Treasure the twilight of Ray Lewis' career

There are few certainties in today’s ever-changing NFL landscape. Baltimore is blessed with one of them: Ray Lewis — a modern-day gladiator, but in shoulder pads and a jock strap — charging out onto the field on Sunday afternoons.

The sight of Lewis gyrating to Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” always evokes excitement — even if you’re not a Ravens fan. Cheering isn’t allowed in the press box. Thankfully, there is no way to regulate goosebumps.

But at 35 and in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career, the aging icon won’t be able to outsmart, out-hustle and out-muscle Father Time for much longer. The days of Lewis leading the Ravens out of the tunnel and into battle will soon be over — maybe even at the end of this season if labor squabbles lead to a lengthy NFL lockout in 2011.

I know it’s Super Bowl or bust again for the Ravens in 2010 — and his presence is a major reason why — but make sure you treasure the fading Lewis era before it becomes just fond memories, newspaper ink and videotape.

In Baltimore, he’s still Ray and he can still play, so some fans are in denial, unwilling to think about life after Lewis.

His thumping heartbeat still sets the tempo for the Ravens. His helmet-rattling hits still send prima-donna wide receivers stumbling into the locker room to update their Twitter feeds. And his legendary instincts still lead him to his prey — even if his diminishing speed gets him there a half second later.

“It’s just a one-on-one battle, man, and the love for me will never stop,” Lewis said Tuesday. When it does, he’ll walk away, “but until then I love it too much.”

And because of his passion and intensity, football has loved him back. Lewis has twice been named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He’s been invited to 11 Pro Bowls. And he was the Super Bowl MVP in 2001.

“Nobody in the history of the league at his position has done what he’s done. It’s incredible. It’s not even close,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh marveled two weeks ago. “Some of those guys played nine, 10, 11, 12 years at the most. Here he is in his 15th season.”

Lewis’ critics respectfully say that he has lost a step or two in recent years. “God’s Linebacker,” as he was dubbed by Sports Illustrated, acknowledges that he is indeed mortal. “We’re not machines. We’re humans,” Lewis said Tuesday when voicing his reservations about an 18-game season.

Still, Lewis bristles at the suggestion that he is showing his age. “Like Day 1, that’s how I feel in the 15th year,” he said recently. His 134 tackles last season were his highest total since 2004, and Bengals wideout Chad Ochocinco is still tweeting about the lick Lewis put on him last October.

Lewis, who is in the second year of the three-year deal he signed last offseason, says he isn’t getting sentimental as his career winds down. “Honestly, I just truly believe that if you’re thinking about that then you miss the love for the game,” Lewis said on the first full day of training camp. “The integrity of the game is built by coming to help your team win a championship.”

But minutes later, he contradicted himself when asked whether the hunger to win another title changes over time.

“I think the hunger of winning it with certain people does,” he said. “The chemistry that I’ve built with a Ray Rice or Michael Oher and Joe [Flacco], to win one with them would be a very special thing. And [someday] they’ll be talking about the same thing, ‘When Ray was special, you know.’ It always comes back around.”

Lewis will always be special. But as his career starts to wind down, make sure you don’t take it for granted.

Click here to order Ray Lewis’ proCane Rookie Card.



(baltimoresun.com)