Notebook: R. Lewis, Suggs, Stover awaiting their future

Other than flipping the football to an equipment manager for safekeeping after recovering one of his two fumbles Sunday in a 27-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium that clinched a playoff berth, Lewis acted as if it was just another day at the office.

He led the Ravens with eight tackles and forced a fumble. Afterward in the locker room, he sang a Bob Marley song while waiting for fullback Lorenzo Neal to wrap up an interview.

Drafted in the first round prior to the Ravens’ inaugural season in 1996, Lewis has always had his contract renewed at least one year before becoming a free agent. Now, he’s in position to test free agency if he chooses to in March.

General manager Ozzie Newsome has said there are no current negotiations, but the team plans to talk with Lewis’ representatives as soon as the season is over.

If his departure is actually impending, then Lewis did a good job of keeping those thoughts to himself.

"I would be the most selfish person ever to walk this earth if I thought about myself and not my team right now," said Lewis, who has been involved in negotiations with the team since the spring. "It’s all about my teammates."

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, who’s the Ravens’ franchise player and scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent if the Ravens don’t sign him to a long-term deal or designate him with the franchise tag again, feels fairly assured of his return.

"It didn’t feel like my last game on the field," Suggs said. "The crowd was amazing. We just went out there and had fun."

And Suggs is fairly certain that he’ll be in the same huddle as Lewis again. It’s considered more unlikely that inside linebacker Bart Scott, whose deal is also up, will be retained.

"I sure hope so because I can’t imagine football without him or Bart," Suggs said. "I think something will get done. I think we’ll be all right."

Meanwhile, veteran kicker Matt Stover, 40, who’s one of the final remaining players on the roster from the 1996 team along with Lewis, is aware of the speculation that this could be his last season with the Ravens.

Stover, who missed a 48-yard try to break a streak of 14 kicks in a row and made two other field goals Sunday, recovered from a rough start to the season to convert 27 of 33 kicks. Now, he’s in a waiting mode about his future.

"That’s always going through my mind, but not to a point where it’s going to dictate my play," Stover said. "Every time I step out onto that field, it’s been a great privilege and I know it could always be my last.

"I’m not going to at this point even consider that because if you do it affects your play, but I do know I’ve been thinking like that for the last five or six years. Look, I’ll be 41 at the end of January. Who would’ve thought I would be here this long?"

SUGGS PACKAGE: The Ravens brought back their double quarterback package, taking advantage of backup quarterback Troy Smith’s athleticism on a 36-yard throwback pass from quarterback Joe Flacco.

Smith took the snap and lateraled it to Flacco on his right, and then Flacco hit Smith in stride on the opposite sideline. Smith showed good moves in the open field and possibly could have scored if he had made one more defender miss.

"That’s the difference between me being a quarterback and something else, a tailback or a receiver or somebody who knows how to run after the catch would have scored right there," said Smith, who also completed a 25-yard pass to tight end Edgar Jones. "That’s just being an athletic guy."

Ironically, the Ravens nearly scored on a similar play call against the Houston Texans. However, Flacco one-hopped that pass attempt to Smith.

"Not the exact one, but it was pretty close," Smith said. "Being involved in the offense like that, you step into situations and any time you can make a play, you try to do so. This was a big one to win."

Smith acknowledged that he just wanted to make sure he caught the football first before getting upfield.

"No doubt about that, the glare in the stadium is something totally different on the receiving end," Smith said. "I have tremendous respect for our receivers."

BOLLER UPDATE: Former starting quarterback Kyle Boller attended the game. In his first comments in months, Boller reported that his shoulder surgery was successful.

"The surgery went awesome," he said. "The rehab has been going great."

Boller has shuttled back and forth from California to Baltimore while rehabbing his shoulder. A free agent after this season, he isn’t expected to be back and has already sold his Baltimore County home.

"I’m so happy for the guys," he said. "I’m glad I was able to come to this game. They’ve had a heck of a year, not only Joe, but the whole offense.

"It’s like night and day with Joe. I think back to St. Louis when we were there for the preseason game and Joe came a long way. Seeing him now, he’s ready for the playoffs."

FIRST TIME: It was the first career reception for Jones, a converted linebacker who also lined up on defense for a few snaps.

"It’s a blessing," Jones said. "I was so excited after my first catch I jumped up. I practiced both positions all week. It was fun."

Rookie running back Jalen Parmale, who was signed recently off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad, rushed for a total of 27 yards on his first two NFL carries.

"That was great to get to do that," Parmale said. "I would have kept the ball if I had scored."

HONORED: The Ravens honored members of the 1958 Baltimore Colts at halftime, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their victory over the New York Giants in what is commonly described as "The Greatest Game Ever Played."

The group included Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donovan, running back Lenny Moore and wide receiver Raymond Berry.