ESPN SportsNation Votes Ray Lewis' Hit #1

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 31, 2011 10:00 AM EDT

ESPN SportsNation's poll for the best NFL hit in 2010 goes to the Baltimore Ravens' Ray Lewis, for his crushing blow on the New York Jets' Dustin Keller in the Ravens 10-9 season opening victory in the New Meadowlands. The Jets were down 10-9 in the waning moments of the game when Jets QB Mark Sanchez tried to find Keller over the middle. The ball glanced off of Keller's hands, as he was probably already expecting to get nailed. However, Ray read Sanchez' eyes and zeroed in on Keller long before the ball got to him.

As soon as the ball hit his hands, Lewis put his shoulder into Keller's chest, stopping him in his tracks and laying him out flat to help preserve the victory. No penalty was called for what was obviously a legal hit, and shortly thereafter, Keller inexplicably stepped out of bounds on fourth down with a yard more to go. Perhaps he was still hurting from that crushing hit and wanted no more damage to his body, much less his ego.

Click here for the full results of the poll on this and all the other sports as well.

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I could watch that all day. Players like HGH Harrison could learn a thing or two from that clip about how to play the right way…

by JoshuaStein on Mar 31, 2011 10:05 AM EDT reply actions

Amazing. I remember watching that hit and knowing the game was over after that.

Real G's move in silence like lasagna

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 31, 2011 10:11 AM EDT reply actions

Not surprised at all that this hit won, God that was an awesome way to kick off the season. I love what Ray has brought to the game throughout his career. He always comes through with the big hits, yet has never been labeled a “dirty player” (unlike Ward & Harrison)

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Mar 31, 2011 10:15 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

G.O.A.T

Greatest of all time..

The best part is that it was completely legal and used by the League in their campaign to show players how to tackle without being reckless.

by 60minuteassassin on Mar 31, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

Textbook tackling. Shoulder to the middle of the chest, head around the side of the body. I remember on the dumb Steelers blog a while back, they were complaining about all of Harrison’s illegal hits and multiple times people brought up Ray’s hit on Keller and saying Ray should have been fined for it as well.

Real G's move in silence like lasagna

by Mr MaLoR on Mar 31, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought the GOAT was the Generalized Occupational Aptitude Test.

by BAL_Hawk on Mar 31, 2011 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions

No

The Goat. lol

Back on the Sweed train. Choo Choo!
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller

by John Stephens on Mar 31, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

God why did I open that link?! I should have known better…..lol

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Mar 31, 2011 3:23 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

You could just see the movie Waiting.

Back on the Sweed train. Choo Choo!
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller

by John Stephens on Mar 31, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I have. That’s why I should have known better. Atleast you weren’t posting links to the bat, or the brain.

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Mar 31, 2011 3:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

In my day,

a Goat was another name for a GTO, with a 427 ci engine!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Mar 31, 2011 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Im your day....

You used to walk 8 miles to school, uphill both ways, with a baked potato in your pocket to keep you warm, which you’d also have for lunch.

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Mar 31, 2011 9:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

haha

by AV23 on Mar 31, 2011 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

So that’s what opening up a can of whoop ass feels like.

by MrPoopyPants on Mar 31, 2011 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

I think that hit was huge not just because Dustin Keller forgot where he was on the earth but because Ray and Rex were going back and forth, Ray was pissed and he made Dustin pay for it.

by Raven_all_day on Mar 31, 2011 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

This hit was huge during that game and I remember that two plays later Keller catches the ball and runs out of bounds before he gets to the 1st down mark. Ryan was pissed and I’m sure Keller just didn’t want to get hit again like that.

by AV23 on Mar 31, 2011 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

That’s the type of hit an offensive player doesn’t easily forget. I wouldn’t be surprised if he still has flashbacks or night-terrors.

"Anything worth doing, is worth doing right."
-Hunter S. Thompson-

by StuckInUtah on Mar 31, 2011 3:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

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