Ray Lewis will be back in 2012

Linebacker Ray Lewis told reporters after the season-ending loss to the New England Patriots that he planned to return for a 17th NFL season, but the team is still awaiting word from free safety Ed Reed.

“Ed doesn’t give definitive answers,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said, adding that he thinks Reed “still has the desire to play.”

Bisciotti said it would be difficult to replace both Lewis and Reed at their respective positions, but he believes the Ravens already have their replacements -- in terms of impact -- on the roster in linebacker Terrell Suggs, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and cornerback Jimmy Smith.

“We have great players like Ngata and Suggs that are their replacements,” Bisciotti said. “We don’t have enough money after paying Ngata and Suggs to go get Hall of Famers at linebacker and safety. … So I don’t think you replace them, and then safety and linebacker might not be our two best positions three years from now. They might be rookie or second-year guys.”


(baltimoresun.com)