If You Could..

[blitzking33]

*For fun..

If San Fran put Patrick Willis up for a trade to get Ray Lewis, and you were the Ravens GM, would you do it? Would you give up an old Ray Ray to get a young dominant linebacker who will play for many years to come? or would you decline the trade to keep Ray's legacy in Baltimore?

Me: i would keep Ray Ray just because of what he means to Baltimore.. but this would be a hard decision.

[Raga For Ravi]

I would keep him because who wants hard feelings when you are going to possibly asking someone to coach for you somewhere down the line - or at least I would want him as a coach alongside Ed Reed.

[Chi_Town_Raven]

No contest Patrick Willis. Anyone that says otherwise is a fool. I think that they are at the same level right now, but the difference is that Willis has many years to play.

[Raga For Ravi]

[quote name='Chi_Town_Raven' date='03 July 2010 - 01:46 PM' timestamp='1278182772' post='429032']
No contest Patrick Willis. Anyone that says otherwise is a fool. I think that they are at the same level right now, but the difference is that Willis has many years to play.
[/quote]I doubt Willis is going to have the wherewithal to ever be as sound and as much of a logical choice as Ray is to be a coach, though. Thinking about the future here, not the current state of the team.

[AwakenTheDemon]

Too bad Ray has stated multiple times that when he retires, he's done with football. Meaning, he will not coach for us or anyone else. Ray's more than earned his rest, I'd be more than happy to let the legend enjoy time with his family, and pursue his business or religion aspirations.

[Raga For Ravi]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='03 July 2010 - 02:01 PM' timestamp='1278183670' post='429036']
Too bad Ray has stated multiple times that when he retires, he's done with football. Meaning, he will not coach for us or anyone else. Ray's more than earned his rest, I'd be more than happy to let the legend enjoy time with his family, and pursue his business or religion aspirations.
[/quote]Under perfect conditions, i.e. Ray wanting to coach, I would keep him - which is what I was getting at. He would be an asset to this team as a coach, or even an instructor during the off-season to rookies, as well as Reed.

My answer was more of a "what if" than having to do with the reality of the situation.

[AwakenTheDemon]

To answer the question though, I'd keep Ray. The man has given so much to not only the team, but to the city (not to mention, he's my favorite player of all time), I could not trade him from the Ravens.

[K-Dog]

No If's And's or Buts. Keep Ray Ray. If that makes me a fool than so be it.

[RavensClaw52]

Willis for his youth, Ray for his legacy. Give me Ray at the same age as Willis any day of the week.

[blitzking33]

[quote name='RavensClaw52' date='03 July 2010 - 05:32 PM' timestamp='1278192769' post='429078']
Willis for his youth, Ray for his legacy. Give me Ray at the same age as Willis any day of the week.
[/quote]

i asked 2010 ray or 2010 willis... but you twisted it.. who wouldnt take a young ray?!?!?

[DMT]

As of 2010...my heart says Ray, and my mind says...RAY.

He is too much of a leader and play-reader for our defense to let him go. Nobody knows how we'l look without him

[TreTheRaven]

I would never trade Ray away for anyone. After all that he has done for Baltimore, it wouldn't ever cross my mind.

[robbcs3]

Have to keep Ray, not sure I could imagine him still playing and not being a Raven.

[ed.s52]

My mind [b]originally[/b] say Willis, because he would remain an asset for many years to come, but my heart says Ray for his legacy.

It is a hard decision no doubt, and either one I would be fine with.

But I am leaning towards Ray simply because Willis has no dedication towards this team, there would be no reason for him to stay if he became an FA and another team offered him more money and a similar chance at a title, he may very well take it, although we all know for a fact Ray is dedicated to this team, and is playing for more than a paycheck, but for his city and, not knocking on Willis, Ray has more heart, at least for the Ravens, than Willis ever will.

So after thinking it over, Ray hands down.

[Fred Sanford]

Man, I'd hate to be the GM in that position. The heart says keep Ray Ray for the leadership and legacy, the head says go with the young buck for obvious reasons of longevity. Interesting scenario, that.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='blitzking33' date='03 July 2010 - 02:10 PM' timestamp='1278180656' post='429022']Me: i would keep Ray Ray just because of what he means to Baltimore[/quote]

If you had said that the decision has to be made based purely on on-field ability, then this would be an actual debate, but considering that you yourself made it clear that legacy/intangibles/etc. matter, there isn't any question about whom any Ravens fan would choose.

[BloodRaven]

I couldn't trade him, not even if it's the right thing on paper.

[Rav'n Maniac]

Trade Ray? Seriously? There would be rioting in the streets and not one purple seat would remain at the bank! Ray is the Heart of this team, period. Willis, no matter how good could never fill those shoes!

[Corvus]

If you're a fan of this team, then you have to stick with Ray. Willis is already a great player and there is certainly room for him to get even better, but this is Ray we're talking about here, the MOST important player in our franchise's history! This is like asking Colt fans if you could trade Peyton Manning for Aaron Rodgers, would you? I know they wouldn't...

[Milton145]

I don't see why you would think about it. Ray Lewis, easily.

[Marcinik13]

I love Ray Lewis, but he is 34 and this is a business. You are always looking in the future. IF you can get the best LB playing right now, over the greatest ever (IMO) then you have to do it for the success of the team. Ray probably would get mad if we didn't do it haha. He mentors Willis and has likely had an impact on him. This scenario would never occur though. I'm glad I get to see Ray retire a Raven, where he belongs.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I can't imagine we'd have one person on this forum that could say they would seriously trade Ray and feel right about doing it. If I had traded him for Willis, I'd feel terrible. Ray's put too much work and heart into the team and the city (like I said before).

[Chi_Town_Raven]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='04 July 2010 - 04:11 PM' timestamp='1278274268' post='429361']
I can't imagine we'd have one person on this forum that could say they would seriously trade Ray and feel right about doing it. If I had traded him for Willis, I'd feel terrible. Ray's put too much work and heart into the team and the city (like I said before).
[/quote]
People need to understand that they would be the GM of team. You really think Ozzie would pass that deal up? No one here looks to the future. Ray Lewis would understand if this actually happened. Look at Emmit Smith, he played with Arizona, but still loves the Cowboys. This is a business, and either way if the Ravens passed up the would-be trade, they would be the entire laughing stock of the NFL. No one on here that says they'd take Ray Lewis would ever be a successful owner or GM. Why are people negging me? Do you think I hate the Ravens or something? No, I've been on here since '07, which is longer than most of you. If everyone thinks that keeping Ray Lewis is logical, then so be it, but in truth, that would be one of the worst decisions ever.

[K-Dog]

I would be curious how the front office and Ozzie would handle this.

If there ever is a call in show with him on it one of needs to call in with this question.

[AwakenTheDemon]

[quote name='Chi_Town_Raven' date='04 July 2010 - 04:50 PM' timestamp='1278280224' post='429382']
People need to understand that they would be the GM of team. You really think Ozzie would pass that deal up? No one here looks to the future. Ray Lewis would understand if this actually happened. Look at Emmit Smith, he played with Arizona, but still loves the Cowboys. This is a business, and either way if the Ravens passed up the would-be trade, they would be the entire laughing stock of the NFL. No one on here that says they'd take Ray Lewis would ever be a successful owner or GM. Why are people negging me? Do you think I hate the Ravens or something? No, I've been on here since '07, which is longer than most of you. If everyone thinks that keeping Ray Lewis is logical, then so be it, but in truth, that would be one of the worst decisions ever.
[/quote]

I'm aware that I would the GM, however I'd show Ray Lewis the loyalty he's shown us throughout his career. Ray could have easily left Baltimore an offseason ago, but he didn't. The man wants to end his career as a Raven, and I would be more than happy to honor that. If you want to call that a decision of the heart, not the mind, and a bad, illogical choice, then so be it. But I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[reediddy]

definitely keep Ray. Put it this way...if u were to, right now, offer 1 yr contracts to Ray and Willis, who do you think would make more of an impact that one year. Its definitely Ray. You guys all have mentioned that legacy and that definitely is a huge reason why we keep him too.

[XxSizzleXx]

Ray only has a few years out of him left the logical choice would be P Willis.

[ed.s52]

[quote name='AwakenTheDemon' date='04 July 2010 - 04:59 PM' timestamp='1278291579' post='429420']
I'm aware that I would the GM, however I'd show Ray Lewis the loyalty he's shown us throughout his career. Ray could have easily left Baltimore an offseason ago, but he didn't. The man wants to end his career as a Raven, and I would be more than happy to honor that. If you want to call that a decision of the heart, not the mind, and a bad, illogical choice, then so be it. But I wouldn't give it a second thought.

Edit: lol at whoever negged this.
[/quote]
I gave you a plus because I felt it needed one.

I mean you could call it illogical, but like you said, he could have left an offseason ago and got more money but he chose to stay here. If we traded him after his obvious attempt to remain a Raven that would just be being a D***.

Sure it is a buisiness, but we are all humane and he deserves respect and loyalty for how he has served us and the city of Baltimore since 1996.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='K-Dog' date='03 July 2010 - 04:19 PM' timestamp='1278188379' post='429061']
No If's And's or Buts. Keep Ray Ray. If that makes me a fool than so be it.
[/quote]

It doesn't make you a fool at all. It makes you someone who understands what that trade would do to the team during the year of the trade, the impact the trade would have on the fan-base, and many other issues. People that say, "If you disagree with me you're dumb" or things like that usually don't have much to offer so don't put any weight into their opinion.

So yeah, I'll jump into the 'fool category' as well. I'd choose Ray every single time, especially since this is just fantasy football theory anyway.

[b]
We might as well start a 'Superman vs. Goku' discussion while we're at it...[/b]

[XxSizzleXx]

Anyone who hasn't seen Patrick Willis play, watch a game and within the end of the 1st quarter you will be a fan of his.