Ravens re-sign LB Lewis

The Ravens and ILB Ray Lewis have agreed on a multiyear contract, the club announced Wednesday. According to ESPN.com, the deal is for three years and worth more than $7 million per season. "This will allow Ray to finish his career as a Raven," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome told the team's Web site. Lewis, 33, is regarded as one of the best defensive players and on-field leaders of his generation and has been the face of the Ravens’ franchise for much of his career. He started all 16 games in 2008, notching 117 tackles and 3?sacks. He is entering his 14th NFL season.

The return of Lewis became likely when other offers for him did not materialize as he had hoped in free agency and when the Ravens lost Bart Scott, their other starting inside linebacker, to the Jets.

The PFW spin
This is the ideal outcome for both Lewis and the Ravens. Lewis gets the handsome payday he sought, and the Ravens keep the leader of their defense.

Lewis still packs a punch in the running game and boasts the instincts and enough quickness to hold up in pass coverage, but Newsome's statement was telling. Lewis probably has three seasons left, at best. However, the Ravens could not afford to let him go, and because a one-year deal for Lewis was not feasible, they were wise to give him the multiyear contract. The Ravens have Super Bowl aspirations entering the '09 campaign, and Lewis is capable of doing enough in just one season for this signing to be a successful one.

A significant portion of the value Lewis provides at this stage of his career comes from his leadership and mentoring, and even if his production falls off in 2009 and beyond — entirely feasible given his age — he will be a difference-maker if the Ravens' other starting inside linebacker, whether it be reserves Tavares Gooden or Brendon Ayanbadejo or someone else, quickly gets up to speed in the Ravens' defense because of his help.

One day, and perhaps quite soon, the Ravens will have to replace Ray Lewis, but it will not be tomorrow, and this buys the Ravens some time while allowing them to benefit from what Lewis has left to give as a starting NFL linebacker, as well as a teacher.

(profootballweekly.com)