Ray Lewis not taking hometown discount

[MWILL]

Ray Lewis: No hometown discount

Linebacker not ruling out Baltimore, but eyeing Cowboys, Jets

By Jamison Hensley | jamison.hensley@baltsun.com February 6, 2009 Ray Lewis told the NFL Network on Wednesday that he wouldn't give the Ravens a hometown discount in free agency and considered the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets as attractive options.

A 10-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Lewis would become an unrestricted free agent in three weeks if the Ravens don't sign him to a new contract or use the franchise tag on him.

At the end of the season, owner Steve Bisciotti and linebacker Terrell Suggs brought up the possibility that Lewis might take less money to stay.

But Lewis said there would be no discounts.



"I don't play less," Lewis told the NFL Network in Hawaii, where he will play in the Pro Bowl. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life."

Only a week ago at the Super Bowl, Lewis told The Baltimore Sun that his thoughts heading into free agency were "nobody else's business" and his decision was "between me and God."

Lewis, though, was more candid this week, acknowledging that he would be open to joining the Cowboys and Jets if he didn't re-sign with the Ravens.

When Lewis was asked about the Cowboys' dysfunctional locker room, Lewis explained that the team needed "one general," and it needs to be a player and not a coach.

"I don't see all of that outside stuff that they're talking about what goes on in Dallas," Lewis said. "I see Dallas as a great opportunity. It's always been America's Team. It's just a great place to play football."

Lewis surprisingly said he wouldn't have a problem playing with Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens.

In 2004 Owens spurned a trade to the Ravens, which caused a feud between him and Lewis. Not only did Owens later mock Lewis' pre-game dance after scoring a touchdown, he also then brought up the murder charge brought against the middle linebacker in 2000 to show he wasn't "the bad guy."

But it seems Lewis has forgiven or forgotten.

"I can definitely play with T.O," Lewis said. "I think T.O. is a great, great person. I just love him. I love his work ethic. I love everything about him. So, playing with T.O. is easy."

Another team that would draw Lewis' interest is the Jets.

Lewis said it's a match because of his relationship with Rex Ryan, his former defensive coordinator who recently became head coach of the Jets.

"That opportunity by itself looks attractive," Lewis said. "That just sounds right. It's like, 'Wow, if something does happen where you're not back in Baltimore, the Jets wouldn't be bad.'"

Lewis said he hasn't talked to Ryan about this because he can't. Under NFL rules, teams can't speak to players under contract with other teams.

Because Lewis' deal doesn't officially expire until the end of the month, conversations with other teams would be tampering.

Lewis said he liked "the upside" with the Jets.

"You go take a young Jets team that has a lot of talent across the board," Lewis said. "You wiggle 52 into that equation, then that team goes from just being OK to 'let's go win this.' That scenario is attractive."

But Lewis never said he has ruled out coming back to the Ravens.

He continued to call Baltimore "my city" and seemed disappointed that the Ravens didn't address his contract situation earlier.

Before this year, the Ravens had never allowed Lewis to enter the final year of a contract. It would mark the first time in Lewis' 13-year career that he would reach free agency.

"The uncomfortable thing about me is that I'm even having this conversation," Lewis said. "With everything I've given to that city, I've always felt that this is one conversation that I would never have and didn't want to have. That scenario in Baltimore … that's nothing I don't love about my city."

 

[Verdict]

The Ravens are in a win-win situation here. If they resign Ray, then it will be a contract that they can live with, if not they would likely receive a compensatory pick for Ray which would likely be as high as a third round pick. I think Ray could play at a very high level, for a year or maybe two, but lets face it, his days are numbered. He is not likely to play out any new contract at a pro bowl level for the duration of the contract.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Sign him up and watch this D create havoc....

Hopefully Henry moves to FS or Roy drops 25 pounds.

 

[GimmeTheBall!]

Lewis, you felon schmuck, you can play with T.O.?

What are you, a WR or QB?

 

[NextGenBoys]

Sign him up and watch this D create havoc....

Hopefully Henry moves to FS or Roy drops 25 pounds.

Have you not learned anything from this past season?

If we sign him, we haven't learned anything.

You dont by championships. Period. He's a leader in Baltimore because he built that defense from the ground up. He said he's not taking a paycut in Baltimore. That means he wants to get paid. That means he would be coming here to get a paycheck.

I want Ray Lewis nowhere near Dallas...and it is not because of his talent. It's because of what has transpired this past year, and what it represents if we sign him.

 

[yentl911]

Maybe he is the missing piece of the puzzle. We need someone to come in and get this team motivated and concentrating on football.

I just don't know anymore.

This team needs a swift kick in the *** and maybe Ray can do that.

 

[RainMan]

For weeks I've poo-pooed this thought. Sure, he's a leader, but I'm not sure the other 10 players playing alongside him will *accept* him as a leader. This is a petty group. I can see the James' and Ellis' saying, "Wait a second. I'm this team's leader!!" while James trots to the media and complains about Lewis' ego, and Ellis talks of some out-of-this-world fear/theory that Lewis' addition will only mean his days are numbered.

But, the one positive I can think of bringing him in is this: If we're ever going to win a Super B...err, playoff game...again, it's going to be because our players are simply worlds better than our opponents. We're not going to win because of a brilliant coaching staff, a brought-together team that plays better together than any other, etc. We simply have to have better players across the board and *hope* that's enough to beat franchises who are doing things the right way.

With that in mind, Lewis would certainly add another talented player to the collection.

 

[theogt]

I just don't want any part of the contract he's looking for. I honestly think he wants to be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL.

 

[theebs]

I just hate the idea that our organization would entertain this idea.

He isnt going to provide anything to this team.

I can see him now, next year at this time being one of the guys pointing fingers at why the team played poorly and then doing interviews with people from baltimore saying how he wish he stayed or whatever.

Let him go somewhere else. Find young players.

Not only do we not need old players from other teams, but we need to get rid of some of the old players on this team.

 

[khiladi]

Have you not learned anything from this past season?

If we sign him, we haven't learned anything.

You dont by championships. Period. He's a leader in Baltimore because he built that defense from the ground up. He said he's not taking a paycut in Baltimore. That means he wants to get paid. That means he would be coming here to get a paycheck.


I want Ray Lewis nowhere near Dallas...and it is not because of his talent. It's because of what has transpired this past year, and what it represents if we sign him.

Again, they aren't mutually exclusive. Wanting to get paid does not mean he won't play hard and be a field general. Ware also wants to get paid. When he does, it doesn't mean he won't play hard.

 

[Idgit]

Maybe he is the missing piece of the puzzle. We need someone to come in and get this team motivated and concentrating on football.

I just don't know anymore.

This team needs a swift kick in the *** and maybe Ray can do that.

It's so hard to tell. Could it just be that easy--adding one player who's more valuable in terms of leadership than he is on the field? Or would he throw more weight behind TO's side of the equation and make things worse?

Anyway, I'd forgotten about TO's Ray Lewis dance. That's one of the funniest damn things I'd seen on a football field. Just awesome. And I'm not pro-TO.

 

[RainMan]

I just hate the idea that our organization would entertain this idea.

He isnt going to provide anything to this team.

I can see him now, next year at this time being one of the guys pointing fingers at why the team played poorly and then doing interviews with people from baltimore saying how he wish he stayed or whatever.

Let him go somewhere else. Find young players.

Not only do we not need old players from other teams, but we need to get rid of some of the old players on this team.

I don't know that I agree with your last comment. I've never really thought of age as a problem with this team. I'm not saying this as a go-ahead to sign Ray Lewis, but we have a lot young-ish players across the board who have never won in this league. I don't think it's a problem to have an older guy strategically placed here or there.

I mean, outside of Owens, Ellis and maybe a Flozell or Anthony Henry, are we really that old anywhere? And I don't know that any of those guys would need to go because of age alone.

 

[jday]

Ray Lewis: No hometown discount

Linebacker not ruling out Baltimore, but eyeing Cowboys, Jets

By Jamison Hensley | jamison.hensley@baltsun.com February 6, 2009 Ray Lewis told the NFL Network on Wednesday that he wouldn't give the Ravens a hometown discount in free agency and considered the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets as attractive options.

A 10-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, Lewis would become an unrestricted free agent in three weeks if the Ravens don't sign him to a new contract or use the franchise tag on him.

At the end of the season, owner Steve Bisciotti and linebacker Terrell Suggs brought up the possibility that Lewis might take less money to stay.

But Lewis said there would be no discounts.



"I don't play less," Lewis told the NFL Network in Hawaii, where he will play in the Pro Bowl. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life."

Only a week ago at the Super Bowl, Lewis told The Baltimore Sun that his thoughts heading into free agency were "nobody else's business" and his decision was "between me and God."

Lewis, though, was more candid this week, acknowledging that he would be open to joining the Cowboys and Jets if he didn't re-sign with the Ravens.

When Lewis was asked about the Cowboys' dysfunctional locker room, Lewis explained that the team needed "one general," and it needs to be a player and not a coach.

"I don't see all of that outside stuff that they're talking about what goes on in Dallas," Lewis said. "I see Dallas as a great opportunity. It's always been America's Team. It's just a great place to play football."

Lewis surprisingly said he wouldn't have a problem playing with Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens.

In 2004 Owens spurned a trade to the Ravens, which caused a feud between him and Lewis. Not only did Owens later mock Lewis' pre-game dance after scoring a touchdown, he also then brought up the murder charge brought against the middle linebacker in 2000 to show he wasn't "the bad guy."

But it seems Lewis has forgiven or forgotten.

"I can definitely play with T.O," Lewis said. "I think T.O. is a great, great person. I just love him. I love his work ethic. I love everything about him. So, playing with T.O. is easy."

Another team that would draw Lewis' interest is the Jets.

Lewis said it's a match because of his relationship with Rex Ryan, his former defensive coordinator who recently became head coach of the Jets.

"That opportunity by itself looks attractive," Lewis said. "That just sounds right. It's like, 'Wow, if something does happen where you're not back in Baltimore, the Jets wouldn't be bad.'"

Lewis said he hasn't talked to Ryan about this because he can't. Under NFL rules, teams can't speak to players under contract with other teams.

Because Lewis' deal doesn't officially expire until the end of the month, conversations with other teams would be tampering.

Lewis said he liked "the upside" with the Jets.

"You go take a young Jets team that has a lot of talent across the board," Lewis said. "You wiggle 52 into that equation, then that team goes from just being OK to 'let's go win this.' That scenario is attractive."

But Lewis never said he has ruled out coming back to the Ravens.

He continued to call Baltimore "my city" and seemed disappointed that the Ravens didn't address his contract situation earlier.

Before this year, the Ravens had never allowed Lewis to enter the final year of a contract. It would mark the first time in Lewis' 13-year career that he would reach free agency.

"The uncomfortable thing about me is that I'm even having this conversation," Lewis said. "With everything I've given to that city, I've always felt that this is one conversation that I would never have and didn't want to have. That scenario in Baltimore … that's nothing I don't love about my city."

Read between the lines people! All he is doing is making it known that he wants to get paid, loyalty be damned. He doesn't want the ownership of Baltimore thinking that they can get him cheap because of his love for the team. So he throw's out a few teams that would be more than willing to pay for his talent, as a scare tactic. I honestly don't think, with us trying to sow down ware and a few other positions, that the Cowboys cap can afford this acquisition. And, like I have said over and over again, despite what Lewis said, he would not command the respect as a new player on this team, to be the general. He might try; but it likely wouldn't work.

 

[mmurray21]

He has no intention of leaving

 

[theebs]

I don't know that I agree with your last comment. I've never really thought of age as a problem with this team. I'm not saying this as a go-ahead to sign Ray Lewis, but we have a lot young-ish players across the board who have never won in this league. I don't think it's a problem to have an older guy strategically placed here or there.

I mean, outside of Owens, Ellis and maybe a Flozell or Anthony Henry, are we really that old anywhere? And I don't know that any of those guys would need to go because of age alone.

No we are not an old team at all.

But we have money tied up in old players and under performing players. That is a no-no.

Adding one more with a monster contract and a fading game and you have more problems.

I would hate to think a giant ray lewis contract would cost us players later on.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

I just hate the idea that our organization would entertain this idea.

He isnt going to provide anything to this team.

I can see him now, next year at this time being one of the guys pointing fingers at why the team played poorly and then doing interviews with people from baltimore saying how he wish he stayed or whatever.

Let him go somewhere else. Find young players.

Not only do we not need old players from other teams, but we need to get rid of some of the old players on this team.

We can find 'young players' and have them learn from one of the best about work ethic.

Signing a guy doesnt impact the rookie pool. And by the time that rookie is going to make an impact it might be when Ray's contract is up. He maybe has 2 stud years left.

Unless you are picking a LB'er in the first or steal one in the second. Its unrealistic to think a young guy can come in a make an immediate impact.

Especially with studs like Bobby waiting for a chance.

 

[CPonder14]

Just a few weeks ago he was saying shut this ***** down(Texas Stadium), and how Garrett is predictable.

Now he wants to be on that team? I guess he is all about money?

 

[Rampage]

just a reminder guys other than Baltimore the only other teams he was asked about were the jets and Cowboys.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

As I've said before, and will say till it's over, if they can find a good way to fit him in here, financially, without having to give up an arm and a leg to have him I'd be thrilled to have Ray Lewis playing ILB for us for the next couple of seasons.

 

[Manster54]

I saw Ray Ray his entire career here in Baltimore. He unlike many players on the Boys D, is a consumate professional. Well prepared and full of heart & passion. He still has speed and can deliver a serious blow. He probably has a 2 good years left barring injury. Guys like Jamie Sharper and Bart Scott, Adalius Thomas are good players, but benefitted from playing with Ray Ray. You need a big tough nosetackle to occupy blockers and free Ray up for him to make an impact. I don't see that in Ratliff as much as I like him. Raay would not be that much of an upgrade over Zach Thomas in my opinion and he would cost a whole lot more. Financially, it would not be a good fit in Dallas. I would be excited to see him wear the star but I think Jerra should pass.