Following the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round of the playoffs, rumors suggested that the LB Ray Lewis was considering retirement but that speculation was shot down rather quick. Now, Lewis himself may given us the best indication of how long he plans on playing.
During an appearance on the NFL Network, Lewis was asked by Rich Eisen if he could see himself playing long enough to play with his son. Lewis’s response was rather telling.
“That’s another four years!” Lewis said. “Nah. Because I’m real with myself, that would be a very hard task. I can’t see myself playing football past 37.”
What’s interesting about this is that will be 36 once the 2011 season is underway so if he remains true to his statement, his final year would be the 2012 season.
This really isn’t much of a shock when you consider the physical demands that come with playing middle linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. While Lewis is the one that set the bar for this position and the style of play that has become accustom to the Baltimore Ravens, expecting that he would continue to play for another three or four years seems unrealistic.
Ozzie Newsome and company will have this offseason and possible one more after which they’ll have to find Lewis’s successor which seems like an impossible task.
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