After 17 seasons, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis announced earlier today that he will retire at the end of this season. I don’t care if you like him as a person or not, but he really is one of the all time greats. I can’t believe —wait, yes I can — all the slander I’ve seen on Twitter today.  smh.  Here at IFWT, we wish you the best sir.

GameTimeGirl

According to Jamison Hensley at ESPN:

Lewis says “it is time for me to create a new legacy” after 17 NFL seasons.

He intends to play for the first time since tearing his triceps two months ago when the Ravens host the Colts in Sunday’s wild-card game, saying “there is no reason for me to not play,” according to The Baltimore Sun.

Sunday likely will be Lewis’ final game in Baltimore even if the Ravens win because of their No. 4 seed entering the playoffs.

“I talked to my team today,” Lewis said Wednesday. “I talked to them about life in general. And everything that starts has an end. For me, today, I told my team that this will be my last ride.”

He returned to practice on Dec. 5, and for him to be eligible for the playoffs, the Ravens added him to the active roster later in the month.

Lewis has gone to 12 Pro Bowls, been named first-team All-Pro seven times and been voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.

 

(STORY CONTINUES…)