NFLThey Said What?

Ray Lewis Announced His Retirement Early So He Could Bask In The Glory Of Other People Celebrating Him

by Dylan Murphy | 4:02 pm, January 30th, 2013

Four days before the Baltimore Ravens opening round playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, Ray Lewis announced that he was retiring after the season. The news cued an onslaught of praise upon praise upon praise, with Lewis lapping up the rewards of 17 years of tackles and dancing and preaching. And now that he’s in the Super Bowl, retiring off into the sunset, it’s all gone to plan.

ProFootballTalk transcribed a part of an interview he did during a press conference Wednesday, and Lewis all but admitted that yes, the timing of his retirement was well-calculated: he wanted to bask in his own glory for a bit while he was still playing.

“I’ve watched many people on how they retire, and when they retire,” Lewis said. “I had not just an obligation to myself, but I had an obligation to my teammates and I had an obligation to my city – that I did not want to end the season and then say, ‘I’m gone.’ I’ve invested too much time into Baltimore, into my teammates and into the organization to ever just walk out like that.

“I believe that you should give everybody a fair chance to say their goodbyes. Playing that last game in Baltimore, announcing it the way I did, and knowing that it would be my last ride. Knowing that it would be my last time in M&T [Bank Stadium], it was one of the most amazing feelings ever. Just being able to appreciate that moment and not get to the end of the season – whenever the road stops – and say, ‘Oh, I’m done. I’m never coming back again.’

“I would have robbed a lot of people of those last goodbyes for me and them. That is why I did it that way.”

You get to say goodbye to Ray. You get to thank him for his great work. You get to send him off into the sunset. This is your moment. Your glory. Your memory. You get to touch his hand while he takes a victory lap around M&T Bank Stadium and soaks in the standing ovation. He “would have robbed” you had he not done that. This isn’t about Ray Lewis. It’s about you. So selfless. What a guy.

[PFT]

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Anonymous

I don’t particularly like RL (and I’m rooting for the 49ers). For one, I’m reasonably certain that he saw/knew/did more than he admitted in the murder case. A real man doesn’t ditch his clothes and run like Ted Kennedy – he owns it.
On the other hand, I have to say that a) He’s a damn good football player – with a level of conditioning and resiliency not seen since Walter Payton. And b) he sure talks a helluva game. He’s smart, confident, eloquent, and thinks on his feet – which is not an easy thing to do even if you are smart. I believe him re the deer antler thing.
Now can we stop all the sideshow bullshit and focus on football?
Brian McKeever

So was Chipper Jones a glory hog for announcing his retirement before last season even started? The fans in Baltimore supported Lewis through thick and thin, so what he said and the timing of his announcement makes perfect sense.

There are legitimate reasons to not like Ray Lewis, but this is stupid.
jim

Ray missed his calling, WWE would love him. He nixed any idea of coaching this AM on ESPN, maybe the WWE is a good next step in his career?
http://twitter.com/3TProductions The Glenn

OK…Ray was darn good for 10-12 years…not so much lately.

But “eloquent”? The guy can barely complete a sentence that makes sense half the time! LOL!

He just puts together a bunch of “inspirational words” and uses a preachers cadence.
Anonymous

44 tackles in post-season is ‘not so much’??
http://twitter.com/3TProductions The Glenn

Check how many he “really” had. CBS did the leg work so you don’t have to read too much.

Tackle stats are inflated.

He was slow and it showed.