Ray Lewis not taking hometown discount

[Rack]

The team needs a leader, and you can't put a price tag on leadership.



A lot of people hated the idea of us getting Charles Haley back in the day. That worked out well for us.



Throw money at him, I don't give a crap. It not my money anyway.



The team needs a leader, and he is the top dog in the NFL when it comes to leadership.

 

[ddh33]

My only fear with Ray Lewis is that Jerry might think Ray is his license to do anything and bring in anyone ; just let Ray police the locker room, and all of the issues will go away.

I wouldn't mind bringing in one of the greats, even if he is at the end of career. I could see the benefit of that. But he isn't a cure-all.

 

[NextGenBoys]

The team needs a leader, and you can't put a price tag on leadership.



A lot of people hated the idea of us getting Charles Haley back in the day. That worked out well for us.



Throw money at him, I don't give a crap. It not my money anyway.



The team needs a leader, and he is the top dog in the NFL when it comes to leadership.

He is a leader because he built that defense from the ground up and has been with the same team his entire career. Humans aren't robots, he's not going to come into Dallas and be the same Ray Lewis he is in Baltimore.

How did Favre do in leading the Jets. What about Zach Thomas for us? Reggie White with the Panthers? Jerry Rice in Oakland?

You dont take a hall of famer, and have him switch scenary late in his career and expect the same leadership and intensity he brought to the team that drafted him/played the majority of his career with.

 

[Manster54]

He is a leader because he built that defense from the ground up and has been with the same team his entire career. Humans aren't robots, he's not going to come into Dallas and be the same Ray Lewis he is in Baltimore.

How did Favre do in leading the Jets. What about Zach Thomas for us? Reggie White with the Panthers? Jerry Rice in Oakland?

You dont take a hall of famer, and have him switch scenary late in his career and expect the same leadership and intensity he brought to the team that drafted him/played the majority of his career with.

Nice examples. I think this could be feast or famine. Just don't think it is the right move for anyone. Ray should take the discount in Baltimore & retire the greatest Raven of all time. (arguably even considering Jonathan Ogden).

 

[jterrell]

I am not sold on this move in either direction.

I can see benefits galore.
1. Media loves the guy and fears him.
2. Teammates have immense respect for him.
3. He is in your face enough to take over this team from Bradie James day 1.
4. He would bring added play recognition similar to Zach Thomas but able to do it every down.
5. He is both physical and speedy.
6. If he threatens to kill guys they have no choice but believe he might.

And the negatives galore.
1. He is a very veteran guy whose best days are behind him.
2. He is not his best in 3-4 D's generally.
3. He is best with DT who hold up blockers.
4. He is another guy who loves to talk to the media.
5. He wants to get paid.
6. We have little cap space for this year.

 

[Future]

I wanted Ray badly two years ago, even last year...just don't see it now. The egos are too firmly entrenched on this team to allow anybody to come in and run the show. I don't think he would do anything but cause problems.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

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.

I agree..I've been saying this same thing. Burnett and Zach are pretty much gone..who does that leave? BARBIE! and no one to even back him up. The ILB position is going to be addressed one way or another. Ray will be here 2 years tops..give him a 2 year deal. He still is one of the best ILB in the game and has alot left to give. Draft a few ILB in this years draft..have them study under Ray and when he leaves the other guys will be ready and polished to step in. We wouldnt be in cap hell since his salary would be off the books in 2 years. Meanwhile during those few years we have a great MLB and a deadly LB core. Makes alot of sense to me. Lets get it done

 

[Rack]

I wanted Ray badly two years ago, even last year...just don't see it now. The egos are too firmly entrenched on this team to allow anybody to come in and run the show. I don't think he would do anything but cause problems.

So we should just maintain the status quo?


These "Problems" are exactly what is needed. Someone who isn't afraid to speak up to his teammates. Right now there is no one on the team willing to do it.


This team has the talent to win the superbowl, but the WON'T do it w/o leadership.


The window is closing, if paying an over-the-hill LB big money mainly for his leadership is what it takes to bring out the potential in the team then so be it.


Again, you can't put a price tag on leadership.

He is a leader because he built that defense from the ground up and has been with the same team his entire career. Humans aren't robots, he's not going to come into Dallas and be the same Ray Lewis he is in Baltimore.

Ray Lewis is respected around the entire NFL, not just baltimore.


What do you propose? The cowboys sit on their behinds and wish and pray for their dreams to come true? They need someone willing to tell it like it and and to toughen them up.


Doing NOTHING is the dumbest possible thing the cowboys can do.


Obviously I'm not expecting Ray to play 10 years. Obviously I'm not expecting the Ray of 2000. But the team NEEDS a leader, and he is the ULTIMATE leader in the NFL.


Anyone that can't see what he'd bring to the table probably never played team sports.

 

[CowboyWay]

He has no intention of leaving

I'm with this guy.

 

[jterrell]

How did Favre do in leading the Jets. What about Zach Thomas for us? Reggie White with the Panthers? Jerry Rice in Oakland?

You dont take a hall of famer, and have him switch scenary late in his career and expect the same leadership and intensity he brought to the team that drafted him/played the majority of his career with.

I am going to have to take umbrage with the examples you provided.

Jerry Rice was very solid as a player for the Raiders who was a good organization when Rice was there. The Raiders finished top 5 in scoring offense his first two seasons with them. He tailed off at 40 years old and so did the team who also lost Tim Brown. Rice was a Pro Bowler with the Raiders and that is when they actually won games and made the playoffs.

Reggie White went to Green Bay and became the face of their franchise and recorded over 10 sacks per season for them. He didn't show up in Green bay until he was 32. Lewis 33 right now. White wasn't much in Carolina but he had been out of football altogether the previous year.

Favre wasn't a good teammate in NY because he doesn't hang put with the players there. He doesn't communicate with them. But again he was 39 years old this year.

So I think the obvious truth is guys can be leaders if they can play at a level that demands respect. Jerry Rice taught T.O. how to work. T.O. may be a big doucher but he works hard by all accounts. That is leadership. Ray Lewis has never been accused of lacking an emphasis on game preparation.

I have a big list of cons for Ray Ray but I suspect it is quite probable he'd be in guys faces about not practicing hard enough to studying game film properly. He is as anal-retentive as Troy Aikman about preparation and we just might need that.

I really like Zach Thomas but he deferred quite quickly to Bradie James.

 

[jday]

I agree..I've been saying this same thing. Burnett and Zach are pretty much gone..who does that leave? BARBIE! and no one to even back him up. The ILB position is going to be addressed one way or another. Ray will be here 2 years tops..give him a 2 year deal. He still is one of the best ILB in the game and has alot left to give. Draft a few ILB in this years draft..have them study under Ray and when he leaves the other guys will be ready and polished to step in. We wouldnt be in cap hell since his salary would be off the books in 2 years. Meanwhile during those few years we have a great MLB and a deadly LB core. Makes alot of sense to me. Lets get it done

Link where Zach and Burnett are already gone, please? I hadn't even realized Free Agency had started. Do you know what teams they went to?

I'm feigning ignorance, for effect, by the way. It's kind of like a rhetorical question, saturated in sarcasm. Personally, I take Burnett over Lewis purely for the practicality behind the price of getting him and the years left in his tank. No question that Ray Lewis is an overall better linebacker, but he's a bandaid, and wouldn't be the leader he was in Baltimore for the Cowboys.

 

[jday]

So we should just maintain the status quo?


These "Problems" are exactly what is needed. Someone who isn't afraid to speak up to his teammates. Right now there is no one on the team willing to do it.


This team has the talent to win the superbowl, but the WON'T do it w/o leadership.


The window is closing, if paying an over-the-hill LB big money mainly for his leadership is what it takes to bring out the potential in the team then so be it.


Again, you can't put a price tag on leadership.






Ray Lewis is respected around the entire NFL, not just baltimore.


What do you propose? The cowboys sit on their behinds and wish and pray for their dreams to come true? They need someone willing to tell it like it and and to toughen them up.


Doing NOTHING is the dumbest possible thing the cowboys can do.


Obviously I'm not expecting Ray to play 10 years. Obviously I'm not expecting the Ray of 2000. But the team NEEDS a leader, and he is the ULTIMATE leader in the NFL.


Anyone that can't see what he'd bring to the table probably never played team sports.

You talk like the players on the Cowboy's team needs someone to teach them how to work out and play the game of football. The Cowboy's know how to play, they know how to work out, and they know how to prepare. If any one of these things were an issue, they wouldn't have even gone 9 and 7. You could possibly get away with saying that of the Lions, but seriously, the Cowboys have plenty of players already who know how to work out.

I'll agree that the Cowboy's need a leader. But I think they already have leaders. Just because we don't see them berating other players, doesn't mean there aren't players who have already adopted that role.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Link where Zach and Burnett are already gone, please? I hadn't even realized Free Agency had started. Do you know what teams they went to?

I'm feigning ignorance, for effect, by the way. It's kind of like a rhetorical question, saturated in sarcasm. Personally, I take Burnett over Lewis purely for the practicality behind the price of getting him and the years left in his tank. No question that Ray Lewis is an overall better linebacker, but he's a bandaid, and wouldn't be the leader he was in Baltimore for the Cowboys.

If you want an injury prone-nontackling starting ILB then be my guest..don't come complaining when Burnett just gets lit up every other play then goes down with an injury. With the contract he's going to want, you might as well pay Ray and draft another MLB.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

You talk like the players on the Cowboy's team needs someone to teach them how to work out and play the game of football. The Cowboy's know how to play, they know how to work out, and they know how to prepare. If any one of these things were an issue, they wouldn't have even gone 9 and 7. You could possibly get away with saying that of the Lions, but seriously, the Cowboys have plenty of players already who know how to work out.

I'll agree that the Cowboy's need a leader. But I think they already have leaders. Just because we don't see them berating other players, doesn't mean there aren't players who have already adopted that role.

Your already annoying, and I've just seen you post 2 times....

 

[MWILL]

If Lewis comes to Dallas, I believe he'll make an impact with Defense especially with the other LB's.


BTW, when does FA period begin? It's too early for me to look at Mock Drafts.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I keep hearing the whole "he can't be a leader here because he'd be new to the team" deal. That might be true for SOME players, but this is Ray Lewis we're talking about here. If you don't think he would instantly walk in the room and have everyone's attention the moment he signed here, you're smoking something.

 

[Rampage]

Link where Zach and Burnett are already gone, please? I hadn't even realized Free Agency had started. Do you know what teams they went to?

I'm feigning ignorance, for effect, by the way. It's kind of like a rhetorical question, saturated in sarcasm. Personally, I take Burnett over Lewis purely for the practicality behind the price of getting him and the years left in his tank. No question that Ray Lewis is an overall better linebacker, but he's a bandaid, and wouldn't be the leader he was in Baltimore for the Cowboys.

Zach Thomas was barely better than Akin. in fact I'm pretty sure Akin had a better year with Miami than Zach had with Dallas. Kevin Burnett has been a constant on the injury report the last 2 seasons as a nickel linebacker. now I think KB would be a very solid linebacker but their's no way he makes it through a full season as a starter. How do you know he wouldn't provide the same leadership he provided in Baltimore?

 

[Future]

So we should just maintain the status quo?


These "Problems" are exactly what is needed. Someone who isn't afraid to speak up to his teammates. Right now there is no one on the team willing to do it.

This team is too fragile to add any more problems. Ray will challenge guys, and they will fold. If this team was rebuilding I'd like him here, but the guys on this team are already established. Unless a bunch of guys are gone, his impact would be nothing but problematic imo.

 

[jterrell]

Link where Zach and Burnett are already gone, please? I hadn't even realized Free Agency had started. Do you know what teams they went to?

I'm feigning ignorance, for effect, by the way. It's kind of like a rhetorical question, saturated in sarcasm. Personally, I take Burnett over Lewis purely for the practicality behind the price of getting him and the years left in his tank. No question that Ray Lewis is an overall better linebacker, but he's a bandaid, and wouldn't be the leader he was in Baltimore for the Cowboys.

They are just as much Cowboys as ... Ray Lewis. All three are free agents who can sign with anyone and won't be playing for anyone without a signed contract.

They are not currently on the Dallas Cowboys roster for 2009.

 

[jday]

Your already annoying, and I've just seen you post 2 times....

That has got to be a new record for me. Thanks. Of course, before I get a big head, I'll consider the source.