Oz thinks Ray will be back this year

[Carey]

“When you’re dealing with an injury like this, one of the things you research is the length of time to come back. We look for the best case, the worst case and the average. That’s the first thing we look at from a football point of view,” General Manager Ozzie Newsome said yesterday in talking about Ray Lewis’ torn triceps.

“Once we got those estimations, we looked at the calendar and started thinking: ‘If there is any athlete in the world who could come back from this in the shortest time, it would be Ray,’” Newsome explained.

“I talked with John (Harbaugh), Steve (Bisciotti) – and Steve was very involved and instrumental in this decision – and, of course, Ray. While I was doing my research with Dr. (Leigh Ann) Curl (team doctor), Ray was doing his homework and his research. I told Ray we were thinking about giving him the ‘designation to return’ tag, and he said he was just going to call me and suggest that he thought he could be back by the end of the season,” Newsome said.

The “designation to return” is new to the NFL this year. It allows teams to commit one player per season to injured reserve who is allowed to return to the active roster after at least six weeks on injured reserve. “When we were talking about whether to do this with Ray, I mentioned to Steve and John that we could save this for another player. But, I also said that some basketball coaches save their timeouts and then don’t use them. Steve said, ‘Don’t save the timeout.’”

Then Ozzie talked about Ray: “They say it’s a slow-healing injury, but that the person could begin rehab three weeks after the surgery. Then you put Ray into the equation. He will attack this like he attacks everything else. Is there anyone who could bring more energy, more motivation, more work to come back? Because it’s Ray, we’re willing to take this chance. We all know he is special, and he’s already chomping at the bit to get going, and he just had surgery yesterday (Wednesday.) If we were going to bet on one player coming back, we were betting on Ray Lewis.”

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...c-95963397f255

[rharris1986]

Leadership and inspirational motivation aside, the Ravens defense will be better with a younger, quicker, faster athelete playing at the position. As the season progresses and that realization begins to sink in Ray's rehab potential will be put into perspective. The big question is, if that proves true, do the Ravens have the guts to break the news to Ray next year.

Old time Baltimore fans remember when Johnny Unitas was done. Everybody knew it - EXCEPT Johnny Unitas - who sadly played his last year in San Diego.

[LouisianaRaven]

Ray will be back... I might have to put my chicken little uni back in the closet. I'm starting to feel some kind of way about this season

[lovefootball]

Ray could come back, the man is a beast and his heart beats with the Ravens. Expect Ray to do everything possible to get healthy to play again this year. He plays like a Raven and he will see the field again.

[Paintballguy]

Leadership and inspirational motivation aside, the Ravens defense will be better with a younger, quicker, faster athelete playing at the position. As the season progresses and that realization begins to sink in Ray's rehab potential will be put into perspective. The big question is, if that proves true, do the Ravens have the guts to break the news to Ray next year.

Old time Baltimore fans remember when Johnny Unitas was done. Everybody knew it - EXCEPT Johnny Unitas - who sadly played his last year in San Diego.

I agree it's time for ray to hang it up. I don't see a 38 year old lb being effective coming off an injury even if it is ray.


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[pslholder96]

Normal recovery time is 4 months and since he had surgery this past wednesday (Oct 17th) that puts him around Feb 17th for a possible return to football activity, about two weeks after the superbowl. Best case scenario is that he heals in time for the superbowl..when we make it

[pslholder96]

I agree it's time for ray to hang it up. I don't see a 38 year old lb being effective coming off an injury even if it is ray.


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If he doesn't come back this year. He's definately coming back next year. Haloti said this week that he spoke to ray and ray is coming back next year. Probably won't be as effective but nevertheless he's coming back

[Sua Sponte]

If we make it to the Bowl, Ray will be active. He might only play sparingly but he will be there if he has to put a full arm cast on. If he gets another Ring he retires next year. If he does try to come back next year he needs to understand the team must move on and play off of the bench which he said he would never do or they need to us him as a blitz LB.

[HoustonRaven]

The comparisons of Ray to Unitas are as silly as they are inaccurate.

Yes, in '72, Unitas was done. He had only started 5 games that season, with 4 TD's and 6 INT's to show for it. The season prior he had only played 5 games as well, amassing only 3 TD's and 9 INT's.

No, in 2012, Ray was not done. He's the team leader in tackles and 5th in the entire NFL.

Of course, he isn't what he was in coverage. He was not all that fast to begin with and his age, his side to side speed just has not been there.

But at 37, he's still better than 80% of the ILB's playing right now.

Simply put, you keep someone with his skill and instincts until he actually shows on the field he's lost it. Now all that said, this injury may be the final nail in the coffin.

I'm glad we have a GM that gives a man like Ray the benefit of the doubt. Some here seem to want to treat Ray like a fallen horse.

[RavenMadness]

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/...2-0712ce15c757

Whatta a beast!

Film shows Lewis played five snaps after tearing his right triceps. He made what could be his final tackle one-handed, knowing he had a serious injury.

Agree with you HoustonRaven....glad our GM is runnin the show!

[Paintballguy]

I'd like to see proof ray is better than 80% of lbs. pro football focus had him at a -5 grade before the cowboys game.


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[HoustonRaven]

I'd like to see proof ray is better than 80% of lbs. pro football focus had him at a -5 grade before the cowboys game

I'll take that as proof positive. PFF is hot garbage, IMO.

[bmorecareful]

If you think Ray Lewis was having a good year before he got hurt, you weren't watching the games.

I firmly defended Ray Lewis last year and pointed out how he was still playing at a high level--against both run and pass. He was shutting down the run between the tackles, holding QBs to a fairly low rating and YPA into his coverage, and just generally playing as one of the best ILBs in the league.

But that was last year. In 2012, based on the 6 games he played, #52 had fallen off a cliff in every facet off his game. Some guys that have been great for a long time get a little worse year after year, and some guys that have been great for a long time suddenly aren't great anymore.

It looks like the latter was the case for Ray this year. He's not alone--have you watched London Fletcher this year? He, too, is having an awful year and looking like he's fallen off the cliff.

[Jsmoove]

To the one's who believe there is younger, faster, better Middle Backer on this roster than Ray, please tell me where they are because I see not only Ray but the rest of those younger Backers getting ran over. I promise you if Ray was in on that final cowboy drive there would be no way Tony Romo picks up a 3rd and 27 then a 4 and 11 for a 1st down. Those younger faster backers? they were lost without Ray on the field, you could see the confusion, they had no idea where to line up. Again show me what Linebacker we have right now on the roster that can take Ray's place?

[HoustonRaven]

IBut that was last year. In 2012, based on the 6 games he played, #52 had fallen off a cliff in every facet off his game. Some guys that have been great for a long time get a little worse year after year, and some guys that have been great for a long time suddenly aren't great anymore.

It looks like the latter was the case for Ray this year. He's not alone--have you watched London Fletcher this year? He, too, is having an awful year and looking like he's fallen off the cliff.

So leading the team in tackles (again) and being in the top 5 in the league in tackles (again) is falling "off a cliff in every facet off [sic] his game"? And that too is an awful year? Stunning.

I really do wonder what sport some folks watch.

[redmike34]

If you think Ray Lewis was having a good year before he got hurt, you weren't watching the games.

I firmly defended Ray Lewis last year and pointed out how he was still playing at a high level--against both run and pass. He was shutting down the run between the tackles, holding QBs to a fairly low rating and YPA into his coverage, and just generally playing as one of the best ILBs in the league.

But that was last year. In 2012, based on the 6 games he played, #52 had fallen off a cliff in every facet off his game. Some guys that have been great for a long time get a little worse year after year, and some guys that have been great for a long time suddenly aren't great anymore.

It looks like the latter was the case for Ray this year. He's not alone--have you watched London Fletcher this year? He, too, is having an awful year and looking like he's fallen off the cliff.

I may be wrong, but I think that Ray's performance this year (or lack thereof) has had a lot to do with defensive line play that's been significantly worse than it was last year. Baltimore currently sits 20th on CHFF's defensive hog index--I don't remember specifically where they ranked last year, but I'm pretty sure it was top three. FO has the Raven D-line at #19 against the run and #24 against passing attempts this year, where last year those numbers were 13 and 2, respectively.

No argument that Lewis' play has declined... but a drop in unit performance like that doesn't indicate to me a problem with just one player. I think the Ravens really miss Redding, Suggs, and are not getting anything like the performance expected from Cody, Kemoeatu, Jones... or maybe everything just hasn't gelled yet. Or maybe Pees isn't doing a great job scheming with what he's got. Anyway, my .02...

[Jsmoove]

So leading the team in tackles (again) and being in the top 5 in the league in tackles (again) is falling "off a cliff in every facet off [sic] his game"? And that too is an awful year? Stunning.

I really do wonder what sport some folks watch.

this needs a like button, I wonder where is this young stud Middlebacker they keep refering to, because what we have now outside of Suggs and the potential of Upshaw is hot garbage.

[bmorecareful]

So leading the team in tackles (again) and being in the top 5 in the league in tackles (again) is falling "off a cliff in every facet off [sic] his game"? And that too is an awful year? Stunning.

I really do wonder what sport some folks watch.

Tackles are not a stat indicative of a high level of play. Yes, Ray is making a lot of tackles--and most of them are because teams are running right at him for 5-8 yards a pop. Sure, he's going to bring the RB down from behind, but the damage is already done. He's also missed quite a few tackles that he probably makes even last year.

The league's top tacklers each year are every-down ILBs. That doesn't mean all of those guys are playing at a high level, although many of them are. It just means they have a lot of chances to make tackles.

[lobachevsky]

Is there anyone who could bring more energy, more motivation, more work to come back?

No argument from me. The fly in the ointment is Ray's age, which will act to slow the healing process.

Because it’s Ray, we’re willing to take this chance. ... If we were going to bet on one player coming back, we were betting on Ray Lewis.

No argument here either. At first thought I was concerned that some other significant Raven might come down with a 6-week injury as early as next Sunday...but in that case you carry that player on the 53-man roster & you go forward one player short of those available for activation on game day. It's not like you'd have to play a man down...

(I can almost hear Ray ringing the changes on his 2000-season "I have to get to Tampa" speech--only this time it will be, "We have to get to New Orleans--I will be with you all the way, just not on the field--you all will have to get us there on the field--but when we get there I will be on the field with you!")

[Jsmoove]

Tackles are not a stat indicative of a high level of play. Yes, Ray is making a lot of tackles--and most of them are because teams are running right at him for 5-8 yards a pop. Sure, he's going to bring the RB down from behind, but the damage is already done. He's also missed quite a few tackles that he probably makes even last year.

The league's top tacklers each year are every-down ILBs. That doesn't mean all of those guys are playing at a high level, although many of them are. It just means they have a lot of chances to make tackles.

wah??? Teams are not running RIGHT at Lewis, they are attacking the edges because we don't have one LB that can set the edge right now, to push those runs back to the inside where Ray can clean them up.Teams have been pressing our edges and sealing those edges for either off tackle runs or outside runs. I agree Ray has declined in some apsects of his game but I would take him over many LBs in this league. If Patrick Willis had this group of LBs around him he would look bad too.