Ray Lewis to Retire After Season, heading to ESPN

[ThomasTomasz]

Good, now maybe I can actually like the Ravens instead of despising them. I get the guy is judged by his on-field accomplishments, which are really second to none, but I can't stand the celebration for him after the whole Atlanta incident.

We've rehashed that point here a few months ago, I've done it on other forums, so I have no real interest in debating it further. Great player, but left a lot to be desired from that one event, and I lost my respect for him, as did some others.

 

[dave]

The best there is.
The best there was.
The best there ever will be.

I am not knocking Ray Lewis for a second, but Lawrence Taylor is the greatest linebacker to ever play the game.

 

[Houston]

One of the best who ever did it, loved watching him play. My favorite memory of his on the field is the INT return against the Titans in the playoffs way back when. I think he trucked Eddie George but I can't recall for sure.

 

[NAHSTE]

I am not knocking Ray Lewis for a second, but Lawrence Taylor is the greatest linebacker to ever play the game.

 

[dave]

Again, not knocking 52. And absolutely respect him.

But if I had to pick on LB for one game with everything on the line, I go 56.

If I have a 14-year-old daughter and I need a babysitter, I got 52.

Lewis gets the nod by some because of his longevity - and the respect is well deserved - but Lawrence Taylor was the greater LB in my opinion.

 

[MVPete]

:whoner:

 

[RosettaStoned]

Again, not knocking 52. And absolutely respect him.

But if I had to pick on LB for one game with everything on the line, I go 56.

If I have a 14-year-old daughter and I need a babysitter, I got 52.

Lewis gets the nod by some because of his longevity - and the respect is well deserved - but Lawrence Taylor was the greater LB in my opinion.

They were different players, playing different positions, in different schemes.

 

[Senser81]

I never liked Ray Lewis, but I respected him as a player. Aside from all the GOAT talk, I think its amazing that Ray Lewis has played MLB at such a high level for 17 seasons. I thought his career was on the downside after 2005, but he continued to play well until this year.

 

[ram29jackson]

great player, annoying sound bite

bla bla as a man

bla bla bla for a man

bla bla bla like a man

bla bla bla when you're a man

 

[FedEx227]

Again, not knocking 52. And absolutely respect him.

But if I had to pick on LB for one game with everything on the line, I go 56.

If I have a 14-year-old daughter and I need a babysitter, I got 52.

Lewis gets the nod by some because of his longevity - and the respect is well deserved - but Lawrence Taylor was the greater LB in my opinion.

You can probably find a better babysitter than someone who was very clearly apart of a murder.

 

[ralaw]

You can probably find a better babysitter than someone who was very clearly apart of a murder.

You do realize that Ray Lewis is God's linebacker, right?

 

[bucky]

You do realize that Ray Lewis is God's linebacker, right?

Well, there's another reason to NOT believe in GOD.

And, sorry ralaw. I know you're a religious person, but I just couldn't resist.

 

[SuperKevin]

He's clearly doing this so he can step his Madden game up.

 

[SethMode]

You can probably find a better babysitter than someone who was very clearly apart of a murder.

Weirdly enough, Ray Lewis would still be a better babysitter for Dave's kid than Dave himself.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Ray Lewis told his teammates this week that he's on his “final ride” and will retire after the season, and on Thursday, Sports Illustrated's Richard Deitsch reported that the Ravens linebacker has his next job already lined up.

According to Deitsch, Lewis is close to signing a multiyear contract with ESPN that would showcase Lewis on the network's Monday Night Football programming and other media outlets.

No formal announcement is expected from the network until after the Ravens season is over -- which could be as early as this week when they play the Colts in the playoffs (however, only two of the nine CBSSports.com experts believe Indianapolis will travel to Baltimore and win).

Reportedly, Lewis, who suffered a torn triceps in Week 6 and returns to action this weekend, and his agents met with several networks this season to gauge interest in Lewis' possible TV career. What Lewis reportedly wanted most was flexibility so he could attend University of Miami football games and watch his son play.

"Ray Lewis has an intensity about him and a way of communicating that is very infectious," CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said. "He is a bigger-than-life personality, very articulate and [has] an incredible passion for the game. If Ray Lewis decided to take that same passion and put it into a broadcasting career, I think he would be a terrific studio analyst or I imagine game analyst, too.”

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/e...y-lewis-set-to-sign-multi-year-deal-with-espn

 

[ralaw]

Well, there's another reason to NOT believe in GOD.

And, sorry ralaw. I know you're a religious person, but I just couldn't resist.

My views on religion have changed a bit over the years.

 

[RosettaStoned]

My views on religion have changed a bit over the years.

You been hanging out with me too much. You'll be a Steelers fan in a couple of years.

 

[ralaw]

You been hanging out with me too much. You'll be a Steelers fan in a couple of years.

Never!! As a kid I had the opportunity to claim them as almost all of my family members are Steelers fans (family is from Pittsburgh). I just can't do it. I do like Big Ben and Tomlin is just the coolest dude in football.

 

[RosettaStoned]

Tomlin is just the coolest dude in football.

Racial bias. Clearly John Clayton is the coolest dude in football.

 

[jms493]

well I applaud him on changing his image from thug and murderer to face of Madden Football and The NFL.

He was a tackling machine with a big mouth.