Last Game For Ray Lewis?

by lastcallbmore on Jan 17, 2012 7:01 AM EST

Those of us that were lucky enough to go to the game this past weekend at M&T Bank Stadium may have witnessed the end of an era. In the pregame introductions I was extremely disappointed to find out that they were introducing the offense and I thought I would not get to see Ray do his dance one last time. Fortunately the staff threw us all off a bit and they introduced all of the Ravens pro-bowlers. Ray Lewis came out last and did his dance for perhaps the last time ever.

Ray has not said either way if he will play another season or retire but it was quite apparent that he did not heal as quickly as we all would have liked from his mid-season toe injury. With the Ravens knocking on the door of the Super Bowl it stands to reason that Mr. Lewis would want to go out on a high note if this team does make it all the way. That would make this past week's game his last in Baltimore.

The same could be said for Ed Reed. Reed has been hampered by a nagging neck injury for the last few years and if they were to go to or win the Super Bowl he may chose to call it a career as well. Reed could be one hit away from being forced to retire anyway.

Reed did however prove that he still has a lot of quality football left in him. Reed had one interception but came very close to two more. Something tells me his heroics in the post-season are not over and he may be a deciding factor in New England next week with the way the Patriots like to throw the ball around.

Both of these players are sure to be Hall of Fame worthy when they do decide to end their careers. I hope that everyone realizes how important this post-season is for us because it may be the last we see of these two legends on the field. We are all lucky to have witnessed Ray Lewis and Ed Reed during our lifetime. They are two of the best players at their position of all-time and they had the luxury of playing at the same time for the same team. That doesn't happen too often.

I hope that we can keep at least one of them for a while longer but if one or both decide to call it quits we will all understand. Hopefully they will stick around and continue to mentor our young players for years to come.

Poll

Was this the last game for Ray Lewis at M&T bank Stadium?

Yes

159 votes

No

196 votes

355 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

As a Pats fan, nothing but respect for Lewis and Reed.

I find it hard to believe they are already done. Don’t they have more time on their contracts?

It’s fitting that in New England, the best Mike-LB and the best Free-Safety in the league will face the Boston TE Party that no defense has been able to solve all year. One last chance to prove that even older they are still the best. Can’t wait to see Gronk and Hernandez try and tear their way up the middle of the field at these two.

It is what it is

by Middlesex on Jan 17, 2012 9:33 AM EST reply actions

Fellow pats fan here

I only actively root for a few teams other than ne and Baltimore is my #2. If this is the last game for either of both that’s a shame. Rayray was 5 yes deep in the endZone n chased Yates to only a 3 yes gain n no first down. Even if it was another lb who can cover ground I think Yates pulls it upfield at the last second to try for the first. He knows that since it was ray it’s maybe an extra yard and a huge hit.

Reed has been injured and that’s the only reason see him hanging it up right now, he’s not that old. I’ve always had dreams of an aging Ed coming to ne ala Rodney.

Both the best at their respective positions.

by gnatecolby on Jan 17, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks

Nice comments for two sure HoF-ers.

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 17, 2012 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

I really hope this isn’t his last game because Ray deserves to go out on top and the same with Ed if he decided to hang it up. Reed needs a ring and it really would be the perfect ending to have the both of them go out on top. Although I kind of want them to stick around to mentor their future replacements.

On Ed Reed:
"I’ve told him to his face many times, ‘You’re the greatest safety ever to play the game,’"
"We all learn from each other, but we all learn most from him."
- Troy Polamalu

by AV23 on Jan 17, 2012 9:53 AM EST reply actions

Ray Lewis, when it’s said and done, might be the best MLB ever to play the game and I’m not even a Ravens fan.

I love his pregame stuff. If I was in it and he told me to run into a wall, I would do so. He’s destine to be a coach one day.

by Revenge of the Fallen on Jan 17, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

He already is the best

No one in any position other than OL, PK or only Favre, has played at such a high level for so long (16 years). No other MLB comes close to what he has done over the course, they are slacked off, got injured and faded away (ex: Butkus=9 years).

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on Jan 17, 2012 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

I Believe

The longevity and high production across said longevity is what people forget the most. Not that he is really really good, but that he has been able to sustain that level of brilliance for so long is mind boggling…

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."
"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug."
"God's whiskers! Your face is as hideous as the demon's in my storybook!"
"I never expected to see the day when girls would get sunburned in the places they do today."
"It's big for a reason."

For Pittsburgh fans, that's Pope, Twain, Rostand, Rogers and Megamind

by vlad755 on Jan 17, 2012 5:54 PM EST up reply actions

Ray Lewis and Ed Reed are the face of the team and really football

People want Joe Flacco to be a vocal leader of this team. The issue is there can be only one true leader and on this team that is Ray Lewis. Reed is his Sergeant. Ray Lewis is the soul of this team. He is the rock that holds this team together. He is developing new leaders on this team, Suggs Ray Rice and yes, Joe Flacco. We have been extremely lucky to have one player let alone two players the caliber of Ray and Ed. They are true team players who train and mentor everyone around them to be team players. As I look around the league I do not see teams that our level of true team play. This is the legacy that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed leave behind. They will both be great coaches if they deem to take that route. I am a little all over the place here I make no apologies I would like to be rooting for Ray and Ed for a long time to come it is just too soon.

by runew on Jan 17, 2012 8:41 PM EST reply actions

Time flies....

It will be a sad day when these two hang em up.It’s strange imagining a league without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
It’s hard to call any player the greatest of all time because there are so many different variables, and the game is constantly changing. But these are definitely two of the best to ever lace em up.

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Jan 18, 2012 1:51 AM EST reply actions