LEWIS TAKES SHOTS AT BILLICK
Maybe the statute of limitations on the memory of Ray Lewis is six years. Because Lewis apparently is forgetting about how his head coach, Brian Billick, stood up and defended Lewis for the conduct that resulted in murder charges being filed against him, followed by an eventual guilty plea to obstruction of justice.
On Monday, Lewis showed his gratitude for Billick's past support by shoving a verbal knife into his stomach.
"It was as frustrating for you as it was for me," Lewis said during a weekly radio show in Baltimore, in response to comments from a caller who was complaining about the play-calling in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Bills. The caller specifically was griping about the decision of Billick, who calls the offensive plays, to call three straight passes after facing second down and one from the Buffalo 49 with less than two minutes to play.
"As far as those decisions, you have to let [running back] Willis McGahee touch the ball on one of those plays," Lewis said.
"We knew he should have touched the ball when you have a fourth-and-one," Lewis said. "Old-school football is old-school football. If there is a yard I need to get, there is a running back, a fullback and an offense that is meant to get that.
"You can't make oranges be peaches. It doesn't change. It will never change. That's what Billick has to ask himself, why we keep putting ourselves in those situations. In the Cincinnati game, that cost us with those same decisions."
Ray, do you want to know why you won't get another Super Bowl ring before you retire? Because you're playing for a franchise that fears you to the point that it will allow you to say these kinds of things without repercussion.
When was the last time a member of the Colts or the Patriots popped off like that? The only one we can remember is kicker Mike Vanderjagt, who didn't get a chance to miss a key kick in Super Bowl XLI.
In our view, the Ravens should fine Lewis for conduct detrimental to the team. Because his conduct is detrimental to the team.
Then again, maybe that's what Lewis wants to provoke. Because maybe he thinks he can push this thing until he gets an outright release, which would allow him to then knock on the door of a team that's in position to win it all. Lewis is under contract through 2008, and he previously had been politicking for a new deal. So maybe he has decided that the only way to get more money is to pull a T.O.
If that happens, Ray, we suggest that you not waste your time trying to land with the Pats or the Colts, or with any other franchise that understands the importance of the concept of "team".
