Unbelievable

[atcsraven]

[quote name='jfc13' post='95282' date='Nov 26 2008, 04:40 PM']Nope. Gotta keep Ray. There are intangibles to be considered. Ray is still playing great. I know he may only have 5 years left, but the intangibles he brings to the team is worth the price, in my opinion. It scares me when anyone mentions getting rid of him. I honestly think we would flounder for a while without him. I hope they can reach some kind of agreement that doesn't paralyze the team with the salary cap.[/quote]
Agreed as well. If he was wheelchair ridden Id still say sign hm for his knowledge/leadership/motivational ability. Ray is and will always be a Raven. I have no doubt Biscotti and Co. feel the same and they will PAY RAY. Period!
They will find money somewhere. Possibly after Boller is not resigned. No use for him now.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ravens52' post='95384' date='Nov 26 2008, 09:04 PM']I'm actually confident we'll find a way to keep all three. I mean can't we franchise Bart Scott for the year and then resign him the year after? It would break my heart to see the 1 out of the 3 leave Baltimore. But we can sign Suggs and Lewis then tag Bart for the next offseason.[/quote]


I would love to believe that, but traditionally the Ravens have always let go of their LB's when their cap causes problems (Boulware, A. Thomas, etc...). Remember a few years ago when there was even talk of trading Ray?
On the bright side, we have also got a strong history of replacing those LB's with great young players developed in our system...

[itscbm5042]

Sign Ray, franchise Bart, trade Suggs to AZ, release CMac, sign Boldin long term after trading for him. BAM perennial contender!

[RavensIQ]

[quote name='flynismo' post='95550' date='Nov 28 2008, 03:56 AM']I would love to believe that, but traditionally the Ravens have always let go of their LB's when their cap causes problems (Boulware, A. Thomas, etc...). Remember a few years ago when there was even talk of trading Ray?
[b]On the bright side, we have also got a strong history of replacing those LB's with great young players developed in our system..[/b].[/quote]

Next to Ray Lewis....

People wonder why we have so many good linebackers and are able to draft stud after stud. What if it's bcuz Ray Lewis makes them great? All the credit goes to Ozzie and his staff but if you look at it more closely. Mike Nolan went on to be a HC and failed to live up to expectations, Marvin Lewis goes onto be a HC for Cinci and failed to live up to expectations, Jack Del Rio moves on to Jacksonville to be a HC and look at the Jaguars now, Adailius Thomas moves on to New England and failed to live up to expectations, Ed Hartwell moves on to Atlanta and failed to live up to expectations. All have failed once they left Ray Lewis's team.

Look at how great our defense has remained over the years with 3 different DC, 3 different defensive schemes, different players at every position since 2000, adversity after adversity, and yet we still manage to be the most dominant Defense in the NFL since the turn of the millennium. What's the common denominator...

I don't think Ray Lewis is just any Linebacker. Greatness rubs off on people and it's no coincidence that our defense has been nothing but great since Ray Lewis has become the leader of this team. Look at how Ray's greatness rubbed off onto Ed Reed, Bart Scott, and Terrel Suggs. Look at all the great players that have lined up next to Ray over the years, most of which will go down as some of the best players to have ever played their position. It's No coincidence Ray Lewis was on their team.

People talk a good game about Ray Lewis leaving but when he no longer suits up in Purple and black on Sundays and no longer plays for this team, we'll see how much they really miss his presence come game time. Then ask them how they feel without #52 and if they still think Ray Lewis leaving was the right move.

[theFRANCHISE]

This topic has been beaten to death before, but consider this:

We all love Ray Lewis. We know he's the heart of this team, and it won't be the same after he's gone. But, when Lewis has been seriously hurt, it's not as if the defense has played horribly without him. Granted, you noticed that his abscence at times, but it's not as if the defense was particularly hurting.

It pains me to say it, but this team will have to learn to play without him eventually. Now, honestly, I'd rather keep him on the team by any reasonable means necessary. But, if he somehow burns his bridges in Baltimore, then that's the most realistic scenario in which I could see him leaving, outside of retirement.

Though I've labeled Ray Lewis as untouchable before, stranger things have happened in the league. There's still a lot of football left to play, so I won't speculate on offseason matters just yet. But, whatever happens, happens. Will I be disappointed to see him go? Yes. But will I stop being a Ravens fan? No.

So, here's to #52 and all of the great memories he's given us (and hopefully, memories he will [i]continue[/i] to give us), and more importantly, here's to our Baltimore Ravens, giving us reasons to smile on Sundays.

[flynismo]

[quote name='RavensIQ' post='95625' date='Nov 28 2008, 04:53 PM']Next to Ray Lewis....

People wonder why we have so many good linebackers and are able to draft stud after stud. What if it's bcuz Ray Lewis makes them great? All the credit goes to Ozzie and his staff but if you look at it more closely. Mike Nolan went on to be a HC and failed to live up to expectations, Marvin Lewis goes onto be a HC for Cinci and failed to live up to expectations, Jack Del Rio moves on to Jacksonville to be a HC and look at the Jaguars now, Adailius Thomas moves on to New England and failed to live up to expectations, Ed Hartwell moves on to Atlanta and failed to live up to expectations. All have failed once they left Ray Lewis's team.

Look at how great our defense has remained over the years with 3 different DC, 3 different defensive schemes, different players at every position since 2000, adversity after adversity, and yet we still manage to be the most dominant Defense in the NFL since the turn of the millennium. What's the common denominator...

I don't think Ray Lewis is just any Linebacker. Greatness rubs off on people and it's no coincidence that our defense has been nothing but great since Ray Lewis has become the leader of this team. Look at how Ray's greatness rubbed off onto Ed Reed, Bart Scott, and Terrel Suggs. Look at all the great players that have lined up next to Ray over the years, most of which will go down as some of the best players to have ever played their position. It's No coincidence Ray Lewis was on their team.

People talk a good game about Ray Lewis leaving but when he no longer suits up in Purple and black on Sundays and no longer plays for this team, we'll see how much they really miss his presence come game time. Then ask them how they feel without #52 and if they still think Ray Lewis leaving was the right move.[/quote]


No doubt in my mind that playing next to / with a guy with Ray's talent and leadership has played a large role in our seemingly never-ending supply of stud LB's. Let's be honest, is Bart Scott this good on any other team?
I'm all for keeping Ray at all costs. Not just to secure him on the field, but off the field as a coach when the day comes that he decides to hang them up for good. It will be a sad, sad day for our franchise when Ray steps away from football completely. It's not like losing Ogden...JO was a freak of nature, and in his prime arguably the best OT the NFL has ever seen. Of course we miss him on the field, but he didn't have the leadership abilities to make his teammates play on his level. But, we know who's team this is... #52.

[SUPERBOWLorBUST]

In my opinion, Ray knows exactly what the Ravens need to win. We all have to remember the this is a business. Contracts get made on negotiations. Of course he's gonna come with something higher then he's expecting. Wouldn't you? In my opinion, Ray Ray and the Ravens will settle on a healthy enough contract to make him happy. You all have to remember, Ray wants to WIN! He's not gonna do something that's gonna make it impossible for the Ravens to put a cast of players around him that arn't good enough to win games. He will be a Raven next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. He will retire as a Raven. Just as we all want him too, as well as the way he wants too!

[raven43]

defenitly if it comes down to suggs, scott or Lewis, Scott is the one to go. Suggs is too good and too young to let go and we still have so many good young linbackers:Barnes, Gooden, Mclain and Griesen might be able to suffice for a while as well.

If worse comes to worse couldn't we just franchise one of them? Or would that put us in more of a bind? I'm not really sure, I just do it in madden when someone wants too much $ .

But I can serouisly imagine our defense looking like it did against New York, but [b]all the time[/b], if we let Ray Lewis go. He's the leader of this defense. Nobody can do it like he can. Not Bart Scott.

[72Marshall]

Nobody should tell Ray Lewis what he should and shouldn't accept and likewise, no one should tell Biscotti how much he should and should not spend of his own money. The NFL is Ray Lewis's lively hood, true he makes more money in a game them most of us do in two years, but the last I checked America is still a free country (for now) and no one has the right to tell someone how much money he or she can make. If you don't like it there always France for you to live, that is until president select is done with us then we'll be France.

[WACKO4FLACC0]

[quote name='rayvenfan_52' post='95268' date='Nov 26 2008, 03:45 PM'][url="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/11/You_Said_It_-_Week_13.aspx"]http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articl..._-_Week_13.aspx[/url]

[b]On NOT re-signing LB Ray Lewis

[Shawn`]

No, no no no.

Giving Ray Lewis up would be the worst move by the heads of the Ravens. Seriously I don't know what I would do, heck, what would our defense do? If he gets traded to another team, I don't know guys I might be buying that jersey.

[nevermore621]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='95687' date='Nov 28 2008, 11:56 PM']This topic has been beaten to death before, but consider this:

We all love Ray Lewis. We know he's the heart of this team, and it won't be the same after he's gone. But, when Lewis has been seriously hurt, it's not as if the defense has played horribly without him. Granted, you noticed that his abscence at times, but it's not as if the defense was particularly hurting.

It pains me to say it, but this team will have to learn to play without him eventually. Now, honestly, I'd rather keep him on the team by any reasonable means necessary. But, if he somehow burns his bridges in Baltimore, then that's the most realistic scenario in which I could see him leaving, outside of retirement.

Though I've labeled Ray Lewis as untouchable before, stranger things have happened in the league. There's still a lot of football left to play, so I won't speculate on offseason matters just yet. But, whatever happens, happens. Will I be disappointed to see him go? Yes. But will I stop being a Ravens fan? No.

So, here's to #52 and all of the great memories he's given us (and hopefully, memories he will [i]continue[/i] to give us), and more importantly, here's to our Baltimore Ravens, giving us reasons to smile on Sundays.[/quote]
I agree with the Franchise here totally...and with others that think Bisciotti and Ozzie will find a way to get it done...if they can give Ray a big signing bonus and somehow keep his cap numbers down, then maybe we can have our cake and eat it too with Suggs and Scott.

I will say this though...I don't think Trevor Pryce will be a Raven after this year and think that drafting at the DE position opposite Suggs may be our GREATEST need going forward.

The one thing we have lacked this year is a consistent pass rush producing SACKS...we are deep at LB and losing Scott maybe what we'll have to do. Ray is the undisputed leader of the Defense, and Suggs is also indisposable at LB in my eyes.

[JO_75]

[quote name='#1 D' post='95330' date='Nov 26 2008, 06:32 PM']
ok, back to reality. I think we can keep all lb's in my opinion...but if someone has to go, ill have to say Bart. I mean Bart is awesome, but i see just soo much in our other younger LB's too. I wanna keep ray lewis becuase of his leadership skills. I mean bart can be a leader too, but heck if ray can mentor a WR from [i]another [/i]team, (Chad Johnson) i think he can do a good job of teaching the ropes to the younger Jameel McClain and Antwan Barnes. Antwan looks like the man with a lot of talent here, i really think he could use mentoring from Lewis. Let's not forget our other LB's in Tavares Gooden and Prescott Burgess. I think all these linebackers would love to have Ray Lewis mentoring them.

As for Terrell Suggs, I think that he's just too damn young and too damn good to let go. that's my reason. [/quote]

I also agree with this post. Guys, Ray Lewis has said it before, money isn't an issue with him, so I'm sure he would take a pay cut if it meant helping out our salary cap so we can sign guys to improve the team. I have been saying this for a while, I think Bart Scott should be released, we'll still be a great defense even with Scott gone. Scott is replaceable Lewis IS NOT replaceable. Just like he said, we have great young LB's who Ray could mentor. For Terrell, I'm not too sure we could find someone in the draft, the Free Agency or anyone currently on the team who could replace Suggs at the moment, so keeping Suggs and Lewis is a must.

[Gwaihir]

I think most of you are barking up the wrong tree!! Ray Lewis WILL be a Raven next year and until he retires!! Steve Bisciotti has proven he's is not an idiot, and will sign Ray at Fair Market Value, whatever that is!

The question in my mind is Suggs! He's the one that wants to break the bank! If he thinks he deserves Best Defensive Player in the league type money... See Ya! If we can't Tag And Trade him for Boldin, and he wants Freeney money, he has to go! Give me the Third Round Supplemental Pick!

I'm tired of him putting up all of his numbers against Rookie Tackles on Bad Teams! Any time we play a solid team, with a veteran line, Suggs seems to become invisible! I see Trevor Pryce being double & triple teamed, being held on top of it all, and Suggs can't beat a single block to get to the QB!

Ray's the Keeper not Suggs!

[JUICE tm]

ray still plays like hes in his 20's. dude is a gorilla. i think he still has 4 or 5 more good years in the nfl so we should keep him. its definately a tough situation we're in here.