Will Ray Return?

[ravenjoe]

Just curious, but who out there thinks he will return, or move on? I think Ray moves on, but I hope that I'm wrong!

[Rayvens52]

Early last week I thought he was gone for sure. Now looking at how everything has played out I think he signs with us today or tomorrow at the latest. The market his agent told him about is not there, and the Ravens made him a very nice offer...I just can not see him holding out to much longer now knowing nobody came knocking and our deal could become less if he holds out much longer.

[RavenScallywag]

he returns, but now it's more like two parents staying together for the kids :(

[RavenDKM]

He'll remain a Raven! Which is what I have hoped for this entire time. Ray Lewis will retire a Raven and rightfully so.

[52decleetzu]

he returns, but now it's more like two parents staying together for the kids :(

Very good analogy Scally...very nice.

Ray has nowhere else to go.

He has no choice but to return.

[bmore4life]

he returns, but now it's more like two parents staying together for the kids :(

yeah, that's a very good analogy. he will be back... where else would he go? Jets- NO, Dallas-NO, Denver-NO. who else has the money and the need for him? Tampa? they just cut their "face of the franchise LB" so i seriously doubt they will want Ray.

he will definitely be back...

[LOT"H"TAILGATER]

If he comes back now , his heart won't be in it and he will only be playing for the money,,, Ray will be gone sometime , so why not cut bait and move on... I love what ray did for the ravens as much as the next guy, but overpaying him is not good for the overall makeup of the team,,, 3/24mil is way to much, thats why no one else is offering that to him,,, If he comes back he should be a 2 down linebacker, He can still stop the run better than most but he is a liability in passing downs, It will extend his career and allow others to gain from his knowledge,,, but 2/3 of the time playing doesn't = 24 million

[RavenTD]

Give me a MLB's name in FA who can come in and have 117 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 int, 2 FF for the Ravens in 2009?

[ravenjoe]

If he comes back now , his heart won't be in it and he will only be playing for the money

It is hard for me to see Ray playing Without passion and intensity - once between the white lines, Ray is all football; again, once a gladiator, always a gladiator. Off the field, however, I'm not so sure; he actually may be detrimental to the total team concept Harbs is espousing, and so it may be better to cut ties, and move on, as was the case with Cmac.

[crazyraven]

Yes he will return

If he comes back now , his heart won't be in it and he will only be playing for the money
I dont know how anyone could say that with a straight face. If you believe that then you havent been following the ravens for a few years. Get a clue or stop fucking tailgating yourself into a drunken stupor. the one thing that Ray has more than anything is heart....and dont even try to take that away from him.

[James R(aven)]

I think he'll definitely be back now that no teams bar the Pats (will not happen) are still in play. This whole mess with Ray has left a bad taste in my mouth but no doubt that taste will fade away as soon as he bursts out the tunnel and on to the field for the first game!

[ravenwoman]

His choices are the Ravens or retirement. He needs the money. He'll be back and he and his agent will spin some BS about how he loves Baltimore, never intended to leave, was just joking around with his pals about playing for Dallas and the Jets, etc. etc. Then he will come out of the tunnel next year, parading around like the NBC peacock, grab some grass, do his little dance, and then all will be well in Ravenstown. La de da!

[YRKPARAVEN]

Strongly disagree. One thing with Ray, his heart is always in playing. Once signed, he will be the same Ray, heart and soul of this team. One constant of the last 10 years, and the best defense in football during that time, is Ray.

[RavinDonnie]

He will be back, no one else wants him and his baggage...except Steve Bigshotti.

[Andon]

lets get him

[RavenScallywag]

there's going to need to be a period of healing between Ray and the Ravens...Ray is already trying to do this it seems, but there's definitley been a big gash put into his reputation here. Evidence is shown in most of the posters here, which come out anti-Ray now.

Granted, we're all going to love Ray again...it's just a matter of time to heal that wound. And I would agree cutting ties with him now wouldn't be right, mainly because he is the best LB left in FA. I think we'll put a bigger emphasis on developing our young LBs, but who better than Ray to mentor them, especially Tavares Gooden.

But I think for some time, both sides are going to be walking on thin ice with each other. That's why I wouldn't try to cut his proposed deal down too much, it sends the wrong message and goes from us giving our beloved franchise player a retirement deal to needling him on money. On the other side, we shouldn't go any higher if Ray tries to play us for more money.

So long answer shortened...Ray is coming back, probably begrudingly, with his tail between his legs...in time, we'll probably love this move since it would allow Ray to retire a Raven, but right now, this feels less like a choice and more like we were the last two kids in class to be paired up for the project (analogies abound today!)

[RavenTD]

Wounded,I think fans get wounded by players. teammates and front office know what a cut throat business this is. And know the mental state of todays players on the edge,emotionally unstable etc.

Raven players have seen Ray bleed for this team so I don't think they will have an issue.The FO get Ray back and a little bit world wiser.And hopefully with one mother of a chip on his shoulder towards every other team.

No matter what Ray's mental state is, we want to get the Ray 08 product in 09 again.Because what else is out there?I am not talking about Ray the man, but Ray the product on the field.

The problem with fans,they get signatures, jerseys, messageboard names of their main man and get too emotionally attached to that person.Players are human and f**k up just like you and me.

[Purpleguy]

I work for a company out of Boston and when I was telling them that Ray may be a patriot, to a man, they all said they didn't want that murderer on their team. I think this is the sentiment shared by every city in the country except for Baltimore. Ray comes with a lot of baggage, not withstanding his age. Nobody else will take him for anything close to what we offered. I would lower the offer at this point. The market has set the price. Ray will have to take it because he can't afford to retire.

[ravenjoe]

I would lower the offer at this point. The market has set the price. Ray will have to take it because he can't afford to retire.

I wouldn't advise cutting his offer; imo, that would cheapen the Ravens position. Oz has been, and always will be, a class individual who does right by the team. So just keep the same offer on the table, but with a time limit attached - we move on, if Ray decides to vacillate on this offer. I would not want to see the Ravens get in a pissing contest with Ray - he has meant to much to this city and team to renig on our offer now.

[purplepoe]

I wouldn't advise cutting his offer; imo, that would cheapen the Ravens position. Oz has been, and always will be, a class individual who does right by the team. So just keep the same offer on the table, but with a time limit attached - we move on, if Ray decides to vacillate on this offer. I would not want to see the Ravens get in a pissing contest with Ray - he has meant to much to this city and team to renig on our offer now.

How long should the Ravens keep the offer out there?

There are other moves to be made and if that means using some of the money alotted to Ray, then so be it. He'd only have himself to blame (again) if he waits too long and the value decreases.

PP

[RavenScallywag]

I'd give him a week...honestly, I would be very suprised if he doesn't re-sign tomorrow or Tuesday...if there was really a market for him, he would've scheduled a visit by now. No one is reaching out to him, the only thing left for him to do is try to repair his bridge with the Ravens.

I'm not sure we have any FA moves we want to make left...I think we'll pickup a K at some point, we're still working on Marvel Smith, and we could take a look at an OL, but really, Ray represents that we'd likely want a vet FA LB to mentor the young guys. Who is the next tier guy we could sign now? We should leave the offer out until it becomes apparent Ray is moving on, then we move on as well.

[Purpleguy]

Ray would have moved on if there was any other team interested. We are bidding against ourselves at this point. There was going to come a day that Ray would have to pay something for his off the field mistakes. That day may have finally come. The Ravens have continuously rewarded Ray by paying him over market contracts. Ray never even thought of giving the team a discount for what they have done for him. Now we have another over market deal on the table, and Ray still wants more. Right now there is no market for Ray, so the smart business thing to do would be to lower the offer.

[Mista T]

Ray would have moved on if there was any other team interested. We are bidding against ourselves at this point. There was going to come a day that Ray would have to pay something for his off the field mistakes. That day may have finally come. The Ravens have continuously rewarded Ray by paying him over market contracts. Ray never even thought of giving the team a discount for what they have done for him. Now we have another over market deal on the table, and Ray still wants more. Right now there is no market for Ray, so the smart business thing to do would be to lower the offer.

I agree with everything you stated, but I wouldn't want to risk pushing Ray into retirement by insulting him. However, I would give him a week or so to shit or get off the pot.

[Purpleguy]

I agree with everything you stated, but I wouldn't want to risk pushing Ray into retirement by insulting him. However, I would give him a week or so to shit or get off the pot.

That's the beauty of the situation. Thanks to Ray being careless with his finances and the spreading of his seed, he can't afford to retire.

[bmorebirds_24]

As much as I love Ray on the field, he has really lost alot of my respect this offseason. I was so worried that we were going to lose him. But, seeing the market for Ray is shit, I think he is having a tough time swallowing his pride, down in Flordia.


If he does come back I will never question his heart and passion on the field. Off the field I will never respect him as much, again. Apart me thinks the only reason Ray will come back is because we are the only team showing interest. I like Ray have a ton of pride and if I was the Ravens I wouldn't low ball him with an offer, but I would bring down the offer and when he bitches more tell him, well you wanted to play else where, but I guess god wants you here:rolling:


So Ray take the offer of 12 million guarenteed and be back in August, ready to play football.

[xmradiodave]

Ray will be back to finish his career in a Ravens uniform. He can pretend to be angry and hurt by the Ravens, but that stack of Benjamins sitting on the table will make it all better. The fans will also throw their support and adoration behind Lewis once again. I am pissed at his shennanigans, but come 2009 Kickoff, I have a feeling I will forget all about it. Wait... what was I saying? See... it is beginning already.

[ace2die]

:word
12 tackles (even if he jumps on the pile four times for half a tackle each)
1 forced fumble
2 pass defended

these will be his stats opening Thursday when the Ravens throttle the Squealers in Pittsburgh. We will all forget everything about this process. These are the "Rayvens" not having Ray around if he was still in the league would bother many of us layal fans more than we let on.

PS I thought this all along, not just because he will more than likely be back.

[StingerNLG]

Ray would have moved on if there was any other team interested. We are bidding against ourselves at this point. There was going to come a day that Ray would have to pay something for his off the field mistakes. That day may have finally come. The Ravens have continuously rewarded Ray by paying him over market contracts. Ray never even thought of giving the team a discount for what they have done for him. Now we have another over market deal on the table, and Ray still wants more. Right now there is no market for Ray, so the smart business thing to do would be to lower the offer.


Add Denver now to the teams that won't be calling him. They just signed Niko Koutouvides.

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/5283

And in that article they want to sign another Linebacker, but Angelo Crowell formerly of Buffalo.

Ray. Dude. Just sign the Ravens contract and be done with it.

[Ravenswarrior19]

Here's some pure rank speculation. I just wanna post it so that, if it happens, I can say "you heard it here first". When it doesn't happen, all will be forgotten (Just like the guys on tv!)

What if Dan Snyder wants to make a splash by bringing Ray 45 min. south?
They just cut Jason Taylor, freeing up $8 million in cap space.
They LB Marcus Washington before free agency began.
Dan Snyder is someone who will overspend on old players (see Deion).
They could move to a 3-4 with Haynesworth at NG, Fletcher and Ray ILBs, Blades and McIntosh OLBs.

Chance of becoming reality - 0.5%


For the record, yes I think Ray will return.

[UKRavenStockers]

Add Denver now to the teams that won't be calling him. They just signed Niko Koutouvides.

http://www.pewterreport.com/articles/view/5283

And in that article they want to sign another Linebacker, but Angelo Crowell formerly of Buffalo.

Ray. Dude. Just sign the Ravens contract and be done with it.

You think Niko Koutouvides is a reason not to sign Ray Lewis? They signed Koutouvides to compete to be their starting MIKE backer last year and he couldn't beat out Nate Webster for the job at any point in training camp or during the regular season. Koutouvides is nothing but a special teamer, if they want Ray (which I don't think they do at his price otherwise I'd have thought you'd have seen more talk on that front), Koutouvides doesn't stop that talk.

[StingerNLG]

You think Niko Koutouvides is a reason not to sign Ray Lewis? They signed Koutouvides to compete to be their starting MIKE backer last year and he couldn't beat out Nate Webster for the job at any point in training camp or during the regular season. Koutouvides is nothing but a special teamer, if they want Ray (which I don't think they do at his price otherwise I'd have thought you'd have seen more talk on that front), Koutouvides doesn't stop that talk.

Ack!! Apologies UK. I completely mistyped that. It wasn't Denver that resigned him. He was signed by the Bucs yesterday. I meant to say scratch off Tampa Bay as a destination.

And I think the Bucs are bringing him in to start at LB.

Sorry for the confusion.

[3RDRowRaven]

I would give him a week or so to shit or get off the pot.

I'm thinking along the same lines as well.


There was going to come a day that Ray would have to pay something for his off the field mistakes. That day may have finally come. The Ravens have continuously rewarded Ray by paying him over market contracts. Ray never even thought of giving the team a discount for what they have done for him. Now we have another over market deal on the table, and Ray still wants more. Right now there is no market for Ray, so the smart business thing to do would be to lower the offer.

Right on PurpleGuy!
I gotta tell you if we don't hear from Ray or his agent this week, then I say let's move on. There is no market for Ray, just take what the Ravens offer you and finish your career here in Baltimore. Either you take the offer or retire and work for ESPN or NFL Network or FOX.

I would really like to see Ray come dancing out of the tunnel and making big plays and smashing hits in 2009, but will it happen?

The clock is ticking Ray and all of Baltimore is waiting..........................

[UKRavenStockers]

Ack!! Apologies UK. I completely mistyped that. It wasn't Denver that resigned him. He was signed by the Bucs yesterday. I meant to say scratch off Tampa Bay as a destination.

And I think the Bucs are bringing him in to start at LB.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ah, presumably that'd be at OLB for Koutouvides then, seeing as they already have Barrett Ruud inside in Tampa. Even so, I'd be surprised if he held down a starting spot there. Derrick Brooks even at this late stage in his career to Niko Koutouvides is a big ole step down in play.

[srobert96]

Give me a MLB's name in FA who can come in and have 117 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 int, 2 FF for the Ravens in 2009?

No one and that is including Ray.

His production in 2007 was not what it was in 2008 which just so happened to be a contract year. He will be 34 years old and unless he is taking a heavy dose of HGH his performance will rapidly decline over the next couple of years. The Ravens should leave the offer at 24 million with with an 8 million dollar signing bonus. With his year 3 salary being 10 mil.

[Jeremiah W]

No one and that is including Ray.

His production in 2007 was not what it was in 2008 which just so happened to be a contract year. He will be 34 years old and unless he is taking a heavy dose of HGH his performance will rapidly decline over the next couple of years. The Ravens should leave the offer at 24 million with with an 8 million dollar signing bonus. With his year 3 salary being 10 mil.

His production in 2007 was the same as 2008, but the team around him was much different. The run defense was still where it was supposed to be, the pass rush and coverage as well as the offense in general all stunk, but Ray behind Nagta still stopped backs after 2.8 yards per carry.

Ray should still be a top 5 MB for the next 2 years, he can always be cut in year 3 if he is not.