Not with a bang but a whimper. Is this the way Ray Lewis’ Hall of Fame career will end?
“Ray has a triceps tear,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh, during his Monday press conference. “A complete tear. So he’ll be out for the season.”
The 37-year-old Lewis tore his right triceps during an injury-riddled 31–29 victory over the Cowboys — a game that also saw the Ravens lose star cornerback Lardarius Webb to a season-ending torn ACL and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata leave the contest with minor MCL damage.
Prior to the injury, there had been speculation that Lewis’ 17th season would be his last. In fact, many believed he might walk away from the game after last year’s painful 23–20 loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game — which ended in a dropped touchdown pass and shanked potential game-tying field goal. But the fiery Lewis quickly shot down those notions after falling just short of his second Super Bowl appearance.
“For us to be here now, I’m hungry again and I’m thirsty again,” Lewis said in late January. “Every time you go through something like this, it has to drive you. I truly believe that’s the only thing that makes people great.”
No one doubts Lewis’ greatness. But this latest obstacle comes at a point in his professional career and a time in his personal life that may result in No. 52 retiring from the NFL earlier than he may have planned.
“I’m not going to make any comment on that,” said Harbaugh. “That’s for Ray to speak on. I admire Ray Lewis. I’ve said that many times. … I look forward to seeing what he says about that.”
The ultimate face of the franchise, Lewis was the No. 26 overall pick of the Ravens in the team’s first draft after relocating from Cleveland to Baltimore in 1996. The Miami (Fla.) product was the second Raven picked — behind left tackle Jonathan Ogden — and the fourth linebacker selected, behind Kevin Hardy, John Mobley and Reggie Brown. Lewis, however, went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of his draft class and arguably the greatest middle linebacker in history.
With a Super Bowl XXXV MVP, two Defensive Player of the Year awards and 13 Pro Bowls to his credit, there is little left for Lewis to accomplish in the NFL. And with his son, Ray Lewis III, heading off to his alma mater in Coral Gables to play for the Hurricanes next season, Lewis’ motivational speeches may be better served elsewhere. Only time will tell.
“He said some things that I’ll never forget,” said Harbaugh, of Lewis. “When you look at his situation and what he’s accomplished and what he was hoping to accomplish this year, he’s going to have to accomplish those things in different ways because that’s the way it’s gone.”
