Sweetwater Red
02-06-2009, 04:00 PM
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.ravens06feb06,0,5071796.story
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."
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."