Ray Lewis to retire after this season

[Clutch Ravens]

I don't know football without Ray.

For as long as I can remember, players, coaches and front office staff came and went but Ray was always there, at the heart of the team and the organisation.

Seeing Ray at the bank, knowing it's likely to be his last ever home game is just...indescribable.

[Ravensfan23]

I said this would be the rallying cry for these young guys in the playoffs. I told people before the Broncos game that Ray's potential retirement is what would push this team over the top and win the Super Bowl.

Like I said, Ray's team meeting speech to the team will mean so much more, because those players know, giving your all for 60 minutes could be the very last time you play with RAY LEWIS, their teammate, mentor, friend and hero in most cases. I have no doubt that these guys wanna win a ring, but to be able to send Ray Lewis out with another ring is so huge for these guys.

Ray always talks about legacy and his is great, but watching the greatest LB in NFL history go out holding the torphy named after one of the most recognizable coaches in history is just fitting.

This now becomes a farewell tour for Ray Lewis and it starts here in Baltimore. Heres to hoping it ends in New Orleans being viewed as the Champion he is.

[Marcus]

#winforray

[poedacrow]

I knew this day was coming...but it still hits kinda hard.

[rlh445]

[quote name='Mt. Crushmore' timestamp='1357148056' post='1286747']
Ray's retirement save $4.35 million in cap space next season.

[url="https://twitter.com/RavensSalaryCap/status/286524728548671488"]https://twitter.com/...524728548671488[/url]
[/quote]

Good show old chap

[I AM LEGEND]

Speechless..

[ravefan52]

[quote name='Mt. Crushmore' timestamp='1357148056' post='1286747']
Ray's retirement save $4.35 million in cap space next season.

[url="https://twitter.com/RavensSalaryCap/status/286524728548671488"]https://twitter.com/...524728548671488[/url]
[/quote]
Really? way too soon... smh

[Jay D83]

If we don't win it all this year, the fans may burn M&T bank down to the ground. j/k

[Mick0311]

Heartbroken right now. But we need to realize how freaking blessed we are to have been fans of this team during the era of Ray Lewis. Mixed emotions for sure. So sad, yet so happy to be a part of it all. Thank you Ray Lewis.

Now, this team needs to go out and get him another ring, they owe him that. Go make it happen. No excuses.

FOR RAY!!!!!!

[bravensfan52]

[quote name='Jay D83' timestamp='1357148949' post='1286785']
If we don't win it all this year, the fans may burn M&T bank down to the ground. j/k
[/quote]

To tell you the truth they just might.

[rlh445]

[quote name='ravefan52' timestamp='1357148824' post='1286783']
Really? way too soon... smh
[/quote]

Come on, is it really too soon? We all knew he was retiring soon, and most of the regular posters have said they're okay with it from a football standpoint. There's nothing wrong with pointing out a silver lining to Ray's retirement.

[3-4ravdef509]

My heart doesn't skip a beat when Ray comes out of the tunnel Sunday....said no one ever

[mdrsharon]

maybe he will change his mind - we love this guy!
hope so...

[bauer77]

I don't know Ravens football without Ray Lewis. This sucks.

[Corvus]

Its not too surprising. I honestly felt before the injury this might be his last year. When it happened, I figured me MIGHT play another year so that he could go out on his own terms. Also factor in the fact that his son starts at the U in a few months and the writing was on the wall.

Words cannot describe everything you have done for the Ravens, the city of Baltimore, and the entire league. Not to mention all of those you have gone out of your way to help as well. I'm sure there will be another thread dedicated to this once its official, so that's all I'll say for now on that. Now I hope Ray is ready to take the field at M&T one final time and make it a memorable one.

[Ngata Chance]

[quote name='rlh445' timestamp='1357148987' post='1286788']


Come on, is it really too soon? We all knew he was retiring soon, and most of the regular posters have said they're okay with it from a football standpoint. There's nothing wrong with pointing out a silver lining to Ray's retirement.
[/quote]

That's all well and good, but the classy thing to do would be to wait longer than half an hour after the announcement to start gloating.

[ravefan52]

I cant see the players having to face ray without winning the Lombardi

[I AM LEGEND]

I made sure I went and saw Ray play before retired...I saw him sack and destroy the great Tom Brady in the wildcard matchup 3-4 years ago...then I saw him play again last year again against The pats in that thrilling AFC championship. ..



But one of my lifes goal was to make it to Baltimore to see Ray come out that tunnel one time before he called it quits..how fitting my first game in baltimore Sunday may be Rays last time coming out the tunnel...

[Guest Im An Ozzie Newsome Guy]

I am honored to say that I will be attending Ray Lewis' last home game... EVER! Unless if the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens meet-up in the AFC Championship Game, this is it; that will be the last time Lewis will ever get to do the dance coming out of the tunnel. Absolutely crazy, and sad, too...

But, if this season could possibly even have more adversity, this IS start of something special. Starting on the game against the Indianapolis Colts, we will see an even more determined and hungrier Ray Lewis than we've seen before. In fact, it will look like Lewis de-aged, because he won't leave anything in the tank. He will give this organization everything he's got, for the last time(s), and deliver it on the field. Lewis will be apart of the mission and he WILL retire, with another Lombardi Trophy, in New Orleans, next month!

[1/28/01]

Sooooooo thankful I grabbed tickets for this upcoming game!!!

GOAT

[da#1ravensfan]

I'm speechless!!!!!!!!!!

[PlayLikeAFan]

Thank you Ray for your years of service. Lets win the big one, one last time for you!

[Malkavian Raven]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][i]God, I don't even want to be here right now... [/i][/font]

[ravefan52]

Ray Rice: "Baltimore is Ray Lewis." Cant say it any better

[bravensfan52]

Pressure is on the off get your act together. No road flacco no playoff ray rice no bad calls no stupid penalties bad timeout or harbs esq challenges. We win this superbowl for Ray.

[rlh445]

[quote name='Ngata Chance' timestamp='1357149229' post='1286798']
That's all well and good, but the classy thing to do would be to wait longer than half an hour after the announcement to start [b]gloating[/b].
[/quote]

The heck?! How did you see that as, 'gloating,'? He wasn't saying, 'WOO HOO! RAY'S FINALLY GONE!,' he was merely offering a good angle to the horrible, yet inevitable retiring of our greatest player ever.

[Hjulmann]

Way to kick off the new year Ray... This one hurts.

Thanks for everything.

[abspearman]

[size=4][font=times new roman,times,serif][color=#222222][size=4]Unbelievable!!!! I sure hope "SUGAR" isn't being forced out. Ray is an awesome player and mentor and really needs to reconsider this move. We LOVE YOU Ray don't leave. Please Don't Leave!!! [/size][/color][/font][/size]

[Ragin'Raven]

Football is just a game. Ray Lewis has the rest of his life to live, and I'm glad he understands that this life goes by way too fast. Because of that, I understand why he wants to retire. As a fan, I might wish he would play forever, but I love Ray Lewis the man for valuing areas outside of the football field even more, and for acknowledging that life moves way too fast, and his loved ones and his worthy causes away from the field mean more than life inside that uniform. That's a hard decision for an athlete to make, but ultimately, even though it's difficult for fans to understand, it's a wonderful thing he's walking into. Great career, Ray Lewis!

[flaccopoe]

[color=#4b0082]Thanks for everything you've done for us! Looking forward to seeing your number raised to the rafters #52 forever! [/color]