If I were general manager of the Ravens, I would let Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ray Lewis become an unrestricted free agent. Forget all of this icon nonsense. If Jerry Rice and John Unitas could play in another jersey, so can Lewis. It's time for the Ravens to move on and allow this team to officially become John Harbaugh's.
The Ravens might have taken a step in that direction yesterday by cutting disgruntled veteran cornerback Chris McAlister, or were they releasing McAlister to free up $8 million against the salary cap to re-sign Lewis?
The Ravens have to play the public relations game. They don't have enough history and Super Bowl titles on their side, like the Pittsburgh Steelers, who don't mind allowing their top veteran players to leave. Lewis is perhaps the best player in the Ravens' brief history, so the Ravens want to handle these negotiations with care.
So, here's my proposal: The Ravens should give Lewis, 33, a three-year contract worth $18 million. There will be no signing bonus, but every year that Lewis shows up for training camp on time, the $6 million salary becomes guaranteed, even if there is a players' strike. If Lewis can't play the final year of the contract, the Ravens still have to pay him the $6 million as a consultant or adviser. It's a fair and logical deal, with a possible great farewell present for the aging superstar.
A few months ago, I advocated the Ravens' putting the franchise tag on him, but that could put Lewis' salary up past $11 million for the 2009 season, which is a hefty raise over the $8.065 million outside linebacker Terrell Suggs received last season as the franchise player. Lewis isn't worth that kind of money.
He bulked up last season and played well except for the last month, but it's highly unlikely he can play at that weight again. At most, Lewis has two good seasons remaining. And if that's the case, and if he accepts the three-year, $18 million offer, he leaves with a lot of money in his pocket.
The former University of Miami star and all-but-certain Hall of Famer irritated some members of the Ravens' front office this month with his comments from the Pro Bowl about possibly playing with the Dallas Cowboys or New York Jets.
It was posturing on Lewis' part, but definitely not needed. The Cowboys are reportedly interested in Lewis, but Dallas isn't going to pay him the $30 million over five years ($25 million guaranteed) that we heard about nearly a month ago. Dallas owner Jerry Jones is weird, but not stupid.
