Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert are up there, as is Singletary.
When you extend it to all linebackers, LT jumps to the top of the heap.
-
All-Time Football Draft sounds fun. Have we done that?
I don't think so, but that would be fun.
I'd request we DONT draft an O-line (and I was an offenselineman) just because that will be super tedious and everyone will argue thier line is amazing and invalidates any defensive players chossen ;D.
maybe we can draft a Left tackle/ marquee lineman and assume compatance at every other oline position.
I'd be up for that though, mabey post superbowl?
I would be up for that.
How about we draft an O-Line from a team and year (or era)?
-
Best Linebacker I've ever seen. What a career that man had.
I'm guessing you never saw LT (THE REAL LT)
LT was a outside linebacker/ DE hybred. Him and Ray don't really compare since they play such diverse positions.
If you want to be specific, Ray is the best Middle Linebacker of all time, with lambert and singletary in the discussion.
If you want to open it up to "all linebackers" then LT is definitely on there...but he had a limited skill set when compared to a MLB's responsibility. He was absolutely AMAZING as a pass rusher, but he didn't cover or stop the ball.
LT wanted to sack the QB, ray wanted the ball anywhere it went on the field.
Thats why I always separate MLB and OLB, the position is really quite different, it makes no sense to just lump them all together.
Anyway, sad day, the end of an Era. he was by far the best middle linebacker and team leader I ever saw (to young to really comment on lambert or singletary).
to those saying "good" I don't think it really is, Tom was killing him in coverage the last 3 years, since he was a shell of his former self in pass coverage. He was still dynamite against the run, but the pats don't really care about that ha.
What?
LT changed the LB position.
One of two defensive players to win the NFL MVP.
He was a lot more then just a pass rusher.
He pushed Joe Gibbs to create the two TE set. (and create the position of H-Back.
Anyways, it was probably time for Lewis to retire. For a decade, he was the best LBer in the game.
He changed the OLB position, as I said.
but he was not known as a good cover guy, at all. he was an absolute beast at disrupting the pass game, but he had limited cover skills. He had 9 interceptions his entire career. Lewis has 31.
But, coverage is not a skill highly valued in OLB, which it is in MLB. it's nice for a OLB to have that skill, but if your using them to set the edge/ rush, they get limited coverage responsibility.
look, no one, especially not me, is saying that Lawrence taylor is not the best OLB of all time. What i'm saying is that the OLB position, contrary to popular belief, is as different from the MLB position as RB is from WR.
Which is simply a way to preface what I said, that it's folly to toss every person who played linebacker into a pool and rank them as "linebackers"
Lawrence taylor is the best OLB to ever play. IMO ray lewis is the best MLB to ever play.
but if you want me to rank them as "who is the best linebacker of all time?" then that's much more difficult, because the positions are vastly different. They'd both be top 5, but i tend to value a MLB who can do everything well and run my defense over a pass rusher who sets the edge as well.
so I guess if you put a gun to my head, I'd put lewis above LT just because they are all time talents, but Lewis plays a position i think is higher on the "value" depth chart on defense. Like, if we were drafting an all time defense, and both guys are magically available as a rookie, I'm taking Lewis first, but if i had the #2 pick it's gonna be LT. Third being prime time. ;)
I am taking the guy that changed the game and won the NFL MVP.
We'll have to agree to disagree. I think LT is phenomenal, but I'd rather have the best middle linebacker of all time anchoring my defense, I can fill in dominate pass rushers. Not near LT's level of course, but I think I can find other dominate pass rushers to put around my MLB.
Of course, as I said, if I got rookie LT instead, then I would draft secondary hard to make sure he had as much time as possible to hunt down the QB, and still have an amazing defense.
-
All-Time Football Draft sounds fun. Have we done that?
I don't think so, but that would be fun.
I'd request we DONT draft an O-line (and I was an offenselineman) just because that will be super tedious and everyone will argue thier line is amazing and invalidates any defensive players chossen ;D.
maybe we can draft a Left tackle/ marquee lineman and assume compatance at every other oline position.
I'd be up for that though, mabey post superbowl?
I would be up for that.
How about we draft an O-Line from a team and year (or era)?
I'm in.
I agree with the O-Line thing, we should just pick one team line.
-
All-Time Football Draft sounds fun. Have we done that?
I don't think so, but that would be fun.
I'd request we DONT draft an O-line (and I was an offenselineman) just because that will be super tedious and everyone will argue thier line is amazing and invalidates any defensive players chossen ;D.
maybe we can draft a Left tackle/ marquee lineman and assume compatance at every other oline position.
I'd be up for that though, mabey post superbowl?
I would be up for that.
How about we draft an O-Line from a team and year (or era)?
I like that idea alot wd, taking a unit when it comes to oline makes a ton of sense, since putting multiple good offensive linemen together does not necessarily a good oline make, you need chemistry AND talent.
-
He seems like the guy who won't transition into normal life well.
-
He seems like the guy who won't transition into normal life well.
I think he will, plus he has an instant job in football wherever he wants.
If he goes to a team and says "I wanna be a linebacker's coach" instant job and start to that career path.
If he wants to do television, he's got that job in 2 seconds. I'd love to hear him talk about defense and break down defensive schemes.
-
Many criminals become "more religious." That doesn't make them any better of a person. They're still criminals.
And, no matter what you do for the rest of your life, you can never make up for murdering someone and taking that person away from their loved ones.
The victims in his case may not have been good men either, but it still doesn't remove Lewis' guilt. If he didn't commit the murder himself, he certainly helped cover it up.
And, then he used his fame and money to buy his way out of punishment.
I don't buy that his commitment to religion and the community wasn't simply a marketing ploy to get him back in the good graces of the league and fans. It obviously worked, as he is a top paid player and a sponsor for numerous products, but that doesn't change who he is inside.
nobody out chea cares bout da murder case Ray Lewis is a great person a true leader stop cryin lol
-
He seems like the guy who won't transition into normal life well.
either a analyst or motivational speaker FTW stop hatin on dat Boy Big Ray
-
He seems like the guy who won't transition into normal life well.
I think he will, plus he has an instant job in football wherever he wants.
If he goes to a team and says "I wanna be a linebacker's coach" instant job and start to that career path.
If he wants to do television, he's got that job in 2 seconds. I'd love to hear him talk about defense and break down defensive schemes.
He's been quietly introducing his softer side for years on TV and stuff. Consider his Paul Ruud commercials where he isn't actually killing Paul Ruud, despite the undeniable fact that if someone screws around like that during a tight game of madden, its justifiable homicide.
-
(http://gifstumblr.com/images/haters-gonna-hate_917.gif)
yall some crybabies sometimes man, get ova da murder charge Ray has actually became more religious since then nd has done a lot for da city of Baltimore nd da community he's not a "murdering thug"
wow....
da dude dis da mudererda
well "da mudererda" is a 1st ballot hall of fame lock in 2018 how u luv dat pleighboi?
-
He seems like the guy who won't transition into normal life well.
either a analyst or motivational speaker FTW stop hatin on dat Boy Big Ray
Ray Lewis, a former Super Bowl MVP, a 13-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and future Hall of Famer, is famous for his speeches. These spontaneous fire-and-brimstone epics, which call to mind the classic speeches of Rockne and Lombardi, have become the stuff of legend. Ever since a few of his booming pep talks to his Baltimore Ravens teammates ended up on the Internet, he's become widely regarded as one of the best orators in sports.
But here's the funny thing about Lewis's speech-making: It's not something he reserves for his Ravens teammates. In fact, it's not something he reserves at all.
In the past year or so, Lewis has accepted invitations to speak to the Stanford basketball team before an NIT game, the Loyola (Md.) men's lacrosse team during the NCAA tournament, and even a Florida youth swim club near his home whose members were preparing for a meet.
He doesn't even need to be formally invited: When Elon University football coach Jason Swepson got a call last spring that Ray Lewis, who was in the neighborhood, wanted to speak to his team before a spring scrimmage—for nothing in return—Swepson had a natural reaction: "I thought it was a scam," he said.
"Track teams, wrestling teams, whatever it is, whatever the request is, if it fits, no matter what it is I go," Lewis said. Asked how many extemporaneous speeches he's given in the recent past, he said: "I couldn't even tell you, the list is so long."
Lewis doesn't always give speeches strictly for the sake of lifting up his audiences. He said he's spoken to "multiple" Fortune 500 companies for pay and he's well known for his speechmaking performances in commercials for the Madden football videogames and Under Armour sportswear. But beyond actual bookings, Lewis makes it clear that on some level, he just likes firing people up. His general rule: If it fits in his schedule, he'll be there.
Take, for instance, a scene in Boca Raton, Fla., earlier this year. "I was in the gym," Lewis said. "And this guy was like, 'We're about to have this swimming competition, would you please stop by?' I said 'yeah' and the guy says 'give us a speech!'" On cue, Lewis delivered a rousing talk—to a group of 16-year-olds. "That's how they just randomly come up," he said.
Lewis doesn't keep count of how many speeches he's given, though he said that on average, he probably gives seven scheduled speeches a month. "A lot of people don't know that, well, I just go speak," he said. Whether it's a swim meet in Boca Raton or an AFC title game, Lewis delivers the speech with the same intensity. "He was talking to us like you'd see us on TV," said Joe Fletcher, a sophomore defender on Loyola's lacrosse team. When he spoke to Stanford's basketball team before an NIT game this year, his speech ranged from a philosophical rant on legacies to coining the phrase "p---ed off for greatness," which is, Lewis told the players, the necessary anger an athlete needs to avoid mediocrity.
Typically the speeches are a surprise, with usually only the coach knowing a few hours in advance. Justin Ward, a sophomore attacker for Loyola's lacrosse team, said when Lewis unexpectedly barged through the door he spent five minutes covering his mouth to hide the smile. Because of the guerrilla nature of the speeches, pictures and videos are captured only on camera phones at best, making Lewis's speeches part Lombardi, part "Blair Witch Project." His speech to Elon featured thunder crashing in the background and a message that it was "your time." It should be noted that Elon, a school of around 5,000 students in North Carolina, averaged only 9,344 fans at its football games, around 1/7th of what Lewis's Ravens draw.
"It shows he appreciates even the smallest places," said Aaron Mellette, an Elon wide receiver. "He probably knows we don't receive stuff like this on a daily basis."
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, who uses Lewis for corporate events, said that he enlists Lewis's help for his intensity giving speeches to his sales force. "Whether he's talking to the Ravens or our [Under Armour] team or Stanford basketball or a group of kids in Baltimore, there's always a credibility there," Plank said. "He's able to bring stuff from the football field and apply it to everything."
Lewis said he never prepares remarks or changes his message. Whether he's speaking to teenagers, Navy SEALs or a bunch of American football players from England, he says the key to breaking through is finding a way to relate to the audience and just "having a conversation."
"Everyone acts pretty much the same. It's encouragement one way or another," Lewis said. "It's just in what arena, in the business arena sometimes they don't go through a physical part but they have to dial in mentally and that is what the CEOs are looking at for me to share with their guys."
Earlier this summer his best friend got married. Not surprisingly, Lewis made a speech there, too. "I talked about our legacy of friendship," he said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358404577607522397577552.html
-
yahoo piece from last year. top 10 LB's of all time. Taylor, Butkus, Lewis are the top three and in order.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7505900 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7505900)
bleacher report top 50 of the modern era. Taylor 1, Lewis 2.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/409994-top-50-linebackers-of-the-modern-era (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/409994-top-50-linebackers-of-the-modern-era)
According to Pro Football Reference, Lewis had the single best season ever from a LB with an Approximate Value of 23 in his 2000 campaign in which he won the Super Bowl MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award by leading what may have been the single greatest defense in NFL history.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm)
-
I haven't read this thread at all but I'm sure I'm echoing someone else’s sentiments in that this was a selfish move to announce his retirement at this particular moment. It takes his teams focus away from a very important playoff game at hand.
-
I haven't read this thread at all but I'm sure I'm echoing someone else’s sentiments in that this was a selfish move to announce his retirement at this particular moment. It takes his teams focus away from a very important playoff game at hand.
wrong it gives us motivation to play as hard as possible to give Ray a ring to send him out
-
I haven't read this thread at all but I'm sure I'm echoing someone else’s sentiments in that this was a selfish move to announce his retirement at this particular moment. It takes his teams focus away from a very important playoff game at hand.
Uh no it doesn't. He's playing this weekend. how on earth does it take away from their focus? if anything it sharpens it.
how does playing as hard as possible to try to get your leader a ring on the way out the door and retire on top "distract from their focus"?
-
yahoo piece from last year. top 10 LB's of all time. Taylor, Butkus, Lewis are the top three and in order.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7505900 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-7505900)
bleacher report top 50 of the modern era. Taylor 1, Lewis 2.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/409994-top-50-linebackers-of-the-modern-era (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/409994-top-50-linebackers-of-the-modern-era)
According to Pro Football Reference, Lewis had the single best season ever from a LB with an Approximate Value of 23 in his 2000 campaign in which he won the Super Bowl MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award by leading what may have been the single greatest defense in NFL history.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm)
You used bleacher report as an authority, threatening to render your argument as invalid.
Click 'next' for the detailed slideshow about Bleacher Report is terrible.
-
According to Pro Football Reference, Lewis had the single best season ever from a LB with an Approximate Value of 23 in his 2000 campaign in which he won the Super Bowl MVP and Defensive Player of the Year award by leading what may have been the single greatest defense in NFL history.
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/av_single_season.htm)
Don't overlook Chuck Bedarick (24). Wilber Marshall (23) and Pat Swilling (23) tied him.
I have no idea what Approximate Value is based upon, though. Did Alan Page really have three of the top nine seasons of any player, ever?
-
I haven't read this thread at all but I'm sure I'm echoing someone else’s sentiments in that this was a selfish move to announce his retirement at this particular moment. It takes his teams focus away from a very important playoff game at hand.
Yeah I don't think this is true at all. Lots of guys say this type of thing.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
The thing that would really infuriate me as a Ravens fan is the knowledge that somewhere one of those selfish players probably got drunk on New Years eve when they could've been watching film.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I still don't get this. What added pressure? he's playing this Sunday! it's not like he's inactive and went "win this one for me fellas!"
he said what everyone kinda assumed, that he only has enough for one more run and he's gonna make it with them. not sure how that "distracts" them from wanting to win this week/ preparing extensively. if anything it adds to their motivation to prepare and play extremely well behind their 17 year captain.
If any of them are somehow peeing in a puddle because now they only have this year with Ray Lewis, then they aren't mentally tough enough to win anything anyway.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
I would want to know if the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, who happened to be on my team, was retiring. But I wouldn't have that expectation. I don’t see how Ray putting this out there helps lessen the pressure in anyway.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
I would want to know if the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, who happened to be on my team, was retiring. But I wouldn't have that expectation. I don’t see how Ray putting this out there helps lessen the pressure in anyway.
I don't think it increases pressure, and even if it did, and it makes them desperate to win this year because they feel like they have no "next year" with Lewis,Who's to say that doesn't light a fire under them?
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I still don't get this. What added pressure? he's playing this Sunday! it's not like he's inactive and went "win this one for me fellas!"
he said what everyone kinda assumed, that he only has enough for one more run and he's gonna make it with them. not sure how that "distracts" them from wanting to win this week/ preparing extensively. if anything it adds to their motivation to prepare and play extremely well behind their 17 year captain.
If any of them are somehow peeing in a puddle because now they only have this year with Ray Lewis, then they aren't mentally tough enough to win anything anyway.
If you don't think this shifts the focus, even slightly, away from the game at hand, you're living in a dream land. And I’m not super upset about this. It’s not keeping me up at night. I just view it as somewhat of a “me over team” move.
Announce this when the season is over.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
I would want to know if the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, who happened to be on my team, was retiring. But I wouldn't have that expectation. I don’t see how Ray putting this out there helps lessen the pressure in anyway.
I don't think it increases pressure, and even if it did, and it makes them desperate to win this year because they feel like they have no "next year" with Lewis,Who's to say that doesn't light a fire under them?
Ray Lewis, on-field leader of the team for over a decade, retiring might be kind of an emotional motivator. Kind of like a guy using the recent death of a teammate to emotionally motivate his squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp#.22Win_just_one_for_the_Gipper.22). Maybe a coach heroically kicking cancer in the balls (http://www.colts.com/media-center/videos/Coach-Pagano-Locker-Room-Speech-Dolphins/ab62385f-1e06-4136-b3d5-0cfde2a7a4fe) might make a team play a little harder?
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
I would want to know if the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, who happened to be on my team, was retiring. But I wouldn't have that expectation. I don’t see how Ray putting this out there helps lessen the pressure in anyway.
I don't think it increases pressure, and even if it did, and it makes them desperate to win this year because they feel like they have no "next year" with Lewis,Who's to say that doesn't light a fire under them?
Ray Lewis, on-field leader of the team for over a decade, retiring might be kind of an emotional motivator. Kind of like a guy using the recent death of a teammate to emotionally motivate his squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp#.22Win_just_one_for_the_Gipper.22). Maybe a coach heroically kicking cancer in the balls (http://www.colts.com/media-center/videos/Coach-Pagano-Locker-Room-Speech-Dolphins/ab62385f-1e06-4136-b3d5-0cfde2a7a4fe) might make a team play a little harder?
Great, so when the Colts crush the Ravens this Sunday I'll be able to leap to the conclusion that it was because Lewis distracted the team? And if they win, the opposite will be true, right?
Snapshot analysis based on a game or two does not prove anything. My feelings toward the timing will not change either way.
Linebacker Ray Lewis said he is retiring after the Baltimore Ravens' season ends.
He has indicated he will play play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round after missing two months with a triceps injury.
Is his revelation going to spark Baltimore to a big showing against Indianapolis at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday? Or will his last game serve as a distraction for the Ravens.
It’s hard to know, and he’s entitled to share the news with his team as he did today as opposed to trying to keep it a secret. Most presumed it was going to be the case anyway.
But I do think it can sap a little bit of energy from the Ravens during the week and actually be a bit of an advantage to the upset-minded Colts.
"There will be a ton of energy,” Cots coach Chuck Pagano, who worked as part of the Ravens defensive staff before the Colts hired him. “ ... He’s their leader."
"It will be fun to one day say I got to play against Ray Lewis," Andrew Luck said.
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/69642/will-ray-lewis-news-impact-colts
-
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/tag/_/name/ray-lewis-to-retire (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/tag/_/name/ray-lewis-to-retire)
Calls Lewis the greatest defensive player ever. Now granted he might be a bit biased since he is the AFC North reporter for ESPN.
Some of the piece
When it came to the running game, Lewis was fast enough to chase down running backs and physical enough to make them pay when he did. In Lewis' first 16 seasons, Baltimore never allowed more than 3.9 yards per carry.
When it came to the passing game, he was explosive enough to rush the passer and athletic enough to cover running backs and tight ends. He's the only player in NFL history to amass 40 sacks and 30 interceptions.
Lewis isn't simply the best defensive player because of his play. What made Lewis special was how he elevated those around him and consistently made the Ravens the most feared defense. Since 1999, in the 11 seasons in which Lewis has played at least 12 games, the Ravens' defense ranked in the top 10 every year, including eight times in the top three. Teams have signed Lewis' teammates to big contracts (Duane Starks, Ed Hartwell, Sam Adams, Bart Scott) in trying to build their defenses, but few have ever played as they did beside him.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I still don't get this. What added pressure? he's playing this Sunday! it's not like he's inactive and went "win this one for me fellas!"
he said what everyone kinda assumed, that he only has enough for one more run and he's gonna make it with them. not sure how that "distracts" them from wanting to win this week/ preparing extensively. if anything it adds to their motivation to prepare and play extremely well behind their 17 year captain.
If any of them are somehow peeing in a puddle because now they only have this year with Ray Lewis, then they aren't mentally tough enough to win anything anyway.
If you don't think this shifts the focus, even slightly, away from the game at hand, you're living in a dream land. And I’m not super upset about this. It’s not keeping me up at night. I just view it as somewhat of a “me over team” move.
Announce this when the season is over.
how am i living in a dreamland? lets look at this logically.
a) I am a professional football player, i am about to play in a playoff game. lets assume im a dedicated professional, and am preparing as such.
b) my team captain, who is 37 years old, announces to me this is his last year in the league.
c) my focus is now "I really want to win the Superbowl for Ray!" one assumes.
so, how exactly am I living in dreamland by saying it might even help their preparation again?
Why would it DISTRACT from their focus to win playoff games? Am I suddenly concerned for Ray's life outside football? what exactly is distracting me from wanting to go out and rip the colts heads off to send him out on top?
The media? what do I care if they ask me how I feel about ray retiring "well, I really want to win now."
Football is an emotional game. you really think, for example, that indy THIS YEAR was going to be 11-5 if they didn't have something to rally the team behind?
I mean, im not trying to be factitious, but explain to me how your team's emotional leader saying "this is my last year" makes me LESS likely to want to murder anyone in a colts uniform on Sunday. Just labeling something "a distraction" doesn't make it one.
-
The Ravens should be eating, sleeping and breathing the Colts right now, not answering questions and dealing with the added pressure of a Ray Lewis retirement.
I see your point. At the same time, if Tom Brady (or whoever your favorite player is) was going to make one last run, wouldn't you as a fan want to know it?
These guys are professionals. They should be able to deal with questions from the media. Heck, maybe Ray putting some of the attention onto him takes some pressure off the other guys?
I would want to know if the greatest quarterback to ever play the game, who happened to be on my team, was retiring. But I wouldn't have that expectation. I don’t see how Ray putting this out there helps lessen the pressure in anyway.
I don't think it increases pressure, and even if it did, and it makes them desperate to win this year because they feel like they have no "next year" with Lewis,Who's to say that doesn't light a fire under them?
Ray Lewis, on-field leader of the team for over a decade, retiring might be kind of an emotional motivator. Kind of like a guy using the recent death of a teammate to emotionally motivate his squad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gipp#.22Win_just_one_for_the_Gipper.22). Maybe a coach heroically kicking cancer in the balls (http://www.colts.com/media-center/videos/Coach-Pagano-Locker-Room-Speech-Dolphins/ab62385f-1e06-4136-b3d5-0cfde2a7a4fe) might make a team play a little harder?
Great, so when the Colts crush the Ravens this Sunday I'll be able to leap to the conclusion that it was because Lewis distracted the team? And if they win, the opposite will be true, right?
Snapshot analysis based on a game or two does not prove anything. My feelings toward the timing will not change either way.
You're not going to change your mind? You're sure? Even with the stakes so high, and so much empirical evidence supporting the argument? There's just nothing that anyone can do?
This is literally a worst-case scenario for me. ;)
In all seriousness, its a non-story about the 'emotional impact'. The better team will win, guys will get up for the playoffs, and they'll use whatever motivation they can get their hands on. Ray Lewis is walking away after the playoffs, so guys will say, "We gotta win this one for Ray". Coaches will say, "Don't let the future distract you from today", lots of footage will go to Pagano's cancer recovery and how it galvanized a team that looked like it was an afterthought, lots of footage will go to Ray Lewis's career.
-
LOL, IP. Yeah, pretty much.
-
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp)
multi-year contract for Lewis with ESPN.
-
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp)
multi-year contract for Lewis with ESPN.
Lewis can take over the "Jacked Up" segment, and maybe stab Stuart Scott with a knife if we're lucky.
-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SF837TIOh0
I live in Aus and even i know who ray lewis is. Sad day seeing that man retire. Nothing greater than witnessing player like him and KG who live and breath the game and show that much physical and mental passion. They bleed their lifestyle and wear their hearts on their sleeves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0ysMOV8TYU
I used to watch this before every one of my football games last year. Gets you jacked up
-
Goes down in my book as PED suspect #1, and a guy who's mouth was louder than 10 years worth of all the Patriot's combined, but has one third the rings, and one fifth the Super Bowl appearances of Tedy Bruschi. To his credit made far less commercials than Peyton Manning.
-
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130103/ray-lewis-espn/?sct=hp_t2_a2&eref=sihp)
multi-year contract for Lewis with ESPN.
Oh yes! I can't wait for Bruschi to go all Skip Bayless and make Lewis look like Stephen Smith as soon as they start.
-
(http://gifstumblr.com/images/haters-gonna-hate_917.gif)
yall some crybabies sometimes man, get ova da murder charge Ray has actually became more religious since then nd has done a lot for da city of Baltimore nd da community he's not a "murdering thug"
DId he become more religious after he had 6 kids with 4 women or before? He's just another absentee dad to me.
-
His introduction in the Colts game just now gave me goosebumps.
Really cool scene.
-
Did he dance a little and like pick up grass or something? Maybe pound his chest.
-
Wow
Nice hands Ray!
-
I have no idea if there was a positive impact on the team when he announced his retirement just before the playoffs (there clearly wasn't a negative impact), but Baltimore can send Ray Lewis out a winner the same way Denver did with Elway (who for my money is the greatest QB I saw contemporaneously just as Lewis is the greatest defensive player I saw contemporaneously).
-
I have no idea if there was a positive impact on the team when he announced his retirement just before the playoffs (there clearly wasn't a negative impact), but Baltimore can send Ray Lewis out a winner the same way Denver did with Elway (who for my money is the greatest QB I saw contemporaneously just as Lewis is the greatest defensive player I saw contemporaneously).
I'm hoping Lewis gets the ship before he exits the game. Hollywood ending.