Tag: ray lewis

Ray Lewis III, son of former Ravens ILB Ray Lewis, passes away at 28

Ray Lewis III, the son of former Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis, passed away at age 28

The football community and NFL world was struck by tragedy on Thursday, as Ray Lewis III, the son of former Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis passed away. Lewis, who played college football at the University of Miami like his father before him, was 28 years old.

Lewis played for two years with the Hurricanes before transferring to Coastal Carolina University. He played professionally with the Wyoming Mustangs, a professional indoor football team, and his loss is mourned by friends, family, teammates and coaches alike, as many have come forward sharing their memories of Lewis as a player and a person.

Ravens ILB Patrick Queen puts him and Roquan Smith as best linebacker duo in NFL

Ravens inside linebacker Patrick Queen is excited to have a full offseason with Roquan Smith

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The Baltimore Ravens drafted inside linebacker Patrick Queen in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.  So far, he’s had an up and down professional career, but put together a great 2022 season, especially once the team traded for inside linebacker Roquan Smith.

Queen was asked about having a full offseason to work together with Smith, and couldn’t contain his excitement on the matter. He said that he puts him and Smith as the best linebacker duo in the NFL, and is ready to be able to build chemistry with him over a full offseason, training camp, and season as a whole.

“I can’t wait. It’s just us two guys – I actually put us as the best linebacker duo, no discussion about it. If you turn on the tape, you will see it. At the end of the day, we get a full offseason to go with each other now, full training camp, full whole season, so now we just have to build that chemistry.”

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ready to be more of a vocal leader

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson talked about wanting to be more of a vocal leader

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The Baltimore Ravens have seen leadership come in many shapes and forms over the course of their franchise history. Players such as Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and many more come to mind, with plenty of others having had made an imprint on the organization from a leadership perspective.

Following practice at Baltimore’s organized team activities, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson talked about being more of a vocal leader on the field and in the locker room. He mentioned things about leading by example, while also doubling down on the fact that he wants to use his voice more in a leadership role moving foward.

“I feel like just being you. At the end of the day, guys just want to see you being you and [being] true to yourself and true to them, as well. And I’ll just say, I’m going to try to be more of a vocal leader, because Coach [Harbaugh] was like, ‘You need to start speaking more.’ I just try to lead by example, but I’ll try to be more of a vocal leader, if anything.”

Ravens HC John Harbaugh gives praise to ILB Roquan Smith

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh talks about how linebacker Roquan Smith was able to acclimate himself so quickly with the team

The inside linebacker position was the center of attention for the Baltimore Ravens during the 2022 offseason. While there was already talent in the room, they failed to address a need at that position until the day before the 2022 NFL trade deadline.

Baltimore made a splash that changed their defense for the rest of the season when they traded for Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith in exchange for second and fifth round selections. Ravens head coach was asked about how Smith was able to acclimate himself so well in Baltimore after the trade, and said that the inside linebacker thinks about football all the time

“Probably because he [Roquan Smith] is that kind of guy we just talked about. He thinks football all the time, and he’s our kind of guy.”

After Smith arrived in Baltimore, the team’s defense took off and played outstanding. Smith will now have a full offseason with the Ravens and will even get a chance to watch film with Hall of Fame inside linebacker from the Ray Lewis, so expect Smith’s game to get even better and to help out the defense even more moving forward.

WATCH: Ravens legend Ray Lewis had the time of his life at the 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Former Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis looked like a veteran coach during the 2023 Pro Bowl Games

Though the 2023 Pro Bowl Games featured a game of flag football instead of a full four-quarter event, passion ran high for the AFC’s defense which was led by Baltimore Ravens legendary inside linebacker Ray Lewis. The Hall of Famer served as the conference’s defensive coordinator, and gave it his all while having fun in the process.

Lewis was mic’d up on the sideline for the occasion and gave fans a great look at his competitive spirit with his enthusiasm and investment in the game that took place. He interacted with his players, joked around, and shared his love for the Ravens in the process.

Patrolling the sideline like a veteran coach, Lewis called plays for the AFC’s defense with a walkie-talkie, which made for some interesting shots of his involvement in the affair. Fabled rapper Snoop Dogg, an avid football fan and successful youth football coach, was the team captain for the AFC and accompanied Lewis on the field to comedic effect.

Watching Lewis instruct his squad in the friendly matchup, one could be forgiven for thinking that he might have aspirations of getting back into the NFL as an assistant coach. While that would be unlikely given that he seems content in his retirement, Lewis’ presence in Baltimore as a mentor for younger talent is well documented, and could possibly have a spot on the Ravens’ staff should he ever want one.

Former Ravens ILB Ray Lewis plans on watching film with ILB Roquan Smith during 2023 offseason

Ravens Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis plans to go over film with Roquan Smith during the offseason

Hall of Fame inside linebacker and former Baltimore Raven legend Ray Lewis was the named as the defensive coordinator for the AFC in the 2023 Pro Bowl. One of the players that Lewis has been coaching and spending time with during Pro Bowl week is current Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith. It gives them time to get to know each other and for Lewis to coach him up.

Lewis was interviewed by Ravens director of social media Garrett Downing, and mentioned that Smith told him that he wanted to set up some time with Lewis this year and learn from him. Lewis heaped praise on Smith, and said that the two will sit down together and watch film.

“Actually, it was the first thing I said and I said it to him and a couple other linebackers because when you’re watching the game there are so many little things and I call it equity that they’re leaving on the field, like so many big plays that Roquan could be making, Fred Warner could be making, Demario Davis could be making, but Roquan, it’s just, if he can take his game and just takes just one more step up, I just think he can be freaking phenomenal.  Like I had Roquan at my camp, I do a Ray Lewis Camp every year and I had him at my first camp and I was like “What? This freaking kid” and I taught him the triangle and to see his motions, no wasted steps and so now when I’m watching him I’m saying how can I help him go better and so that’s why I think this offseason we’re really going to sit down and just go through film so I can just kind of teach him just little things right, taking that little false step out of your game, understanding where three is all gonna always be and never drop into a spot, always drop into a man, right between being able to identify what formations mean so you can get everybody playing fast, right, that’s the job of the middle linebacker and that’s the job that I think and I know it’s him being his first year getting comfortable with the guys, but him being able to take that next step of leadership and be able to get everybody playing on one shoestring, that’s why I think he can really improve.”

Having Lewis go over film with Smith will help Baltimore’s newest inside linebacker hone his game and will take his leadership skills and knowledge to the next level. Smith will then be able to help out his teammates to make sure that they will always be in the right position no matter what down and how far the other team has to go. The Ravens giving Smith a massive contract extension before the end of the season has the potential to pay off even more with the tutelage of Lewis.

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Ravens announce Breland to perform at halftime for Week 17 vs Steelers

The Ravens announced that musician Breland will be performing at halftime during the Week 17 matchup vs Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 in their final home game of the 2022 season. If the Ravens want to win the AFC North Division title, they need to beat the Steelers this week and then the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 18.

The Ravens announced that Breland will be performing at halftime of their Week 17 matchup with the Steelers. This isn’t the first time the Ravens have had a performer during halftime this season as in Week 5 on Sunday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals, Nelly performed.

When Nelly performed at halftime in Week 5, Hall of Famer Ray Lewis came out and did his signature squirrel dance. Breland should put on a good performance for the fans at M&T Bank Stadium, one that the fans will surely be happy with.

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New ’30 for 30′ trailer on 2000 Ravens released

ESPN released a trailer for a 30 for 30 on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Over the summer, it was announced that ESPN was making a 30 for 30 documentary on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, which is widely regarded as the most dominant defense of all time. Around an hour before the Ravens were set to play the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football, a trailer for the 30 for 30 was released.

In the trailer, we see clips of the defense dominating play in and play out.  The 2000 Ravens defense were labeled as “bullies”, which is a fair assessment to many.  If you played Baltimore in that era, the defense would keep opposing offenses up at night considering how good they were.

The 30 for 30 episode on the 2000 Baltimore Ravens is set to air in February 2023. It will feature odes to many different players, including inside linebacker Ray Lewis and the late-Tony Siragusa.

Giants great Eli Manning admits he was afraid of Ray Lewis

Asked if there was any NFL player he legitimately feared, New York Giants great Eli Manning admitted it was Hall of Famer Ray Lewis.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning started 210 consecutive games at one point in NFL, a stretch that spanned 13 seasons. He didn’t fear much, even the face of some of the most ferocious pass rushed in the NFL.

But every player has some type of fear.

On Eli’s web show recently, late night host Jimmy Fallon asked which opposing player he feared during his playing days…

“I think it was, when I was playing, Ray Lewis,” Manning said. “The first game I’m in there and I’m like, ’52 is the Mike.’ And he goes, ‘No, I’m not the Mike. He’s the Mike.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, Ray says he’s the Mike.'”

Ray Lewis played his entire Hall of Fame career with the Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012), while Eli played all of his career (2004-2019) with the Giants. They only met three times in the regular season. The Ravens won, 37-14, in 2004 and 33-14 in 2012.

The Giants won, 30-10, in 2008 behind a powerful running game and a beastly offensive line. Ironically, it was the Giants who pushed Lewis around in that game.

The Giants rushed for 207 yards against the Ravens’ top run defense behind a bruising running game consisting of Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw aka Earth, Wind and Fire.

“It was a thumping. It’s the biggest thumping I’ve been a part of for a long time,” defensive end Trevor Pryce said.

“When you look at all the big runs they have, those plays we make 1,000 times out of 1,000 times,” Lewis said. “The bottom line is when you give that many plays up and backs are bouncing off you, that’s something we take pride in. That’s something we just don’t do. And today it happened.”

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Ravens announce big-time halftime performer for Week 5 matchup vs. Bengals

The Ravens announced a big-time halftime performer for their Week 5 matchup with the Bengals

The Baltimore Ravens are preparing for a massive “Sunday Night Football” against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 of the 2022 season. Baltimore suffered two blowout losses to Cincinnati in 2021, so they’ll be looking to get their revenge in the first matchup between the two this year.

On Tuesday, Baltimore announced that Nelly will be performing at halftime during the game against the Bengals. The rapper/singer is known for his song “Hot in Herre”, which former Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis ran out of the tunnel to during his time in the NFL.

The Ravens need to come out and play well on both sides of the ball after blowing another double-digit lead at home this season.  Getting the tiebreaker over the Bengals would be huge no matter how early the season is right now after getting swept last season.  It would send a big message to them that they Ravens are way better this season.