Ray Lewis: Sean Taylor was taken from us way too early

Ravens LB Ray Lewis was at the NFL Network studios on Monday to talk about the United Athletes Foundation, and Shad Ireland who is the first kidney dialysis patient in the world to accomplish the Ironman triathlon.

When you think about Lewis, it's hard not to think about his place not only one of the greatest linebackers of all-time, but also as one of the great Miami Hurricanes, too.

So I took some time on Monday to ask him about the greatest Hurricanes ever.

"It's impossible to really say who the greatest is without talking about all of the different eras," Lewis said. "And even then, I can't do it."

So we compromised, I shot him my list of greatest Hurricanes ever, and he gave him his first reaction. My list would have included Lewis as No. 1, but in deference to him, I have omitted him and his teammate Ed Reed -- you know, not to cause any friction.

Bonus - Ted Hendricks: Said Lewis, "His wisdom was everything. He just knew how to play the game."

Onto the list ...

6. Edgerrin James James led the league in rushing his first two years in the league, is the Colts' all-time leading rusher and a member of the all-decade team for the 2000s. "I never saw somebody run the ball with such an ability to shift and change direction. So I called him 'Easy.'"


5. Jim Kelly Kelly led the Bills to four AFC championships and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The best of a strong group of Miami quarterbacks that included Bernie Kosar and Vinny Testaverde. "He was resilient."


4. Warren Sapp Sapp won the Lombardi Trophy and Outland Trophy at Miami, was a seven-time Pro Bowl player and a member of the Buccaneers lone Super Bowl championship team. "The first time I saw him, I said that I have never seen anything like that."


3. Jerome Brown Brown was a dominant defensive tackle, but might be most well known for staging a walkout with his Hurricanes teammates during a dinner with Penn State players prior to the 1987 Fiesta Bowl. "He was the forefather before Sapp. He set the path in motion for Miami football. He was the trend-setter."


2. Michael Irvin Irvin might be the poster boy for the flamboyant Miami player. Irvin was a member of the Hurricanes 1987 championship team and won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. Lewis summed up Irvin in just one word. "Passion."


1. Sean Taylor "He broke all of the rules. It was amazing how good he was. He shouldn't have been able to do the things that he did. He had the size, speed and range. He was the complete package. We lost him way too early."

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.



(nfl.com)