Get Rid of, or Trade Ray Lewis

**SHORTTRACK** · 09-24-2008, 01:23 PM

Ray is a fine upstanding citizen, contributor to the community and a great role model for kids, very much like Cal Ripken. He is certainly not a selfish, egomaniac, at times a malcontent, as some suggest.

**WxKevin** · 09-24-2008, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by RavensNTerps

He's playing great this year in a contract year. He's also been around for 12 years now...he's certainly not done, but he doesn't have 5 more years left, either.

Your opinion only, not fact. The true facts are that he is probably in the best shape of any Raven. Many LBs have played in the upper 30s who were not nearly in as good shape as Ray is and has been. Who says he doesn't have 5 more years? Obviously there would be some sort of downfall in his abilities over 5 years but even with that he could probably still be better than half the LBs in the league.

Originally Posted by RavensNTerps

He's going to want a ton of money. Also, regardless of his public image, he really is an asshole. Yeah, he does charity work...all players do, they have agents/managers who find the work for them and tell them where to go.

You know Ray personally? Can you introduce me to him?

Originally Posted by RavensNTerps

Ray's playing great this year...he's what..34? Will he be worth being the highest paid defensive player in the NFL at age 35? I'm not so sure that that is the case...i'd rather let him sign elsewhere and make a play for Boldin with the freed up money.

He is 33, born May 1975. In sports you generally get paid for what you have done, not what you are going to do. What he has done is made the Ravens what they are today. This team is a reflection of him. He also played from 1998-2003 at a level that 2-3 LBs have EVER played. There is absolutely no doubt that he is one of the top 5 LBs of all time.

**RavensNTerps** · 09-24-2008, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by WxKevin

Your opinion only, not fact. The true facts are that he is probably in the best shape of any Raven. Many LBs have played in the upper 30s who were not nearly in as good shape as Ray is and has been. Who says he doesn't have 5 more years? Obviously there would be some sort of downfall in his abilities over 5 years but even with that he could probably still be better than half the LBs in the league.

You know Ray personally? Can you introduce me to him?

He is 33, born May 1975. In sports you generally get paid for what you have done, not what you are going to do. What he has done is made the Ravens what they are today. This team is a reflection of him. He also played from 1998-2003 at a level that 2-3 LBs have EVER played. There is absolutely no doubt that he is one of the top 5 LBs of all time.

Of course it is opinion. I don't "know" Ray, but I've been involved w/ the team internally and externally before and I've seen how he operates. He's a master at knowing when a camera is on him.

In sports you get paid for what you've done, but that's not always smart for the team dishing out the money...no doubt he's playing at a high level now, but is it worth the risk? We've had players step up admirably in his abscense before (hartwell, scott)...the defense may not be #1 without him, but I have no doubts it'd be top 10-12, and if we used the money we saved on him on the offense we might just be something. Yeah, it's my opinion.

**RAVENOUS52** · 09-24-2008, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by SHORTTRACK

Ray is a fine upstanding citizen, contributor to the community and a great role model for kids, very much like Cal Ripken. He is certainly not a selfish, egomaniac, at times a malcontent, as some suggest.

Thank God I don't live anywhere near you.

You'd probably judge me by my clothing, jewelry, or even more ridiculously, something you've read in a Mike Preston column...:insane:

**SHORTTRACK** · 09-24-2008, 02:53 PM

Funny stuff. 52 tells people that they should not make assumptions about people they do not know, then makes assumptions about people he doesn't know.