Ray Lewis To Retire At End Of Season

[AFKAR7]

Such a shame that Evans could not have held onto a pass as he might have gone out a SB champion. I think he would have called it quits if they had went and had won.

Amazing player and I wouldn't complain so much about the cost of sports if all athletes approached and played their sport the way Ray has done.

Don't be late for this games player intro people if you are going.

[PEZ]

Ray's full statement to the media:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/r...0,959581.story

[LarryN]

Anyone who is going to buy tickets for this game on the secondary market, better get them now before the price goes up. Classic matchup, inspirational leaders on both sides, Coach Pagano for the Colts, Ray Lewis for the Ravens. I hope he motivates Baltimore to a victory on Sunday!

Tickets are going fast on StubHub.

[Andy in Hagerstown]

It's been an honor seeing him play on Sunday for 17 years. It will be a specail moment to see him come out of the tunnel for one last time.

I thought the Colts had no chance in this game BEFORE this annoucement!!!

[BiggSeth]

Sad to see him go.

Now the mission is simple


Win 4 for 52!!

[Dub]

Simply the best I have seen play the game.

[Ravens2006]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a player who is still under contract for a particular season retiring is really no better for the team's cap situation than if they chose to cut him.

Personally I think it's a dumb rule... if a player decides to walk away and really retire... a club shouldn't be forced to carry that commitment against their cap. If there's guaranteed money still to be paid, so be it. But when the employee walks away of his own volition, you're sort of penalizing the team as a whole because of it (from a cap standpoint).

[Fang]

Such a shame that Evans could not have held onto a pass as he might have gone out a SB champion. I think he would have called it quits if they had went and had won.

Amazing player and I wouldn't complain so much about the cost of sports if all athletes approached and played their sport the way Ray has done.

Don't be late for this games player intro people if you are going.

As much as I hate to say it that Lee Evans drop is right there with the Ernest Byner fumble for the Browns. Except Evans' drop would have won the game whereas Byner's TD was for a tie. The Ravens still have a chance to erase that awful memory.

[jessup270]

I am happy that Ray's last game will be a playoff game or even a SB is possible.

Side Note:

When Ray is not here for the 2013 season, nor it is likely Ed Reed will be here, look for the downhill slide of Harbaugh as coach.

Ray and Reed are the leaders of the Ravens and have been for a long time. Young players care more about pleasing Ray and Reed, than they do Harbaugh.

Harbaugh's rah rah style of coaching will not fill the void of Ray and Reed.

With these two guys gone, looking for Ravens in 2013 to be 500 or less.

[Slidemaster]

The best there ever was. Thanks for everything, Ray.

[bmore_ken]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a player who is still under contract for a particular season retiring is really no better for the team's cap situation than if they chose to cut him.

Personally I think it's a dumb rule... if a player decides to walk away and really retire... a club shouldn't be forced to carry that commitment against their cap. If there's guaranteed money still to be paid, so be it. But when the employee walks away of his own volition, you're sort of penalizing the team as a whole because of it (from a cap standpoint).

The guaranteed money you still carry, but you save on the salary. His cap number for next year was $7.3M, $5.4M of that was salary which won't count

[johnpolitics]

Retiring at the right time. Get him a second ring guys!

[Ravens2006]

Such a shame that Evans could not have held onto a pass as he might have gone out a SB champion. I think he would have called it quits if they had went and had won.

Yeah, I think the match-ups would have been heavily in the Ravens favor had they wound up playing the Giants instead of the Pats. The Ravens secondary was in a zone this time last year. My gut feeling is that the Superbowl would have been slightly more competitive than last week's Giants / Ravens game, but not much.

Same deal in '06, sort of. The Ravens would have absolutely clobbered the Bears in the SB had they gotten there. That defense vs. Rex Grossman and company would have made SB 35 look like edge-of-your-seat drama.

Could, should, would... doesn't matter much now!

[Saticon3]

As much as I hate to say it that Lee Evans drop is right there with the Ernest Byner fumble for the Browns. Except Evans' drop would have won the game whereas Byner's TD was for a tie. The Ravens still have a chance to erase that awful memory.

Didn't Evans have a little "help" in "dropping" that ball? I mean, yes he should have held it tighter and fought for it, but I thought the db knocked it loose? If the db had not done that, wouldn't he have caught it?

[Pittsburgh$$$]

No doubt, one of the best to ever play middle linebacker. It's really something that Ray played 17 years. I'm sure he will be missed by you Ravens fans. I wish I could be at M&T to see his last introduction in front of the home crowd. The energy and emotion in the stadium will be unreal. Thanks Ray. You are the greatest.

[bmore_ken]

Didn't Evans have a little "help" in "dropping" that ball? I mean, yes he should have held it tighter and fought for it, but I thought the db knocked it loose? If the db had not done that, wouldn't he have caught it?

I gave up trying to tell people that. A lot of people act like he dropped a wide open pass

[bmore_ken]

No doubt, one of the best to ever play middle linebacker. It's really something that Ray played 17 years. I'm sure he will be missed by you Ravens fans. I wish I could be at M&T to see his last introduction in front of the home crowd. The energy and emotion in the stadium will be unreal. Thanks Ray. You are the greatest.

It'll be on Youtube 5 minutes after it happens

[Ravens75]

I gave up trying to tell people that. A lot of people act like he dropped a wide open pass

Every wide receiver since the begging of time is taught to go to the ground when you have any type of coverage in the end zone. He relaxed and the db did the only thing he could which is go for the strip. Good play for the db but that was 95% Evans fault.

Lee Evans will have to live with that the rest of his life since he's done in the NFL.

[Fang]

I gave up trying to tell people that. A lot of people act like he dropped a wide open pass

There wasn't anyone around Evans for miles. The ball hit him in the numbers. If he catches the pass the Ravens win the Superbowl.





(at least that's what the story will be in 20 years)


But seriously, yes the DB did knock the ball out. But Evans let the DB in. I agree with the poster that said it was 95% on Evans. He should have caught the ball like someone threw his first born at him.

As painful as this is, look at this review of the "drop". The review makes a great case that Evan's right hand is actually moving away from the ball and not securing it. Was Evan's celebrating prematurely? We'll never know.

http://farmerstanproductions.wordpre...layoff-chokes/

[bmore_ken]

I'm not saying Evans had no responsibility, but it's not like there wasn't a DB there doing his job.