Ray Lewis & Ravens Agree to Terms
by Rexx on Mar 4, 2009 5:59 PM EST
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PrintFinally! What a relief to get this done. Terms are not yet known but the Baltimore Ravens and Ray Lewis have agreed to terms that should keep Lewis in purple and black for the remainder of his career. This is quite a relief after the Ravens lost Bart Scott to the Jets last week.
In other news, as reported in a FanPost here, The Ravens also agreed to terms with former Minnesota Vikings' All Pro veteran center Matt Birk on a two year, $9 million contract, with $6 million guaranteed.
More to follow in the next couple of days but the bottom line is that the Ravens lost Bart Scott and Jason Brown to free agency while keeping Ray Lewis and signing Domonique Foxworth and Matt Birk. I'll take that tradeoff any day, knowing our ability to fill LB openings next to Ray, much less acquring an All-Pro center who'll anchor our young o-line for the next two years while we groom another to take his place down the road.
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My bad
With such a well known star player, Ishould know how to spell his name right by now, huh?
Rexx
Seriously!
I heard that the Redskins were calling him today! They offered him a 15 year contract worth 300 million. Good thing we got him locked up first!
Mark my words.
Ray will be playing with a chip on his should after this off-season. He took the lack of interest personally. Look out, opposing running-backs! There will be at least three more broken collar-bones next season.
YES!
I love all the people out there who were 100% certain Ray was leaving. Some experts……
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Yea
I for one thought that there would be more interest in acquiring Ray but evidently there wasn’t. Maybe there’s a reason…..
by tannofsteel84 on Mar 5, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions
Broken collar bones are worthless
…….unless you chalk up a “W”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Hey raven, your type of comment from Ray right here in an interview today.
"From beginning to end as a Raven… Wow! To be with the same team with the same fans for an entire career, that doesn’t happen in the NFL," Lewis said. "The bottom line for me is that God always finishes first, and I prayed over this. Over the last six days, I took a backseat and waited to see what would happen. This is part of God’s plan, and I couldn’t be happier. For me to be here in an area that has become so important to me and my family, that’s special, very special.
"I don’t think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career. I feel so fortunate that the Ravens did what they had to do to make this happen. Thank you. My heart is with the Ravens. My heart is with Baltimore and the great fans. What can I say? Here we go!"
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
What a feel-good day!
I’m SOOO happy to have Ray Lewis back for sure. He’s the best leader in the NFL and still plays better than 90% of starting middle linebackers out there. Great move. Not to mention… I’m sure that we got him cheap after the fuss he put up.
I also like Birk. He fit’s the “new-Raven” mold. He’s a tough, smart character guy. He will be a good leader for our up-and-coming OL.
Yea man!
We draft a center this year, as I feel that group is very deep. Let him learn behind one of the best to play the Center position, and boom, we have our guy for 2 years before he gets signed to the Houston Oilers for 95 million!
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Totally disagree
As I’ve said over and over, he’s still the best MLB in the entire league bar none, and challenge anyone to name a better one.
Rexx
I would agree with you...
…but for the sake of argument, I say better than 90%. Not even the harshed critic can argue with that.
dude...
that is just RACIST, flat-out. Flat out fucking racist. Look how you don’t even have any people sucking up to THAT horrible “joke” of yours.
I’m glad Ray is back. I wear my Ray jersey to bed about 2-3 nights a week, and tonights the first time I’ve done that in a week.
The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST
by the fix is in on Mar 4, 2009 11:40 PM EST up reply actions
the Vietnamese pride themselves on buying up US dry cleaners and creating a better lives for themselves. rexx is supporting their goals by being a customer. he mistakes a familiar vietnamese name in ‘Nguyen’ for his dry cleaner -big deal. what you need to do is take it up with the Russians and Chinese who used the humble Vietnamese people to promote the communist agenda.
Actually
my dry cleaners’ name is Nguyen, although I thibnk that Vietnamese name is the equivalent of “Smith” in the US.
So there!
Rexx
yeah..and my best friends in junior high (and wide outs on my gym football team) were Vietnamese and refugees from the war as little kids. talk about perspective on life.. everyone was worried about being popular in middle school and these dudes were friggin’ stoked to just have a Mead folder with a motorcycle on the front. i’ll never forget them..and a kid named Fati who dodged bombs in Syria before coming here to get locked in his locker by ninth graders..no one said life was fair.
"I don’t think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career. I feel so fortunate that the Ravens did what they had to do to make this happen. Thank you. My heart is with the Ravens. My heart is with Baltimore and the great fans. "
As much as I hate him, I’m glad he stayed. But honestly Ray, stop blowing smoke up peoples asses with this jerk off quote! Your heart isn’t with the Ravens. Your heart is where there was potentially more money!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Shut the hell up man
You know nothing about the Ravens and nothing about the type of person Ray is. This is his city, he put the image on this city. Congrats, you got us fucking times, go back to your site and start talking about how nearly every player on your team after next season is going to be in their early to mid 30’s and wont be able to resign them.
How many offers did you hear about given to Ray Lewis? Can you answer that please? Oh yea, cause the Ravens were the only ones.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Let it go Man
No need to get all fired up. Let everyone go back to hating on the man, which has been par for the course. I’m just going to sit back and watch the chip on Ray’s shoulder grow.
Because no one else wanted his crusty ass.
He turned down the initial B-more offer dude! If his plan was to remain a Raven this whole time, why didn’t he just take the initial offer? he tried to chase money, and you best bet would have left had anyone wanted him! Thus, making his quote about “where his heart is”, total bullshit….fact!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
We'll see how crusty he is...
…when he shuts down Pittsburgh’s running game again (and as usual). He can still play a very high level and is worth every penny to the Ravens. Other teams weren’t willing to pay because he is perceived to only have 2-3 more years left, and paying him more than the Ravens would be stupid because he would have to learn a new system.
The Ravens just got him back CHEAP and (even better) with a huge chip on his shoulder.
Pittsburgh fans
tellme you weren’t hoping to see Ray leave, ‘cause he’s shut down your run game for years. Hate him, but respect his skills still there.
Rexx
Now he comes back and says
“Yea, he shut down our run game…….3 times!”
“haha, pathetic ratbirds” or “haha, pathetic purple browns”
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Don't worry about it.
True Raven’s fans know how great this deal was for the franchise and we understand Ray. Other fans don’t understand him. The intensity that allows Ray to play lights-out the football field can also cause these negotiations to get out of control. I’m sure that he’s said some things that he regrets over the last few months, but it will all be OK.
I actually think that’s what annoys people (especially Pittsburgh). They are hoping that Ray will just go away and his legacy will be tainted. Well, I’ve got bad news for them. Ray’s here to stay! He will go down as the greatest MLB to ever play the game, and he will play for Baltimore his entire career. Get over it!
Finally, let’s not be like Cleveland fans. We don’t need to curse at them and chase them off. People have the right to say what they want on our site. Let’s refute their stupidity and jealousy as logically and cool-headed as possible.
LOL
Jealous? That you have retained Ray “the knife” Lewis on your team? Not quite. With or without him, you still can’t beat us, best MLB in the league or not (probably not)! I just wanted to see a meltdown from the fanbase!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Yea they are
And a bunch of child molesters.
Got news for you Cdcumm, last season is over with. Its now a fresh start. This is a game where the past doesnt mean shit.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Blah Blah Blah...
That’s what you all said about games 2 and 3!
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Nah,
Just don’t like the ravens! Like to come in and remind them that we are better a couple times a week! LOL
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Didn't we already go over this?
Then again, what do stats prove?
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Wow!
The Ravens “can’t” beat the Steelers? Really? They’re invincible now? I’ve never heard such arrogance. Even if the Ravens won 10 Superbowls in a row, I wouldn’t presume to say ANY team couldn’t beat them. Haven’t you ever heard of the “any given Sunday” rule?
Wow… just… wow…
I suggest everyone here watch this and see the type of freak Ray is
http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_library/Videos/Player_Profiles/Ray_Lewis_Player_Profile.aspx
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^DISREGARD THAT LINK^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ WATCH THIS ONE
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Signings
For all the pundits who talked about how badly the Ravens were hurt in FA, how do you like us now. This is why Oz is one of the top 5 GM’s in the league.
I love the Birk signing. It allows Chester to fill in where needed, gain more experience (since he was only a C in college his last year) and money wise is a win over paying Jason Brown 8 million dollars a year. Remember Brown was a 4th round draft pick. Look for the Ravens to draft another center in rounds 3 – 5 who will replace Birk in 2 years. Meanwhile Flacco has one of the smartest and experienced centers in the league making his line calls. While I would have loved to have kept Brown I would say that at worst this is a push and at best it is an upgrade allowing for us to continue to develop young talent behind a well respected player.
While I have lost a lot of respect for Ray the man, we needed to make this signing. He needs to retire as a Raven. 3 years and 20 million is a bargain considering what the Jets payed Bart who was at best 4th or 5th banana on our defense. Bart has a whole lot of playing to do to earn the contract he signed. He is one of the top paid LB’s in the league without ever showing the ability to directly influence a game. It will be interesting to see if he turns into another Hartwell who was a bust or another Jamie Sharper who went on to a respectable career after leaving the Ravens. My guess is that he will be a good to very good player for the Jets, but I highly doubt if he will be the difference maker that they are paying for.
Leonhard is a loss, but not a big one. I love the moxie of the guy, but the truth of the matter is that we just spent 2 draft picks on safeties last year. Hard to rationalize giving Jim 9 million for 3 years with Zibby and Nakamura waiting to jump in and start. Again, it will be very interesting to see how good he will be in a system where there is no Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs etc. That being said, the Jets will likely be the surprise defensive team of the league next year.
So free agency for us is essentially over except for some smaller signings. We need to resign Lorenzo Neal and make a decision on Stover and a decision on Rolle and Willie Anderson.
The draft is next. Now that we took care of a starting CB, I expect us to draft a WR or possibly the TE Pettigrew out of Oklahoma.
I think the biggest overriding question of the year will be a coaching decision. Was Greg Mattison a good choice to take over for Rex Ryan. Only time will tell. But I certainly feel a shitpile full better that Ray will be there to ease the transition.
In Ozzie we trust. Think about how lucky we are to have the best GM in the game. Look at Cleveland, Detroit, etc and thank your lucky stars that Art Modell believed in Ozzie Newsome. And for all those who say it was really Savage, or Kokinis, or DeCosta…. well look around. The Oz is still in a class by himself. They guy could make to the HOF as a GM as well as he did as a TE.
top 3-5
gotta give love the team with the most wins, and (as much as I hate them) the team with the most titles in the last decade
I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It
2 years 9 million! for a 6 time pro-bowler who graduated Harvard and was public relations gem for the Vikings…STEAL..This makes the Jason Brown signing look absolutely crazy. Major Kudos Ozzie. Major!
Ray 3 years 20 million..what the hell. he’s back and we can stop dogging him although it was fun. bottom line.
Malor- i did love rays conference..lots of choppy passionate sentences with lots of Lordy’s, bootm lines and Wow’s
Wow. Me. Blessed. Not about me. Football. Love.
The Vikings Offered Birk a Similar Deal
But he still came to B-More. Besides the fact that Baltimore is awesome (Who really wants to play in Minnesota?), do you think he was swayed by the chance to have Joe as his QB, instead of the great Tavaris Jackson or Sage “The Choppa” Rosenels?
I’m sure that was a tough one.
At this point in his career,...
I think he was looking at the potential to get a ring before his time is up, and Baltimore gives him a much better chance than Minnesota. Watch, that’ll come out over the next few days in his interviews.
Rexx
If that's the case, he probably should have looked at Pittsburgh.
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done."
-George Carlin
Dude...
…give it a rest. We love having opposing views over here, but we don’t like people trying to pick fights and talk trash. If you have an intelligent argument, let’s hear it.
When is the last time a Steeler fan had any intellegence in them?
They still idolize Kordel Stewart!
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
let him go…in the words of June Ree- Nobody Botha Me..the banter is funny and makes the beers colder the next time we face them. Sdcumm will get eat his words soon enough and be stuck in the cold grey Alleghany Valley pounding on his fiber board finished console tv with the carpeted speakers.
Minn was pretty good though and not far away from a big year but then again- its Minn. according to the Viking site Matt had restaurants MattyB’s in Minn..so to uproot his career and business he must have really wanted out.. they say he is such a class act that when he asked for an extension a few years ago management dogged him by bringing up his past injury (that he’s well over) and did not give him the deal he deserved or even a fair deal..fans ( who all love him dearly) say he was obviously unhappy about the slight BUT worked his tail off, never complained, worked in the community and waited for a day like today. he’s a very happy man and what comes around goes around. steal of the market!
A class act
who will be a great role model for whomever we bring in to learn from him, much less anchoring a young o-line.
Rexx
Buh-bye Matt
You earned a place in our Ring of Honor but when you can’t come close to hitting a 50 yarder in the NFL nowadays, it’s time to unlace them and move on.
Rexx
Nah, he could announce,...
do color commentary,…or become a preacher and point at the sky all the time!
Rexx
Raven has a point though
Cause Matt, in my opinion, has one of the top 5 comb overs of all time. It is very rare to have beautiful black hair like at, especially at 40.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
it's shoe polish - don't be fooled!
I saw a guy who used it to cover the bald spot in his comb over.
Rexx
they also used gallons of Grecian formula in the filming of Black Beauty ti make the horse “pop”..like Stover’s do.
What's the difference between that Grecian Urn and a Henway?
What’s a henway?
About two pounds!
Rexx
Ozzie will have decisions ahead
What great signings. All high charachter guys. Can’t say enough about the value in that. Jerry has to cut TO and carry almost 10 mil in dead cap money. What a waste. This team is really being molded by Harbaughs image of a true team. Birk signs in no small part because he was impressed with Harbs. What a class act. With players returning from IR, our FA signings and the upcoming draft our current backups must be thinking oh shit, I’m going to have work my ass off starting right now to try and make this team. This thing is going to keep us entertained all off season to see who steps up to make this team. Plus Ozzie has a few bucks left for that late FA signing that fits a need. The NFL is the best.
Well Said
The NFL is the best, isn’t it?
I’m stoked to have such a great franchise. It really is a great thing to have the Ravens here. After dealing with O’s for the past decade, it is extra sweet to be able to route for one of the premier franchises in the NFL. What a feeling to have total confidence in our decision makers, and for them to come through every time.
Like Harbaugh said, we want to be a dynasty. With Biscotti, Newsome, and Harbaugh in place, I feel confident we can get there.
It's so greatnow that
the NFL is a year-round sport. With all the great timing for the season, post season, free agency, Draft and then OTA’s, Training Camp, exhibition season and then start all over. Kind of makes you say, “Orioles? Who dey??”
Rexx
Agree
I was in the “Junior Oriole” club growing up spending summers with dad in upper deck munching peanuts and loved the team. Like where the team is headed now but just don’t like the baseball landscape, no cap etc. They are an afterthought. The NFL has it right. Just hope the Owners and NFLPA don’t screw it up over the CBA.
when i was in the Club we sat way up top in Memorial and all the rowsies brought there own beer in cool Natty coolers…i remember one time when the guys in front of us offered my mom a joint..they were smoking it right their…the good ol’ days.
What did it cost to join the Jr. O's?
Something like $3.50 per season and you got 10 tickets I think.
Rexx
pretty close..i have all my Giveaway Day stuff- cups, shirts, coolers, hats but never got to Black Bat Night…we could have used that walking to Lake Montebelo at midnight!
Favorite game at Memorial was a 10-2 whipping of Bobby Grich and the Angels on Orange Jersey Night. Lenn Sakata and his bifocals went deep down the left field line. Roenicke went deep too. I think it was the game where Lowenstein got his cleat stuck in the fence and got stretchered off and right before he went into the dugout he sat up and gave the crowd thumbs up. He was full of shit and funny. My tiny little sister spilled a large coke on herself in the 1st inning and sat like that the entire game..we kept telling her it was a double header and she almost cried. I’ll post the orange jersey from that night on here. Awesome game.
I used to love the popcorn megaphones
You ate the dry oversalted popcorn, then flipped open the bottom flap and grabbed the handle to yell thru the cardboard. I would yell for the Orioles shortstop back then, “Go Wuwie Aparicio!”
Rexx
Absolutely!
I just love the mentality that Harbaugh brought. That’s what was missing. Ozzie has always brought in the best players. Now we have a coach who can implement and motivate them. I don’t think that enough can be said about coaches who motivate. That’s why Tomlin and Whisenhunt are great coaches (and got their teams to the SB). They are motivators. Nerds don’t always make the best coaches. Sure, they’re the best play-callers (Cameron, Philips and Billick), but they don’t make good head-coaches.
Anyway, I’m convinced that the “new-Ravens” are here to stay. I love the NFL!
Kelly Gregg
Bruce Cunningham on 105.7 keeps saying that he has bone on bone in his knee and will not be able to play again. I read recently where Kelly said his rehab is going great and he can’t wait to play again. Anybody have info about the status his rehab?
Read the same thing from kelly
He said he feels great and cant wait to get back. But that was a while ago before I even heard these stories about him never playing again. So who knows…..
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Shuan Rodgers? Lol
No way we get that head case and salary eater. And I hate to say it, but I dont think the Browns are dumb enough to get rid of him. Well they are dumb enough, but I dont think they do.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Your sounding like a broken record raven
We are not getting Rogers. You do realize if we trade for Rogers, his contract would preclude us from being able to afford resigning Haloti when his contract expires.
Is that really what you want to do?
I didn’t think so.
it can be worked out cap wise..everything can..mason/stover/rolle/heap/ray/gregg are gone within a few years if not sooner. they could move stuff around. rogers is one of the best lineman- top 5 sack wise from D-lineman.
not a broken record..how many times have i heard Crabtree Crabtree and he’s beat up or Bey Bey Bey or many others who haven’t taken a down yet…and then everyone says it’s okay to bring head cases to the team because magic ray will make them behave baby…so what is the big reason not to get Rogers IF you could. why do you hate him? Gregg is on the brink of retirement as it sounds….
First Off
The Browns will not trade Rogers, the cap hit would be insane.
Second, We do not have the cap room to sign him and be able to reup Haloti. We can not tie up that much money in one position. Oz would never do that.
Third, he has a questionable attitude. Not a Harbaugh guy.
When all the people you listed retire we need to use that money to replace them, not to duplicate one of our strongest positions.
People keep mentioning WR’s like Hey-Bey because there is a great chance we will draft one and it is a position of need. DT is not.
Lastly, raven, if we were to trade valuable picks for player, it would be for Boldin or Edwards, not a fatso who happens to play the same position as our best young player.
Not going to argue anymore but it will never happen or be even be considered. Maybe in Madden or fantasy football but this is real life.
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