Ray Lewis in England to inspire London Warriors ahead of big game

Seventy-eight percent of former NFL players are bankrupt or facing serious financial difficulties two years after their football careers end. When Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis finally hangs it up, he will not be a statistic. That's because one of the best linebackers in the history of the game also has a knack for motivational speaking.

Lewis is the unquestioned inspirational leader of the Ravens, where he's been a fixture since 1996. But he's graciously shared his talents -- and his message -- to others during the NFL offseason. A few months back, in the middle of March Madness (the NIT version, but still), Lewis made a guest appearance in the Stanford Cardinal locker room to deliver a pep talk to the men's basketball team.

Apparently, it took because Stanford went out and beat UMass by 10 points. (Note to Johnny Dawkins: next time invite Lewis back at the beginning of the season.)

And this week, Lewis took his oratory skills to Great Britain. Specifically: London for a three-day minicamp with the London Warriors of the BAFA National Leagues in advance of their epic clash (or so we've been told) with the London Blitz (reigning champs!) this weekend.

"The Warriors, keen to do the double against their cross town rivals have scored a major coup in getting Lewis to train with them," Jonathan Little wrote on the league's website. "This follows after Sussex Thunder trained with Oklahoma Sooners Linebacker Tom Wort in the offseason. Will the presence of the Super Bowl XXXV MVP this week lead the Warriors to victory and a title Sunday?"

Lewis was so moved by a letter he received from the Warriors that he crossed the Atlantic to take part in the minicamp. Below, in an interview with SkySports.com, Lewis explains why he accepted the offer. Bonus: Warriors player Kendrick Tackle-Berry Agu posted one of Lewis' pep talks to Facebook. It's not delivered with quite the intensity of this spring's Stanford pregame chat but maybe Lewis is saving that for the weekend.

(We're secretly hoping the Warriors bust out the Ray-Rey shuffle prior to kickoff. Because nothing conveys the message "we're clearly insanse and are willing to do anything to win" like grown men rubbing grass all over themselves while dancing.)