Chances of Ray returning
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and head coach John Harbaugh met with reporters for nearly 50 minutes this afternoon, answering questions on every possible aspect of the 2008 season and their plans for '09.
One of the main topics of discussion was linebacker Ray Lewis, a 13-year vet and 10-time Pro Bowler who is a free agent this offseason.
Lewis has played his entire career in Baltimore to this point, but there has been talk about other teams being interested in luring him away from Charm City with a large contract.
There also has been talk about the Ravens slapping the franchise tag on Lewis if the two sides can't agree to a multi-year deal, but Bisciotti said today that isn't an option.
"I don't see the franchise tag. I've been hopeful forever that we're going to work a deal," Bisciotti said. "I don't think that other people are going to value Ray Lewis higher than we do. We know what he brings to the table, and he's showing that at 33 he's capable of playing like a 28-year-old. So, I've got my wife on a budget already to try and save some money so we can sign him."
"I hope I'm just having a dinner with Ray to celebrate a new contract."
Bisciotti said that his friendship with Lewis won't play a role in the negotiations and the intricacies of the talks will be left to GM Ozzie Newsome. Bisciotti also noted that he expects Newsome to be proactive with Lewis in trying to work out a deal before the linebacker hits the open market on March 1.
He said that if the two sides aren't too far apart in their talks, a deal should get done.
At the same time, Bisciotti and Newsome won't go and break the bank to meet any number Lewis tosses their way.
"If he wants to go out there and maximize his money, and somebody is desperate for that kind of leadership, then there may be a big gap, and I'm not going to say to Oz, 'Go do it under any circumstance,'" Bisciotti said. "That wouldn't be fair to Ozzie. He's got a plan, and it's all pieces of the puzzle, and I could make one demand, and it would domino across the entire roster. And I can't do that to him."
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Categories (click for archive)Dan Kolko | Ravens News |
I hope I don't get killed here for being pessimistic, but I am of the opinion Ray Ray will not be back. He has already turned down several contract offers, and Ray is notorious for saying the NFL is "a business." As much as I love him as a player, he is somewhat all about himself when it comes to the business side of the game and will almost certainly not want to accept a hometown dicount seeing as how this will be his final NFL contract. I say keep Suggs and Scott in lieu of overpaying Lewis. Like I said before, Scott is still relatively young and Suggs has not even peaked as a player yet.
Dan,
Eveybody knows that Ray is the face of the Ravens. It's just like Cal Ripken with the Orioles. You just don't let the guy get away. 'Dem O's did the right thing by keeping Cal in the corral. Ray knows it is his his destiny to complete his football playing days in Baltimore. And at the end of those days, there will be a statue in Canton reflecting his wonderful carreer with the Ravens.
Steve J.
(The only Raven Fan in Ohio)
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Steve,
Bisciotti made the same comparison to Cal. I think he views it as the same exact situation -- the guy is a legend and a hero in Baltimore. He wants to make sure he stays here, but as he said, the Ravens will only go so far to make that happen.
-Dan
I know that Ray is a major part of the Ravens Kingdom and would not want to see him leave . Realisticaly the Ravens are still a season or two away from becoming the complete team we all have been hoping for, and if Ray's salary would hamper the siging of players needed to complete the process he should be allowed to go,I know it hurts but what kind of player will he be at 35 possibly at the expense of the young Rays of the future.
Dan,
I agree in part with each of the three comments from Josh, Steve, and Pete. I'm mostly with Josh and Pete. They make excellent points, so I won't repeat them. It's easy to see that trying to force the issue with Ray Lewis may actually hurt us in the long run, and trying to sign him no matter what may in some cases, be just that--forcing the issue. However, Steve's point is great also. Ray has become an icon, synonymous with Baltimore the same way Cal Ripken and Johnny Unitas have, and to see him anywhere else would just be depressing. He'll make the HOF, and we'll retire his number with no question. But to finish his beyond outstanding career right where it began is how it should be.
Steve's point about Ray saying the NFL is "a business" was most evident to me prior to the 2006 season, before we signed McNair. Ray talked about leaving back then, saying something to the effect of: "If they won't let me do it (I believe it was playing in the 3-4 instead of the 4-3) here, just let me go." I could be wrong about the exact quote, but it was during one of his on field interviews. Please correct me if I'm wrong. He didn't care back then for playing in the 3-4 defense. I've been concerned ever since then with Ray doing just what Steve said, and I would not be surprised (sad, yes) if he did just that.
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Robert (as well as Josh and Pete),
It's interesting that you guys seem to be willing to let Ray go. Not sure I saw that coming, but I understand your thinking. One thing to remember -- Ray's impact isn't just felt on the field. He is the emotional leader of not just the defense but the team as a whole, and it would be a big loss in the locker room if he goes elsewhere. It will be intriguing to see how far Ozzie Newsome will go to bring him back.
-Dan
Dan:
I am not willing to just "let Ray go." What I am saying is the reality is there are times when team icons do not finish their careers with the franchises with which they started. Again, Ray has turned down several contract offers from us, and is notorious for making money a large priority of his football life. As much as I love him as a player and for all the wonderful leadership and enthusiam he brings to the team on and off the field, the Ravens CANNOT afford to overpay for a linebacker approaching his mid-30s when we have other younger and key components to our future to take care of, i.e. Suggs and Jason Brown. If Ray does in fact want to finish his career in Baltimore, he should be willing to accept a hometown discount to ensure future success of the team with which he will still be an integral part...and I don't think he would.
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Josh,
Understood. All I was saying was that I expected a majority of Ravens fans to have the "let's keep Ray at all costs" mentality. I agree that it's wise for Ozzie to set a limit for how far he is willing to go. As Bisciotti said, the less the Ravens spend on Ray, the more Jim Leonhards they can go get.
-Dan
Dan,
No, no, it's not like that at all. I totally agree that his impact is felt on the field and in the locker room. Heck, my wife wants me to start taping his pre-game routines with the team so we can watch them before each game. And YES, it would be a big, BIG loss.
It's not so much that we're WILLING to let Ray go, it's just the question of, at what point does signing Ray become more of a hinderance on the team than a benefit? I know this is different than getting rid of someone simply because he's getting old. At least Baltimore's loyalty isn't that non-existent to where everyone is saying that. I think (and maybe Josh and Pete are with me here) that we would do whatever we could to keep him here, but there would have to be a limit. And that limit would be, as you said, if his demands become out of reach to where it would hurt us in other areas. Almost outrageous, if you will. Not simply a big contract, but if it gets ridiculous. We all agree that Ray influence and his playing, even at his age, is well worth what he's getting paid.
But is there a limit? What happens if Ozzie and his staff work out giving him the max that we can give, and he and his agent determine that he wants more? Do you try to give him more, or does that become enough to where won't do have a choice but to go in another direction?
I say keep him. Keep him all day. If the demands aren't ridiculous, keep him. But that's me the football fan talking. I hope Ozzie never has to make the decision not to re-sign him. If Ray has a strong enough desire to finish his career here, I don't think the demands will get ridiculous at all. And I do believe he wants to stay here.
Id be more worried about trading uup to get Crabtree. That is the difference between a Superbowl appearance and a long winter.
Ray Ray has to think about one thing before he jumps ship to another team. Who are the only fans in the NFL who have backed up Ray with his off field problems. As my name suggests I live in Kentucky. I have and will always back him up any time someone says something bad about Ray. I've studied the trial, so I know how to defend a man I know in my heart to be innocent. Baltimore is the only place he can go that hasn't booed him or called him a criminal or murderer. Any other place will only love the player and not the whole entire man.