What Do You Think of Ray Lewis's Comments?

[wayne]

Seems like the usual blind Flacco haters (who are quick to term anyone who isn't 100% negative about Flacco an apologist) are up to their usual tired shtick.

Ray Lewis has always been self-serving and he's always had a massive ego. I knew this before I even knew what a Joe Flacco was. The comments he's made about the Ravens this season just further prove that fact. If Ray Lewis fanboys can't take that truth then oh well.

For every mega star sports player that you name that don't have a ego, I will name you 10 more that did. I disagree with him being self-serving but having a massive ego isn't a bad thing. Guess evvryone suppose to be like Flacco and just be quiet looking like a deer looking into headlights? Maybe if Flacco was more vocal, it would reflect on our team and atleast got us a couple more wins in the close games. Just b/c you are vocal doesn't make it a bad thing.

[wayne]

I don't like Vinny but he's right about a few things.

I like what Ray does in the community but when it comes to football he loves the attention.

 

I don't like Vinny but he's right about a few things.

I like what Ray does in the community but when it comes to football he loves the attention.

Which superstar doesn't love the attention? You guys are killing me,lol.

[Strength.52]

Seems like the usual blind Flacco haters (who are quick to term anyone who isn't 100% negative about Flacco an apologist) are up to their usual tired shtick.

Ray Lewis has always been self-serving and he's always had a massive ego. I knew this before I even knew what a Joe Flacco was. The comments he's made about the Ravens this season just further prove that fact. If Ray Lewis fanboys can't take that truth then oh well.

  Ok name something that Ray has done (Anything in the last decade) and PROVE that he did it as the #1 goal to self-serve himself and pat his ego ...

 

His ego is strengthened by a lot of the things he does , but are you saying Ray should intentionally not showcase his skills / talents / what he has to offer for fear that it might make himself "look good"?

 

   I know the way you think - An extreme analogy is someone going in a burning building in front of a whole town and saving a cat ... Now that person gets a lot of credit for saving the cat and appears "self-serving" for doing what he did - His #1 goal was to save the cat: if his ego gets improved, that's just an effect

 

  Same thing with Ray: His Gladiator persona / Dancing sure makes himself look good, but that's just an effect .. His #1 goal the last decade was to help his team win, like the man's job was to save the cat - I know fans outside of Baltimore don't see this (and that's why so many Hate Ray Lewis and his antics), but it's sad that even some Ravens fans don't get it either

[wayne]

So, Ray says that Flacco needs a talented cast around him to win. Does that mean Manning, Brady, Brees, and Rodgers don't? This has ESPN style ignorance written all over it. I'd pay a lot of money to see the circus that would ensue if Brady and Manning had to play with these offensive pieces.

They can work with less around them than Joe can. Until Joe proves otherwise, that will always be the case.

[Strength.52]

Actually, media members are supposed to be third party reporters that keep themselves out of the story, but okay.

   Not if you played on the team you're commenting on the previous year ... You really think ESPN does NOT want Ray Lewis to use his past experiences when talking about a team that he was just on and a player that he was teammates with? 

[TDubbs]

For every mega star sports player that you name that don't have a ego, I will name you 10 more that did. I disagree with him being self-serving but having a massive ego isn't a bad thing.

 

You could make the argument if Ray Lewis didn't have that massive ego (which also creates his drive) he may not have been half the player he was. Which, for people who need reminding, was the greatest MLB ever. He's media now, can say what he wants. Doesn't tarnish his reputation in my eyes. 

[The Raven]

They can work with less around them than Joe can. Until Joe proves otherwise, that will always be the case.

 

What? Prove it. When have Brady and Manning EVER worked with less than Joe has right now? Uh, never?

 

 

   Not if you played on the team you're commenting on the previous year ... You really think ESPN does NOT want Ray Lewis to use his past experiences when talking about a team that he was just on and a player that he was teammates with? 

 

Oh, of course ESPN wants him to do that, because they care about sensationalism so they can get high ratings and more money. ESPN as a whole is a great example that shows how real journalism is dead or dying. I know why ESPN wants him to do it, but it's just not good journalism. 

[wayne]

Also guys, lets not act like our defense didn't show up last year either. What was the score at halftime of the SB and didn't we pick off Brady and Manning to seal the deal on the wins including making a stop on 4th and goal in the SB to seal the victory? Also, that same D shut down the Colts in the playoffs too. Throughout Joe's whole career, I would say the D has bailed him out way more than he's bailed them out.

[The Raven]

Also guys, lets not act like our defense didn't show up last year either. What was the score at halftime of the SB and didn't we pick off Brady and Manning to seal the deal on the wins including making a stop on 4th and goal in the SB to seal the victory? Also, that same D shut down the Colts in the playoffs too. Throughout Joe's whole career, I would say the D has bailed him out way more than he's bailed them out.

 

Yes and no. The D carried Joe more than he carried the D in his first three years, but those were his first three years. He was young. Nobody should expect him to. But then in 2011, it shifted to where they picked each other up as needed, and then last season, Joe carried the D. Every year, Joe picked up more and more slack from the D. 

[wayne]

What? Prove it. When have Brady and Manning EVER worked with less than Joe has right now? Uh, never?

 

 

 

Oh, of course ESPN wants him to do that, because they care about sensationalism so they can get high ratings and more money. ESPN as a whole is a great example that shows how real journalism is dead or dying. I know why ESPN wants him to do it, but it's just not good journalism. 

That's false, what did Brady have with him at the beginning of this year and several times throughout his career? Flacco has had talent around him, especially earlier on. Decent WR core, good Rbs, good TEs, good defense. Stop it man,lol. You guys are going Flacco bonkers or something. I understand he's our QB but everything doesn't have to be peachy said about him, you can admit to his negatives too.

[The Mom Gene]

You guys can spew all the statistics you want ...  I believe some of what Ray said was true...  Other parts, not so much.  I will tell you one thing...  I don't rate QB's based on statistics.  Look at Romo,  Great QB that has never made it into January...  I don't consider him great at all.  He can't perform when it matters...  That and the fact that too much depends on other players performance that reflect upon YOUR QB rating.  Dropped passes, Running Backs that are getting 1.7 yards per carry...  all reflect on your completion percentage... and your total yards.  I'll take the Wins and Losses column.  You can stand here and tell me that Romo is a much better QB than Joe, and I'll still take Joe every day.  It's all about Wins and Losses...  I'll take the "W"s...  all... day... long.

[wayne]

Yes and no. The D carried Joe more than he carried the D in his first three years, but those were his first three years. He was young. Nobody should expect him to. But then in 2011, it shifted to where they picked each other up as needed, and then last season, Joe carried the D. Every year, Joe picked up more and more slack from the D. 

He picked it up but the D still carried him several times. Last year and one of the years before that at the first half of the season was when Joe exploded ( he exploded at the end of the season too ) but other than that, it's been the same inconsistent Joe. He looks great one game and he looks hell of bad the next. I literally remember in 2011 when the O just looked dead when we played the Seahawks, low life Jags....... please stop putting Joe on Manning and Bradys level, it's embarrassing and it makes us sound desperate.

[The Raven]

That's false, what did Brady have with him at the beginning of this year and several times throughout his career? Flacco has had talent around him, especially earlier on. Decent WR core, good Rbs, good TEs, good defense. Stop it man,lol. You guys are going Flacco bonkers or something. I understand he's our QB but everything doesn't have to be peachy said about him, you can admit to his negatives too.

 

Really? You honestly think Joe had as much or more talent around him than Brady? Not even close to true, but go ahead and believe it. The best receiver Joe had  in his early years was Derrick Mason and he was born in prehistoric times. Even Mason and Boldin on their best days barely got separation. Sorry, but no. Joe has not had anything close to what Brady and Manning have had.

[Poes Crows]

 

 

Note: Just found out that the defense gave up 10 fourth quarter leads last year, but Flacco and the Ravens still went 12-4. That is carrying your team.

 

 

Thats a lengthy post and can't address all of it, but lets address some of what doesn't add up.

 

1.  We were not 12-4 last year.  Our record was 10-6.  I don't think you can string together 16 games in any order where we finish 12-4, but you're welcome to try.

 

2. Ray Lewis was still very effective last year. I think he had 12 tackles or more in the Denver Playoff Game. If he had trouble in one game it was in the Championship trying to cover Vernon Davis, but Davis was hot.  We won with Ray, don't be badmouthing him now.

 

3. Ray is right about Joe. Our quarterback has limitations, but he has abilities that make up for them. He's not a young Peyton and he's not a lucky Brady.  But he's got a better arm than both of them and he just needs a little time. Give him time to set his feet and look out.

[The Raven]

He picked it up but the D still carried him several times. Last year and one of the years before that at the first half of the season was when Joe exploded ( he exploded at the end of the season too ) but other than that, it's been the same inconsistent Joe. He looks great one game and he looks hell of bad the next. I literally remember in 2011 when the O just looked dead when we played the Seahawks, low life Jags....... please stop putting Joe on Manning and Bradys level, it's embarrassing and it makes us sound desperate.

 

Never put him on their level, but he's close to it. I defy you to tell me that he wouldn't set records in Denver's offense playing the AFC West.

[redrum52]

Yes and no. The D carried Joe more than he carried the D in his first three years, but those were his first three years. He was young. Nobody should expect him to. But then in 2011, it shifted to where they picked each other up as needed, and then last season, Joe carried the D. Every year, Joe picked up more and more slack from the D. 

I say 2011 was a good balance of offense and defense with more Joe last year in the regular season and  50-50 in the playoffs.  Joes first year was all defense and run game.  2nd and 3rd seasons to me he probably deseserves more credit than you're giving him.  He was pretty good those years, but the team as whole was also playing well.  I feel like the 11 team deserved a ring, still mad about how that season ended regardless of the ring the next year.

[redravenfan]

 knew when he went to espn this would happen hes a pundit now and its always bash the ravens easy target , with those guys . I don't care what he says. He's the reason I became a ravens fan .I watch mnf then espn goes off . He has earned the right to say what he wants .

[Cville-Raven]

Hey Ray who won you your last ring? Not you, that's for damn sure.

[wayne]

Really? You honestly think Joe had as much or more talent around him than Brady? Not even close to true, but go ahead and believe it. The best receiver Joe had  in his early years was Derrick Mason and he was born in prehistoric times. Even Mason and Boldin on their best days barely got separation. Sorry, but no. Joe has not had anything close to what Brady and Manning have had.

What has Brady had around him, especially at the beginning of this season and a few times throughout his career. Brady is probably the best QB to make something happen with barely having anything.

[The Raven]

What has Brady had around him, especially at the beginning of this season and a few times throughout his career. Brady is probably the best QB to make something happen with barely having anything.

 

Not much but more than Joe, even if by a little. At the very least, he's had better pass protection and a better system.

[The Mom Gene]

Also guys, lets not act like our defense didn't show up last year either. What was the score at halftime of the SB and didn't we pick off Brady and Manning to seal the deal on the wins including making a stop on 4th and goal in the SB to seal the victory?

 

Also, that same D shut down the Colts in the playoffs too. Throughout Joe's whole career, I would say the D has bailed him out way more than he's bailed them out.

 

I broke up your post because the Defense allowed Kaepernick and company to come back in the 2nd half of the Superbowl...  maybe they did shut down the Colts...  who also had a rookie QB and yeah, they were at M&T with a very emotional 12th man...  the crowd noise for Ray's last game was infinitely louder than most any regular season game.

 

That offense turned their game ON in the playoffs last year... Boldin, Pitta, Jacoby, Torrey....  Come on, you really cannot believe that.  I would NEVER say that the Defense carried that team through the playoffs last year...  NO WAY!

[theFRANCHISE]

I love Ray Lewis. I love everything he's done for the city of Baltimore -- I just don't love him as an analyst.

 

He's still learning the craft but he needs to expand his talking points. He's guilty of speaking in generalities and sound bytes, much like many former athletes-turned-analysts.

[Strength.52]

  Ray Lewis has a "Team Ego" not a personal Ego ... Bill Russell describes it in his book: In it Russell sets forth the concept of “team ego,” writing, “I was the most egotistical player they would ever meet. My ego is not a personal ego, it’s a team ego. My ego demands — for myself — the success of my team.”

[Tank 92]

Which superstar doesn't love the attention? You guys are killing me,lol.

 

 

  Ok name something that Ray has done (Anything in the last decade) and PROVE that he did it as the #1 goal to self-serve himself and pat his ego ...

 

His ego is strengthened by a lot of the things he does , but are you saying Ray should intentionally not showcase his skills / talents / what he has to offer for fear that it might make himself "look good"?

 

   I know the way you think - An extreme analogy is someone going in a burning building in front of a whole town and saving a cat ... Now that person gets a lot of credit for saving the cat and appears "self-serving" for doing what he did - His #1 goal was to save the cat: if his ego gets improved, that's just an effect

 

  Same thing with Ray: His Gladiator persona / Dancing sure makes himself look good, but that's just an effect .. His #1 goal the last decade was to help his team win, like the man's job was to save the cat - I know fans outside of Baltimore don't see this (and that's why so many Hate Ray Lewis and his antics), but it's sad that even some Ravens fans don't get it either

 

 

Star athletes all have huge egos that help to them perform at a high level. That's a good thing. The better(or maybe more likeable) athlete analysts know that they have earned respect and don't need to continue to self promote.

 

I don't really care if I agree or disagree with what Ray or any other analyst has to say, but do your job with class and not cheap sensationalism.

[wayne]

Also, anyone playing football before knows it's no way a 37 year old man suppose to keep up with the fastest TE in the game anyway so Davis owning Ray in the SB is no big deal, he was suppose to be doing that to a old Ray Lewis playing on his last leg while he's in his prime.

[redrum52]

Never put him on their level, but he's close to it. I defy you to tell me that he wouldn't set records in Denver's offense playing the AFC West.

He wouldn't cause Joe's not as cerebral as Manning and if you think he is you're kidding yourself.  Joe also isn't as accurate, but he would fare better in he cold weather.  He doesn't have as quick as a release as Manning either.

[theFRANCHISE]

Speaking more to the subject of Ray Lewis' media career rather than his playing days, he needs to tone it down.

 

I'm a broadcaster. I was taught that the broadcast is supposed to be about the story you're telling or the news you're reporting -- not about you.

 

Ray needs to be mindful of how he carries himself on TV because then he, himself, becomes the story. A broadcaster, whether he's an analyst or commentator, must write the headline without becoming the headline.

[Purple_ICE 81]

 

Ray Lewis made yet another comment about the Ravens, but it always seems to come back to him. First it was that the Sweet Pea incident doesn't happen if he's there, and now it's this. I really like Ray, but it seems like EVERYTHING is about him. He's always talking about guys and I frequently here, "If I was there, it would be this way." I don't mind the gesture, but when Ray whipped out his credit card to offer to pay for Ahmad Brooks fine, I think it was more him trying to be in the spotlight than anything else. That just annoys me.

Here are his recent comments about Ray Lewis.

"When I was playing with Joe Flacco, Joe Flacco wasmaking these same mistakes back then, but our defense always found a way to bail him out," Lewis said during ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown.

Lewis said that in order for Flacco to flourish, the offense needs more balance with a successful running attack, meaning Flacco can’t carry the offense all on his own.

“There’s no real balance that [the] Baltimore Ravens have right now and they want to make Joe Flacco – they gave him $100 million, I understand that – they want to make Joe Flacco a Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. He’s not that type of guy. He’s a system type of guy that if you have the balance – that you have running the ball, doing the things you need to do – then Joe Flacco excels.”

 

Well, this could not be any more wrong to me. First, Joe never made these high risk throws in the past, that I saw. He was always very careful, but this season I see a Joe Flacco that's trying to do way too much and he's forcing throws. I don't think these are the same throws and mistakes. Secondly, does Ray not remember that it was Flacco who led the Ravens to the Super Bowl in his absence and carried the team in the playoffs? Ray actually held the defense back last year, and Flacco pulled that team along.

Now, as for his comments about the "elite quarterbacks who don't need a supporting cast", that's a bunch of crap to me.

Tom Brady put up his best numbers from 2007 on. What happened in 2007? He added Wes Welker and Randy Moss to his lineup. He also added Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez not too much later. Just happens to get better after that, right? No, he got much better supporting cast players. From '07-'11, Brady had two top 10 running games and ranked outside of the top 15 once and that was '11 where the Patriots scored the third most rushing touchdowns in the NFL. In '12, Brady also had the 7th ranked run offense. Did Brady sacrifice defense? Nope. From '07-'12, the Patriots defense ranked inside the top 10 five times and never ranked outside the top 15 in terms of points per game given up. That's pretty incredible. Brady also had the first, second, and sixth ranked defenses when he won the Super Bowl. So, Brady breaks out in '07, but he always had a great defense and running game from then on out. It just so happens that his receivers this year drop off in talent and he's abysmal until Gronkowski gets back.

Peyton Manning may have never had the great offensive lines or defenses, but he still had Edgerin James as a major offensive weapon at running back, and while the numbers didn't show a high octane running attack (much like the Ravens), he still had a great running back to help balance out the attack. Know how many Super Bowls he won without Edgerin James? Zero. He also played much of his career with Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark. When he goes to Denver, he still has a balanced running attack, but he adds a great defense, the best offensive line in the NFL, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker. That's insane. Remember, Jim Irsay did say that he thought Peyton Manning would win more IF HE HAD BETTER PIECES AROUND HIM.

Aaron Rodgers never had the greatest running games, but he played with Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb at various points. He also had Jermichael Finley. He always had amazing receivers and way too many weapons to even be considered fair at all. When he won the Super Bowl, he had the number two defense in terms of points per game allowed. Not to mention that he also has only had an offensive line rank outside the top 10 once since 2008, including the 3rd ranked offensive line in 2010. His worked offensive line was in 2009, but wasn't that the Super Bowl run where the Packers dealt with like 13 IR'd players? Or was that a year later?

Look, I'm not saying that Joe is playing great or that he's doing the best he can because he isn't, but there is no such thing as a quarterback who can "carry the team" all by himself. Every team needs some pieces in place to do great things.

 

Note: Just found out that the defense gave up 10 fourth quarter leads last year, but Flacco and the Ravens still went 12-4. That is carrying your team.

 

If our front office does its job this offseason and gets protection, and weapons for Flacco it will be a way different story. Im sick and tired of taking shots on developmental WRs and TEs and hoping and praying that they flower and flourish but only seeing slight improvments and subpar play. Manning has Damariyus Thomas, and Welker, and Decker. Brees has Colston, Graham, Stills  Sproles. Romo has Dez Bryant and Witten...Brady has Amendola, Gronk,  Vareen... Matt Ryan has Julio, Roddy and Gonzales. ALL big money Qbs have weapons except Flacco, I mean Torrey is good but could be great if he had a better supporting cast and a healthy Pitta, and maybe with an early rd pick at TE  to form a dual threat...Pitta could really emerge into a pro bowler too. I think Flacco with a Dez Bryant or Julio Jones to go  along with Torrey and Pitta could be much much better than he is now...Pro Bowler easy.

 

And as for Ray's comments its obvious that Joe Flacco has a lot of clutch in him after putting the team on his back last year. Ray and the D may have bailed Joe out early in his career but they werent that same stout defense in the playoffs last year. Joe and his "Montana stats" were the reason we were champs.  The fact of the matter is that Joe Flacco had a terrible control freak of an OC the majority of his career who ran the ball way too much and took away from Flacco's development. Jim Caldwell was no wizard for us last year but what he did that made him look 10000x better than Cam Cameron was that he put the ball in Joe's hands way more with the game on the line and gave Joe the opportunity to win the contest. Cam was always super conservative and always called the plays for Joe and gave him no room to grow and flourish as a leader...and obviously we saw that if you put the ball in Flacco's hands he can do great things like win super bowl rings

[Tank 92]

Also, anyone playing football before knows it's no way a 37 year old man suppose to keep up with the fastest TE in the game anyway so Davis owning Ray in the SB is no big deal, he was suppose to be doing that to a old Ray Lewis playing on his last leg while he's in his prime.

 

 

Ray Lewis was nothing more than a shell of himself for the last 3 seasons of his career. The only thing that kept him on the field was his work ethic and his astute knowledge of the game.

 

Ray should cool out for a couple of years, give up being an analyst and then join the Ravens coaching staff.

[wayne]

I broke up your post because the Defense allowed Kaepernick and company to come back in the 2nd half of the Superbowl...  maybe they did shut down the Colts...  who also had a rookie QB and yeah, they were at M&T with a very emotional 12th man...  the crowd noise for Ray's last game was infinitely louder than most any regular season game.

 

That offense turned their game ON in the playoffs last year... Boldin, Pitta, Jacoby, Torrey....  Come on, you really cannot believe that.  I would NEVER say that the Defense carried that team through the playoffs last year...  NO WAY!

It was a mixture in the playoffs. Both parts of the team rose to the occasion, no part really carried the other part. People feel the O carried us b/c we neva witnessed the O perform like that consistently in such clutch situations but we always see the D get stops, that was nothing new. Also, what was the score at halftime and what was the final score in the SB? Yes, Niners came back but we stop scoring points too so it goes both ways. Also, the D was hurt by the O many times last season which makes the D look like they blew 4th quarters leads when in fact our O didn't seal the deal and sustain drives in those situations.