Was Ray Even there?

[Ravenfan_11]

Did anyone notice if Ray was even there tonight? They didn't show him at all, not even during warm ups, and never spoke his name the whole night either.

I get the feeling he was given a free pass to go on vacation until next week.

I know that wouldn't be his decision, but if that's the case, it's pretty bogus. Everyone else had to be there.

Can someone tell me if I'm wrong?

[camdenyard]

Who gives a crap, really?

I mean, as long as he wasn't doing the town...

[Ravens0587]

I dont care if he was in japn drunk with 3 hookers as long as he shows up on monday

[Losac]

According to The Sun, he was not there for family reasons.

[RAVENOUS52]

Exactly why would Ray Lewis, or the Ravens organization, for that matter, want him to return to the site of his greatest disgrace for a meaningless game against Chris Redman?

If anything, keeping him away from that place would be the sensible thing to do.

Now if you could, please explain to me how him not being there was "bogus"?

[ravenwoman]

He was out for personal reasons, and that's fine with me. Besides, I think he should avoid Atlanta for the rest of his life. :laugh:

[WxKevin]

I think all Ravens should avoid Atlanta.

[Ravenfan_11]

Let me start this by saying up front that Ray is my favorite athlete of all time, in any sport.

However, I think if the team is supposed to be there, he should be there, even if not in the game.

I don't care about what happended in 2000, that's long past at this point. If I am not mistaken, I believe he mentioned something about going on vacation during his radio show last week.

If that's the case, I don't think it's far to the other team members, and I think these are the types of things that can create dissention.

[Sports Steve]

I really don't care. The Damn Pre-Season is now over

Let's Play Some Real Football :thumbup: :thumbup:


GO RAVENS

:jester: :jester:

[psuasskicker]

A lot of big-time starters don't bother showing up for the fourth game. Read Peter King's MMQB from this past week...he states the same thing. This isn't abnormal at all. Why should the big time players that aren't gonna play and have no reason to worry about it, come on a trip to watch a meaningless game?

Meh...doesn't matter.

- C -

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

Who the heck cares..I am finding out that, people here in Baltimore need something to whine about...:eyes: JUST SHUT UP AND PLAY FOOTBALL:D

[HoustonRaven]

He was out for personal reasons, and that's fine with me. Besides, I think he should avoid Atlanta for the rest of his life. :laugh:

It's just good advice to avoid Atlanta in general:insane:

Who really cares if Ray was there or not??? I mean, its a pre season game for God's sake. Not to mention ALL starters will need to be fresh when we see the Bengals.

[crazyraven]

Who really cares if Ray was there or not??? I mean, its a pre season game for God's sake. Not to mention ALL starters will need to be fresh when we see the Bengals.
You should of been around when Ray missed meaningless games starting with the Texans. Some of these guys were really killing ray, thing is, he was injured and didnt need to be there.

Ray can do whatever he wants as long as he isnt missing regular season or playoff games. He's still that good.

[HoustonRaven]

Agreed.

And I think it's important to point out something. Sometimes players become so good and so popular that just their presence creates too much buzz for a team to handle. It becomes a distraction for the rest of the team. Cal was the same way when he was with the O's.

When players of such talent such as Cal or Ray decide to do things away from the team, I am totally fine with it. By them staying away at key times, they actually help the team by taking the media heat away from the rest of the team so they can focus on the task at hand.

[purplepoe]

Can someone tell me if I'm wrong?

Sure.

You are wrong.

PP

[Greg]

Ray can do whatever he wants as long as he isnt missing regular season or playoff games. He's still that good.
I would disagree with that. He had family reasons for last night and that's fine, that isn't too big of a deal. But he needs to be held to the same standards as everybody else on the TEAM. Nobody should get special treatment in terms of being excused from travel, etc. If Ogden or Heap or Suggs has to be there then Ray should be.

[HoustonRaven]

Could not disagree more.

You're applying high school rules to a pro game that is filled with media hounds eager to snap the latest picture or get the scoop at any cost.

Athletes at the level of Ray, Cal, Jeter, etc are not traveling with the teams because of big egos or anything like that. They do so in a way that will keep the media away from the rest of the team. In essence, their absence is them being an even bigger team player. They sacrifice without their friends on the team in order to keep the rest of the team on an even keel.

I understand the concept of team and its importance. At the pro level, this logic doesnt apply.

[crazyraven]

Exactly this isnt Little League were everyone jumps into the same mini van and everyone gets to play an equal amount of time. Ray is a weapon everyone knows it and as a team they will make provisions for him.

since I brought up little league I will tell you this, the next level of little league are travel teams and I can tell you first hand that some players are afforded special treatment much the same as what you are seeing with ray. Is it right? probably not, But its just the way the world spins.

[The Fanatic]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd like to think the media in Atlanta and for that matter, just about any where that covers pro football had a far bigger story/situation to cover in Atlanta that week other then Ray Lewis.

The notion that it's OK for Ray Lewis to not make the trip for any reason other then injury concerns or personal/family matters is BS.

Special treatment stuff like that had a part in the debacle of the season a few years ago.
There was alot of dissention(sp?) in the locker room because of how some players were being treated which caused alot of issues.

If you're on the team, you go!! PERIOD!!!!

Quite frankly, I think Ray probably would have liked to go and watch with the rest of his teammates on the sidelines along with the other vets that didn't play.

At least that's the impression he's given me so far from watching him interact on the sidelines this year so far.

If things go south (Hopefully not), it'll be interesting to see how he acts through times of distress.

[Rochardrik]

Who the heck cares..I am finding out that, people here in Baltimore need something to whine about...:eyes: JUST SHUT UP AND PLAY FOOTBALL:D

I agree, quietly, however!:rolleyes: