Lewis wouldn't likely justify the cost to Jets

Ray Lewis to the Jets?

Sure sounds intriguing, especially given that new coach Rex Ryan was Lewis' defensive coordinator with the Ravens.

But before you get too worked up about the hard-hitting Lewis joining forces with Ryan with the Jets, a lot has to happen before there can be a deal.

For starters, Lewis has to get to free agency in the first place. The Ravens are interested in bringing him back, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that they will make a run at keeping him before the free-agency signing period begins Feb. 27

But league sources tell me the team is almost certain to let him get to free agency, if only to allow him to satisfy his own curiosity about how much he can make on the open market. Lewis will command a salary in the range of $9 million to $10 million per season (if not more), and though he still is an elite player, that is an awful lot to pay a 33-year-old inside linebacker.

Yes, Lewis gives you instant leadership and a commanding presence on the inside. But he alone cannot be expected to transform the Jets' underachieving defense. They already have a quality inside presence in David Harris, who might not be in Lewis' class just yet but is a rising young player. What this team needs is a better pass rush.

Salary is another problem. The Jets are limited in terms of salary-cap space, and Brett Favre's situation only complicates matters. The Jets will give him some more time to ponder whether he wants to play; in the meantime, his $13- million salary for 2009 still counts against the salary cap.

Lewis said he'd want Favre to be on the team this season, but if both players were to be on the roster, the Jets would be unable to maintain their salary-cap numbers without releasing other players.

With Ryan in only his first season as coach, he'd more likely be interested in keeping a larger number of younger players rather than investing more than $20 million in two players near the end of their careers.

There is no denying Lewis' potential impact on the Jets, or any other team. But Favre proved last year that the Jets weren't just one offensive player away from making a Super Bowl run. Same goes for the defense in 2009. Lewis alone won't make a big enough difference to justify the cost.

(newsday.com)