HoosierCat Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 from profootballtalk:LEWIS WANTS $50 MILLION BONUSIt's been no secret over the past year or so that Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is looking for a new contract, even though he signed an extension in 2002, which contains more-than-fair salaries for the next four seasons.According to Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun, Lewis wants a signing bonus of (if you're not sitting down we suggest that you do so) $50 million dollars.Fifty million dollars.Even in his prime, Lewis didn't deserve that kind of money. Now that scouts see him on film getting blown up on the run by rookie linemen, the conclusion is that he's a slightly better than average player.Ray seemed to acknowledge these concerns: "My job is not to take on offensive linemen, but to make running backs not want to play against me."In commenting to Preston regarding his absence from involuntary voluntary workouts, Lewis might have inadvertently confirmed rumors of a rift with fellow Ravens defender Ed Reed. Addressing rumors that Lewis, Reed, and tight end Todd Heap could be colluding in their efforts to get extensions, Lewis said, "Last offseason I trained with Ed Reed, but this year I'm on my own."Last year, of course, Reed became the NFL defensive player of the year, wresting the crown from Ray. And, as rumored, Reed's ascension is causing friction between these two Ravens.Indeed, Lewis' semi-rambling quotes regarding his anticipation for the upcoming season suggest that the NFL's version of the Mean Machine hasn't demonstrated the kind of chemistry that propelled them to the Super Bowl five years ago."Last year, there was a lot of personal stuff going on, petty stuff, in the locker room. This year, I'm just going to play football. I don't want to be a GM, I don't want to be a coach. I'm going to be a player again, and end up being the Most Valuable Player, not just on defense, but for the entire league." That last sentence indicates that Ray might be feeling a little threatened by Reed, who is still working under the back end of his rookie deal -- and who wants a big piece of the same pie from which Lewis wants $50 million.Frankly, we don't see this one ending well. Reed, not Ray, is the future of the Ravens defense. And everyone knows it.Except Lewis."When we reworked Ray's deal in 2002," said G.M. Ozzie Newsome, "that deal was done to allow him to retire as a Raven."Key word: Retire. The team envisions that Lewis has four more years in the tank, and the last thing they're gonna do is invest $50 million (or even $15 million) up front in a guy whose best days can be found in Tony Siragusa's personal video collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ox Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 To me this is a GREAT thing. Something negative for the ravens will come from this, which only helps out our situation. Maybe Ray will be told to shut up or get the hell out. Either way is fine with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 Exactly Ox, I like the fact that's there's a dissention(spelling?) in the ranks. Ray Ray and Ed aren't buddies anymore cause Ed wants some money What I love about that article is that someone finally points out that Ray Ray is OVERRATED!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BengalszoneBilly Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 Exactly Ox, I like the fact that's there's a dissention(spelling?) in the ranks. Ray Ray and Ed aren't buddies anymore cause Ed wants some money What I love about that article is that someone finally points out that Ray Ray is OVERRATED!!!!! Shoot. Over rated? I wish our defense had someone who played as "over rated" as Ray Lewis! That aside, at this stage in his career he AIN'T going to see no 50 million! This owner will be just as stupid as most any other and will allow him to NOT keep his word as a MAN and throw this old dog a bone, and renegotiate some sort of signing bonus into his contract. What bulls**t! These are men without honor. F**k them and their greed. They're playing a freakin' GAME for chrissakes! Don't they lead lavish lives already? They're just like children. When one sees another with more toys, he want's more toys! No difference. And the owners are like all too many pu**ified parents I see now day's who just give in and give the brat what they want instead of telling them no and sticking to it! Then if they throw a fit, give them something to throw a fit about! BLAMMO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted May 28, 2005 Report Share Posted May 28, 2005 This is not the same Ray as he was about four years ago. He gets consistently blown up by offensive lineman and suppossedly Ray is the main reason they are going back to a 4-3 because in the 3-4 teams were using thier extra lineman to specifically block Ray. There are tons of players in this league that if unblocked can make play after play, but Ray sin't big enough to get off those blocksThis was the main reason I was not impressed with Derrick Johnson in the draft and is the same reason why I've never been very impressed by Brian Urlacher. Just put a body on these guys and they dissapear for the entire game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiLBurn Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Ray Ray wants some major bank... so does Ed Reed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ29 Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBengalsFan Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 shucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazkal Posted May 29, 2005 Report Share Posted May 29, 2005 He had to be joking O_o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 A little irritated, but not too worried. He's not T.O. for f**k's sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoosierCat Posted June 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 A little irritated, but not too worried. He's not T.O. for f**k's sake. Like the saying goes, win and it all goes away. Or most of it does, anyhow.I suspect that this is just pent-up frustration bubbling to the surface. Not that the Ravens have decended to anywhere near the depths the Bengals had not long ago...but that Super Bowl title is fading further and further into the past. Even Baltimore's last playoff win is, what, 3 years back now? And more immediately, there was last season's big choke: dropping 4 of their final 6 to fall from 7-3 after 10 games to 9-7 and out of the postseason.All I can say is that Boller better get better..or things are only going to get uglier in Baltimore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 I believe he's doing this to help the team sign other big time free agents after next season such as Ed Reed, Jamal Lewis, and Todd Heap.If this does happen, I believe it's bad news for us because they'd be given a great chance to keep their all-stars -- and that sucks!Man, I'm playing devil's advocate today.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalsLB Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 yo derrick johnson kicks ass just watch him play and if u put a body on him he'lljust go around with that amazing speed of his Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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