"If I don't come away with MVP of the league it's highway robbery."

[stevew]

This Ray Lewis guy makes me laugh. I recently saw a recap of the Chiefs game last year where they just pwned his ass. Hopefully Bettis runs his ass over one more time for good measure.

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- It's shortly after practice, and Baltimore middle linebacker Ray Lewis isn't interested in talking about the Ravens' "46" defense, its impact on him or its impact on opponents. What he wants discuss is where he's headed, and for the moment, it's not toward the legions of spectators clamoring for autographs.
Lewis will accommodate them, but not before he first gets something off his chest.

"You know what I expect from myself this year?" he said, stopping to towel off his face. "MVP of the league. Not defensive MVP. MVP of the league. If I don't come away with MVP of the league it's highway robbery."

Someone alert the sheriff's patrol because there are a couple of things Ray Lewis should know before we proceed here: 1.) A defensive player hasn't won the award since linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986, and 2.) every recipient since Taylor has been either a running back or quarterback.

Lewis shrugs. He likes his chances.

"It's going to be the first time (in a long time) a defensive player wins the MVP," he said, "so watch me."

It's hard not to. When Lewis is on the field, you can't help but follow him. Hey, even when he's not on the field, you can't ignore him. He acts up for cameras in pregame intros. He plays to his audience on the field. He races sideline to sideline to bury ball carriers. He hammers quarterbacks. He produces interceptions and forces fumbles.

He even throws blocks. Remember Chris McAlister's 107-yard return of a deflected field goal three years ago? Remember who threw the critical block? Uh-huh, it was Ray Lewis.

Yes, Lewis can do it all, despite reports to the contrary. There was some loose talk last season that Lewis lost a step -- at least, that's what Lewis and coach Brian Billick insist they read -- and some of it was based on a Monday night performance against Kansas City, where cameras caught Pro Bowl guard Will Shields riding Lewis out of a play.

It's a touchy subject, with Lewis pointing out that he and then-linebackers coach Mike Singletary reviewed the videotape and found him solo blocked only twice. But it didn't matter. The damage was done. TV uncovered evidence of Kryptonite in Baltimore that evening, and Lewis suffered for it.

Now, one season later, it's payback time. Lewis is fixed on proving the skeptics wrong, and you had better believe him here because coordinator Rex Ryan's "46" defense is perfectly suited to his seek-and-destroy abilities.

"He was a great player in a 3-4 defense," said Ryan, "and he was the best middle linebacker in the league the past couple of years. But if you had Dick Butkus and you played him in a 3-4, it would be a waste. You want him free to run and hit so when that back cuts back, Ray Lewis is there."

So far, the results aren't just encouraging; they're frightening. In Baltimore's scrimmage against Washington on Saturday, Lewis was everywhere, producing four tackles, one sack and one deflected pass in 15 snaps. It was Lewis at his best, and it offered a glimpse into what may be in store for opposing clubs.

"This defense," said Billick, "suits Ray Lewis better than any defense we've ever run."

Think about what he just said. Lewis is a seven-time Pro Bowl choice, a two-time NFL defensive MVP and someone who three times had 200 or more tackles in a season -- including 2004. Now Billick and the Ravens think they have a defensive scheme to make him more effective than ever. In fact, they think they have a scheme that can make their entire defense more effective, more intimidating, more dominating than at any time since 2000.

And it all starts with the man in the middle.

"Once again the microscope is where I need it to be," Lewis said. "It's back on me again because they think I lost a step, and that's the truth.

"I've got (a newspaper) where they say, 'What can you expect from Ray Lewis? He was blocked a couple of times last year.' So they think I'm losing a step. Wow. Just because I was blocked they think I'm losing a step?"

Maybe someone should consult those Washington linemen.

"I hope people think Ray's lost a step," said Billick. "I hope people think they don't have to game-plan for him. I hope they think they exposed him because it's going to be fun to watch him absolutely annihilate them."

It's never been hard to find Ray Lewis on the football field. You just follow the ball, and sooner or later, he appears. Only this year he's after more, much more, than just the football.

"Every year I have something to prove," he said, "but this time it's personal."

[rkmsuf]

He doesn't bother me. I like the fact he tries and like it or not he is a leader.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

like it or not he is a murderer.

fixed it for ya

[rkmsuf]

minor detail

[Tigercat]

He's not even MVP of his own D anymore. Ed Reed was the NFL defensive MVP last year.

[Cringer]

One reason I like the NFL network. Guys on there do not seem to have any problem ripping apart any arguement that Ray Lewis is one of the greatest linebackers ever. One Mr. Carl Banks likes to say so when he has the chance, and others too.

Guess they don't care much about getting an interview with him.

[rkmsuf]

What exactly is highway robbery anyway? Very little robbery takes place on highways.

[Ksyrup]

I'm glad he has confidence in his abilities, but the reality is that he's no longer the player he used to be.

[Raiders Army]

I don't think he was a murderer; wasn't he charged with being an accomplice or something?

[MizzouRah]

I'd take him in a moment on the Rams defense.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by MizzouRah

I'd take him in a moment on the Rams defense.

You and about 29 other teams. Maybe I am missing something but why is this such a terrible thing? He expect to win the MVP. So his goal should be to NOT win the MVP? Like a team's goal should be to play .500 ball and not to win the Super Bowl no matter who the team is (including my Dolphins! )

[Pacersfan46]

Take a guy with an ego like that. Give him motivation, like people saying he's lost a step .... and watch him go. Especially with this new defense.

Let's just say I'm worried. My Colts have to play them on week one, Sunday night. On ESPN.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by Pacersfan46

Especially with this new defense.

One could argue that this defense is being put in to make him better. He will once again have two DT's in front of him to help keep guards from coming downfield and getting in his way. His best years were when he had 2 DT's in front of him....

[CraigSca]

Btw, has he ever held out? Has he ever not shown up to camp? The guy is there every week and practices his a$$ off. Can the same be said for the rest of the league?

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by CraigSca

The guy is there every week and practices his a$$ off. Can the same be said for the rest of the league?

For the majority of players in the league, yes that can be said.

[PackerFanatic]

For the majority of high caliber players like him, they bitch about money. It seems these days, not even in just football, that players bitch and moan more and more about money than anything else. It is hard to find a player that plays to PLAY...not to make money. I am a Packers fan through and through but I respect Ray Lewis (except when the Ravens and Packers play on Dec. 19, then I hope he gets destroyed )

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

For the majority of high caliber players like him, they bitch about money.

There are what, 5 or 6 notable player money disputes this offseason? You have somehow made this a majority in your head?

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by PackerFanatic

For the majority of high caliber players like him, they bitch about money. It seems these days, not even in just football, that players bitch and moan more and more about money than anything else. It is hard to find a player that plays to PLAY...not to make money. I am a Packers fan through and through but I respect Ray Lewis (except when the Ravens and Packers play on Dec. 19, then I hope he gets destroyed )

I don't think it's hard to find guys that love the game. It's the minority holding out, ect that get all the attention.

In football part of it is some guys hate camp. If they can cut it short and try for dough it's a double bonus. There have been very, very few holdouts resulting in missed regular season games. And one great thing about football is that 99% of the guys try hard since they have non guaranteed contracts.

[stevew]

Wasnt Lewis just asking for a 50 million dollar bonus a few weeks ago? He seriously believes his own hype, and he will probably look good now that he doesnt have the Faneca's and Shields of this world up on him all the time.

[ISiddiqui]

This 46 Defense was made for Lewis. I think he'll be utterly dominant this year and who knows, may actually get a few votes for MVP of the league. After for the comment, I think most of us like our linebackers to be cocky and feel mad/slighted.

[Cringer]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I think most of us like our linebackers to be cocky and feel mad/slighted.

Naa, I prefer mine to be well sedated most of the time. And they should say excuse me when trying to get off of a block.

[stevew]

Just found this gem from the Baltimore Sun.......

R. Lewis: Not all positions are equal
Linebacker Ray Lewis laughed off a question about whether losing a starting quarterback as the Jets have is akin to losing himself from the Ravens' defense.
"I think that's just a totally different situation," Lewis said. "Like I said, a quarterback, 60 percent of the time, he's just handing the ball off to his running back. I'm not. There's a lot of other stuff that I do on the field. It's not even a comparison."

[rkmsuf]

My initial reaction was that Lewis is totally insane.

Then, thinking about it, concluded that losing Penningtion might be an upgrade.


HAR!

[Butter]

I don't think anyone has a problem with him shooting to be MVP of the league.

The asshole part comes in when he says "if I don't win it, it's highway robbery".

ASSHOLE.

Hope the Ravens finish 0-16. I hope Brooks Bollinger becomes Jeff Blake ver. 2.0 against the Ravens D this weekend.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

I don't think anyone has a problem with him shooting to be MVP of the league.

The asshole part comes in when he says "if I don't win it, it's highway robbery".

ASSHOLE.

Hope the Ravens finish 0-16. I hope Brooks Bollinger becomes Jeff Blake ver. 2.0 against the Ravens D this weekend.

Well put -- though I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "asshole" or I hope they lose every game

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Vince

Well put -- though I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "asshole" or I hope they lose every game

Dickwad?

[duckman]

I wouldn't call him an asshole to his face. I value life especially if it's my own.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

Dickwad?

I was thinking 'jerk,' but dickwad works pretty well.

[Raiders Army]

Originally Posted by Vince

I was thinking 'jerk,' but dickwad works pretty well.

It's often an underutilized slam as well, unlike asshole or motherfucker.

[Maple Leafs]

Come on stevew, don't you think that's a little misleading? You only published half the quote. Nice try, but I'm here to correct you:

Originally Posted by Ray Lewis

"I think that's just a totally different situation," Lewis said. "Like I said, a quarterback, 60 percent of the time, he's just handing the ball off to his running back. I'm not. There's a lot of other stuff that I do on the field. For example, I clap a lot. And I dance. And I make sure to scrunch up my face and yell whenever the camera is on me. And I have to run really hard to make sure that I get within ten feet of every play so that the hometown scorer will credit me with a tackle. It's not even a comparison."

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

Come on stevew, don't you think that's a little misleading? You only published half the quote. Nice try, but I'm here to correct you:

You pwn.

[JPhillips]

Ray Lewis didn't kill no motherfuckin lion.

[st.cronin]

I admit, I am afraid of Ray Lewis.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Ray Lewis didn't kill no motherfuckin lion.

Best SNL skit of all time.

Where is that defense that's supposed to suit him by the way? He's averaging about 9 tackles a game, the exact same thing he did last year. No Int's, no sacks, no tackles behind the line, no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries. Yup, he's well on his way to becoming the MVP of the NFL.

[Rizon]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

What exactly is highway robbery anyway? Very little robbery takes place on highways.

Mad Max?

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Rizon

Mad Max?

Fast and the Furious!