Sports Circus February 9th, 2013 Edition | Page 4

RAY LEWIS

There is no greater way to end a career than how Ray Lewis did last weekend. Ray Lewis earned his second Super Bowl Ring as the Baltimore Ravens became world Champions in their 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Lewis had 7 tackles in his final game in the NFL and led his Ravens defense to a key stop on 4th down late in the 4th Quarter inside their own redzone that helped Baltimore secure the victory.

It is hard to think of a player with fans as strongly for and against him as Ray Lewis. Lewis certainly had a great career on the field. But, some people can never look past some of the controversies that he was involved in off of the field. Lewis has been accused of things from murder to consuming deer antler spray. Nothing has ever been confirmed, but things add up to have many people assume that Lewis was at fault for some horrible tragedies.

I was not old enough to know what was going on in 2000 when the issues happened and Ray Lewis won his first Super Bowl, so I am not one that cannot look past that. I do not think though that his behavior off of the field when he was younger should affect how we see his body of work on the field in the NFL. I also think he has had an attitude and life change. If you hear him speak, about his religious beliefs and his mentality about life, you would think that he is an in incredibly Godly man. If he is just faking it, it is the greatest acting performance since Ronaiah Tuiasosopo.

Ray Lewis is known for his emotional leadership on the field. There aren't any milestones for those types of things, you would just have to watch a game to see the affect he has on his teammates. He still is one of the best statistical defensively players ever though (Check the achievements shown on the next page).

There is absolutely no doubt in anyone's mind that Ray Lewis will be a first ballot Hall of Famer and known as one of the greatest defensive players and leaders in the history of the NFL.