Ray Lewis "Brady the Greatest of the Greats"

[Triumph]

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis finished fourth on NFL Network's top 100 players of 2011. Of course Tom Brady finished fourth. As part of NFL Network's coverage, Lewis provided some commentary, by way of Matt Vensel of the Baltimore Sun, during the Brady highlights

Lewis called Tom Brady “the greatest of greats,” saying “he was willing to go beyond limits that people won’t go to.”
“He’s not the biggest. He was never the strongest. He was never the fastest,” Lewis said intensely. “He was overlooked. He went in the sixth round. So with that being said, all of the intangibles that a quarterback is supposed to have, they overlooked with him because it was burning from the inside of him.”
Brady has 34,744 passing yards and 261 touchdowns in his NFL career. In 2010, he threw for 3,900 yards and 36 TDs while tossing just four interceptions -- and it wasn’t even his best season.
“It’s a chess match because he understands every coverage, he understands every defense,” Lewis said. “And If you give it away too early, then the game is like checkers then for him. He plays it how he wants to play it. … And that’s what makes it frustrating playing against him, he always finds those mismatches.”

“You don’t find too many people playing that’s willing to sacrifice that much time to doing that,” Lewis said of the 33-year-old. “That’s why Tom Brady will always be considered one of the greatest of all time.”

 

[Run DMC]

I now have some respect for that murderous criminal.

 

[BTTA]

I now have some respect for that murderous criminal.

LOL. That will always be one of my favorite Patsfans one liners.

 

[Raymond]

This is unexpected. Ray usually comes across as a big mouth braggart. I suppose, he may require scheduled, controlled, occasional interviews in order to present himself as a knowledgeable NFL dude as opposed to the usual microphone in his face after a loss d-bag.

He's not as dumb as I thought.......maybe.

 

[Patspsycho]

This is unexpected. Ray usually comes across as a big mouth braggart. I suppose, he may require scheduled, controlled, occasional interviews in order to present himself as a knowledgeable NFL dude as opposed to the usual microphone in his face after a loss d-bag.

He's not as dumb as I thought.......maybe.

I don't know- he hates Brady with a passion. I have no idea how he agreed to do this or why he did this.

 

[Raymond]

I don't know- he hates Brady with a passion. I have no idea how he agreed to do this or why he did this.

Exactly the reason for my post.

Ray always seemed like a post loss, "whiner... excuse" kind of player.

 

[Frezo]

I don't know- he hates Brady with a passion. I have no idea how he agreed to do this or why he did this.

Because now he can say the Ravens have beaten the best.

 

[jays52]

Ray Lewis is actually super-knowledgeable about football and it's history. He has always given me the impression of a guy who respects the game and all of it's great players. He's always struck me as a guy with a lot of respect for Brady. He may be insane, but in his own ways Lewis is a pretty bright guy given the context of his education and social surroundings during crucial formative years.

 

[strngplyr]

I don't know- he hates Brady with a passion. I have no idea how he agreed to do this or why he did this.

True respect.

I dislike Peyton Manning quite a bit, he seems like an *******. I respect everything he does on the field though.

 

[Ring 6]

Ray Lewis is actually super-knowledgeable about football and it's history. He has always given me the impression of a guy who respects the game and all of it's great players. He's always struck me as a guy with a lot of respect for Brady. He may be insane, but in his own ways Lewis is a pretty bright guy.

Playing with emotion and rage and being a bright guy who respects the greatness of their opponent is not mutually exclusive, as you point out.

 

[ausbacker]

Ray Lewis is actually super-knowledgeable about football and it's history. He has always given me the impression of a guy who respects the game and all of it's great players. He's always struck me as a guy with a lot of respect for Brady. He may be insane, but in his own ways Lewis is a pretty bright guy given the context of his education and social surroundings during crucial formative years.

+1. I'm not particularly fussed for the stigma attached to his reputation outside of football and the so called murder issue or not and despite his evangelical approach to speech giving there's not one person on this board who would have said "I don't want Ray Lewis playing for the Patriots" at the height of his career.

He's a man you'd go to war with because despite declining skills and age taking grasp, you know he's a thinker when it comes to football, he loves football, he gives you 100% commitment every time he takes the field and he respects his competitors.

 

[Gwedd]

+1. I'm not particularly fussed for the stigma attached to his reputation outside of football and the so called murder issue or not and despite his evangelical approach to speech giving there's not one person on this board who would have said "I don't want Ray Lewis playing for the Patriots" at the height of his career.

He's a man you'd go to war with because despite declining skills and age taking grasp, you know he's a thinker when it comes to football, he loves football, he gives you 100% commitment every time he takes the field and he respects his competitors.

Agree completely. As an earlier poster opined, I also hate Manning, but I will also be the first to respect him for his knowledge and his intensity. He is a worthy enemy and anyone with an ounce of common decency knows that the easiest way to lose is to let emotion override respect for an opponent's skills.

 

[serifyn]

i never understand how people can say they 'hate' a player just because he is on another team.

Im sure Peyton Manning is a great guy off of the field and although he may have frustrated you by what he has potentially taken away that doesnt mean he deserves your 'hatred'.

As for Ray Lewis, he is genuinely a good guy, if he has ever been a thug he has changed significantly since then, Ray Lewis is on defense what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are on offense, he is what players like Jerod Mayo should aspire to become because his leadership on and off the field makes his defense better.

I dont think a compliment like "Greatest of all time" would carry more weight if any other player had said it, given Lewis time in the league and greatness that he himself is.

 

[jcdavey]

i never understand how people can say they 'hate' a player just because he is on another team.

Im sure Peyton Manning is a great guy off of the field and although he may have frustrated you by what he has potentially taken away that doesnt mean he deserves your 'hatred'.

As for Ray Lewis, he is genuinely a good guy, if he has ever been a thug he has changed significantly since then, Ray Lewis is on defense what Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are on offense, he is what players like Jerod Mayo should aspire to become because his leadership on and off the field makes his defense better.

I dont think a compliment like "Greatest of all time" would carry more weight if any other player had said it, given Lewis time in the league and greatness that he himself is.

that looks really funny to read on this board

 

[DarrylS]

Playing with emotion and rage and being a bright guy who respects the greatness of their opponent is not mutually exclusive, as you point out.

Well said, as much as I do not like Lewis off the field, on the field he is incredibly knowledgeable, a leader and plays with as much passion as anyone in this game..

 

[randomk1]

Well said, as much as I do not like Lewis off the field, on the field he is incredibly knowledgeable, a leader and plays with as much passion as anyone in this game..

Other than that fight where two guys were stabbed what other issues has Ray had off the field?

The guy seems like a good dad and generally a pretty cool dude from what i've seen of him. All of his coaches speak very highly of his character off the field.

Ray has been one my favourite players in the league for a long time and i don't see much reason to hate him.

 

[BlueThunder]

Other than that fight where two guys were stabbed what other issues has Ray had off the field?

Other than having an eating disorder, Jeffrey Daumer was a cool dude

 

[randomk1]

Other than having an eating disorder, Jeffrey Daumer was a cool dude

Was Ray found guilty of those murders? Or are you just assuming Ray was the one who stabbed those 2 dudes?

 

[BlueThunder]

It was a joke...

I give up Perry Mason !



Lewis just lied to protect his friends...

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

I don't know.....seems staged.

I kinda hated the way at the end of the game he and Brady are saying good game to each other, and Ray kinda slaps Brady's face with two fingers, just kinda weird.

I think he thought he was at that time a better man and was more deserving of respect than Brady was and that exchange just sorta said "good job kid". I thought it was pretty demeaning, really.

If he is all about treating each other as men, then walk up to him and shake his hand, don't give him a tap with a couple fingers across the face and say good job kid.

Ultimately I think Lewis is all about himself. "Where are the cameras"? I think those words were hollow coming from him, albeit he had the messgae right....