Ray's Contract

[RavenLisa]

I know it's early but, after listening to Ray on the 2 interviews it's about money and it's a business is starting to worry me. I'm getting the impression Ray will not give the Ravens a hometown dicount.

[purplepoe]

We've got a thread devoted to this.

Lots of differing opinions on the whole interview.

PP

[ravenwoman]

You're right! He isn't going to give a hometown discount.

[Jeremiah W]

Why should he? He is worth what he can get, and it is up to the Ravens if they want to match it. If it is all about the buis and all the Ravens need to do is pay him, that should be good news. It is not like he did what Peppers did and said he wants out. He wants as much money as he can get, and he wants to keep his legacy intact, but we have to wait and see what the Ravens want and how much they are willing to pay.

Jerry Jones must have given Deion some money to be his agent. It is pretty bad hearing him woo Ray in an inteview. Money aside, why would he want to go to a team he helped stomp out of the playoffs and leads the leauge in drama.

[Mista T]

Why should he? He is worth what he can get, and it is up to the Ravens if they want to match it.

Disagree 100%.

Ray Lewis owes the Ravens management, and Ravens fans, a huge hometown discount. Our team could have kept their distance from Ray when he was charged in Atlanta. Instead, they jumped in with full support, hiring the nation's best criminal attorney, providing testimony and whatever financial support was required. Ray went free, with just a minor misdemeanor charge, and his playing career salvaged. Without the Ravens support, there would have been a reasonable chance that he would have gone to jail and his career terminated.

At about the same time, there was a WR with the Panthers involved in a murder, who was totally cut off by the team. Ravens fans have in general been fully supportive of Ray during and since his Atlanta issues.

Ray owes the Ravens, big time, for his career.

[Jeremiah W]

Disagree 100%.

Ray Lewis owes the Ravens management, and Ravens fans, a huge hometown discount. Our team could have kept their distance from Ray when he was charged in Atlanta. Instead, they jumped in with full support, hiring the nation's best criminal attorney, providing testimony and whatever financial support was required. Ray went free, with just a minor misdemeanor charge, and his playing career salvaged. Without the Ravens support, there would have been a reasonable chance that he would have gone to jail and his career terminated.

At about the same time, there was a WR with the Panthers involved in a murder, who was totally cut off by the team. Ravens fans have in general been fully supportive of Ray during and since his Atlanta issues.

Ray owes the Ravens, big time, for his career.

So Ray would not have been Ray if he was drafted by NE or Miami? This is where Ray has played his entire HOF carreer, and the owner was 100% right when he said ray is worth more to him than any other owner.

The whole murder stuff is a real grey to dark area I would rather avoid all together. I do not know what happened any more than you do, but I seriously doubt anything would have been different if he was on another team, other than that team would have been the most dominant defense of the decade.

[ravenjoer]

I HOPE we resign Ray Lewis but if all he is about right now is money where do we draw the line? If Ray Lewis wants to be a life long Raven he will take the deal on the table and let the team have extra $$$ to resign our own free agents and ad some depth.

Let's NOT over pay Ray when Suggs,Leonard,Scott,Brown and next year Ngata is due for a extension and also the need for a #1 reciever.

I bleed black and purple and have been a fan of #52 since 9/1/96 when he came out of the endzone with a pick raising the roof jumping up and down in our first game.

THOUGHTS
Do you think Hines Ward would do this to Pittsburgh? NO
Do you think Peyton Manning would do this to Indy? NO
Do you think Tom Brady would do this to NE? NO
These guys listed above love there team and there city and it has become who they are. Ray's closest friends Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson and (Primetime) are publicly on record telling Ray to stay here and I am happy our owner has said we want him back and we are offering millions but not the farm and now it's up to Ray and his first public answer is it's between him and God

[Jeremiah W]

I HOPE we resign Ray Lewis but if all he is about right now is money where do we draw the line? If Ray Lewis wants to be a life long Raven he will take the deal on the table and let the team have extra $$$ to resign our own free agents and ad some depth.

Let's NOT over pay Ray when Suggs,Leonard,Scott,Brown and next year Ngata is due for a extension and also the need for a #1 reciever.

I bleed black and purple and have been a fan of #52 since 9/1/96 when he came out of the endzone with a pick raising the roof jumping up and down in our first game.

THOUGHTS
Do you think Hines Ward would do this to Pittsburgh? NO
Do you think Peyton Manning would do this to Indy? NO
Do you think Tom Brady would do this to NE? NO
These guys listed above love there team and there city and it has become who they are. Ray's closest friends Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson and (Primetime) are publicly on record telling Ray to stay here and I am happy our owner has said we want him back and we are offering millions but not the farm and now it's up to Ray and his first public answer is it's between him and God

The players you listed all make the most in the NFL. Ward had to hold out 2 years ago after getting superbowl MVP before getting paid. Manning makes maga bucks and also is the top commercial star, same thing iwth slim shady Tom Brady cashing in mastecard money and pimping paparazzi style. They all make a lot more than Ray does (other than Hines) and Ray is just about as big a star and a huge difference maker.

Maybe God told Ray to get as much money as he can. I do not see how anyone who has watched him play could even think he is not worth whatever he can get. Has there ever been a guy more dedicated to doing what he does well? There may be other superstars with more amazing talent, but terms of pure hard work to be great, I put the money on Ray as the hardest working man in showbuis history.

[Rayvens52]

The players you listed all make the most in the NFL. Ward had to hold out 2 years ago after getting superbowl MVP before getting paid. Manning makes maga bucks and also is the top commercial star, same thing iwth slim shady Tom Brady cashing in mastecard money and pimping paparazzi style. They all make a lot more than Ray does (other than Hines) and Ray is just about as big a star and a huge difference maker.

Maybe God told Ray to get as much money as he can. I do not see how anyone who has watched him play could even think he is not worth whatever he can get. Has there ever been a guy more dedicated to doing what he does well? There may be other superstars with more amazing talent, but terms of pure hard work to be great, I put the money on Ray as the hardest working man in showbuis history.

I couldn't agree more. I love Ray as much as anyone but he owes us and this city nothing. This is a business to them but to us the fans it is different. This is his last chance at making money in the NFL as a player and he should go after as much as he can get. He is prob Top 3 LB to ever play the game and you are saying he should take less to finish playing in Baltimore is crazy, if your boss told you you had to take less money to stay in your position or you could go across the street and make more what would you do, why should Ray treat his job any differently than we do, and please don't give me the look how much he has made crap.

Again i love him as much as the next guy, but even Shannon said if the Ravnes really wanted to keep Ray they never would have let him get to free agency. They made him an offer that was apperantly a joke and Ray should do what is best for him and his family and God do I hope that means staying here and leading this team, but if we don't want to pony up the money and the Jets or Dal is and he goes I will be sad but I wont blame him.

Ray just had a great season again and IMO is still a Top 5 LB in the league today and he should be paid as such, and that does not even include the locker room and on the field presence he brings of leadership that maybe no player has ever brought to the game. He should give no team including Baltimore a discount he does not owe anybody anything we owe him for all he has done for this city and franchise and we should give him the contract the Jets or Dal will to keep him here, but if he leaves the only people you can blame is our FO not Ray!

[Mista T]

I'm really taken back by the comments above which would support Ray Lewis getting top dollar. Seriously: have you guys really thought out what losing Ray Lewis would mean to the Ravens, or are you just empathizing with him?

Ray getting top dollar would be the worst thing that could happen to this franchise. If Oz were unwilling to overpay, then we lose Ray. Gone - the heart & soul of our Defense, with nothing to show for it. If Oz did overpay, we would likely see several other players have to be cut to be able to afford Ray's payday. Who should go: Landry? Gregg? Leonhard? Scott? Heap? maybe all of them?

One of y'all who support giving Ray his outrageous payday: please explain, what's in that for the Ravens? What's in it for Ravens fans?

[Andon]

word

[UKRavenGordon]

The one thing I'll say in defence of Ray getting top dollar is this:
I genuinely still view this guy as the best at his postion in the league.

Mista T, of the players you mentioned the only one who isn't easily replaceable is Gregg.

Landry - 5th round pick
Leonard - Tryout FA
Scott - UDFA
Heap - 1st Rounder

Out FO has shown the ability to replace these players and their contribution to the team. For me, I only became a Ravens fan - and an NFL fan for that matter - the year after the Superbowl, the one constant has been #52. I can't imagine him playing in anything other than Ravens purple.

[Rayvens52]

I'm really taken back by the comments above which would support Ray Lewis getting top dollar. Seriously: have you guys really thought out what losing Ray Lewis would mean to the Ravens, or are you just empathizing with him?

Ray getting top dollar would be the worst thing that could happen to this franchise. If Oz were unwilling to overpay, then we lose Ray. Gone - the heart & soul of our Defense, with nothing to show for it. If Oz did overpay, we would likely see several other players have to be cut to be able to afford Ray's payday. Who should go: Landry? Gregg? Leonhard? Scott? Heap? maybe all of them?

One of y'all who support giving Ray his outrageous payday: please explain, what's in that for the Ravens? What's in it for Ravens fans?

I don't disagree with anything you are saying here, I do not know how it all would work out. I am just saying I can not blame and will not blame him if he goes elsewhere for the money he deserves. He is still a top LB and should be paid as such, you can not look at the fact that he has prob 3 years left, you have to look at what you will get in those 3 years for him and pay him as such. Maybe letting him go elsewhere is the answer for the Ravens, maybe keeping him is the answer I do not know that answer, again all I am saying is to say he must give us a hometown discount is not right he deserves his money for all he has done and will do the rest of his career and if that is Baltimore paying him or someone else he will get his money and nobody should blame him for that!

[srobert96]

I know it's early but, after listening to Ray on the 2 interviews it's about money and it's a business is starting to worry me. I'm getting the impression Ray will not give the Ravens a hometown dicount.

If that is the case than the Ravens make a business decision and franchise him. Make him a fair offer along with the franchise tender. He and his agents can look for trade partners.

Most important thing this year is to lock up Suggs and Brown.

[purplepoe]

Not sure what the surprise is.

Ray is in it for Ray.

It's always been that way.

PP

[ravenwoman]

If that is the case than the Ravens make a business decision and franchise him. Make him a fair offer along with the franchise tender. He and his agents can look for trade partners.

Most important thing this year is to lock up Suggs and Brown.

I agree. If Ray doesn't want to be a team player and play nice, lock him up via the franchise tag and tell him that we will see how much he is worth next year. If his production slacks off, then his market value will be much less and then we can resign him and he can retire as a Raven. The Ravens hold the ace.

[HoustonRaven]

All this negative fuss over what he said.

He also said in that same interview that he is ok with the franchise tag if it's in the best interest of the team.

If we're going to take him at his word and rake him over the coals, how about also taking him on his word for that and give him some props?

Not many players this day and age would say it.

[camdenyard]

Fair point HR, but I have to wonder if the Ray we'd get if he was franchised would be the 2008 Ray, or the 2005 Ray.

[LOT"H"TAILGATER]

Has anyone heard any #'s, I think he would sign a 3 year 20 million if 10 was a signing bonus?

[LOT"H"TAILGATER]

Give suggs 6 years at 70 million with 18 mill signing