Ray Lewis will be a Raven for life.
The longtime face of the franchise ended longer-than-expected negotiations and agreed in principle on a multiyear contract with the Ravens yesterday.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, who reached the agreement with the 10-time Pro Bowl linebacker at 4:15 p.m. yesterday, wouldn't disclose the length of the deal.
But he said: "Ray Lewis can retire as a Raven."
Lewis, 33, is expected to sign a three-year, $22 million deal, according to multiple sources.
The second player ever drafted by the Ravens, Lewis instantly became the centerpiece of the fledgling franchise and developed into one of the best middle linebackers in NFL history. His fiery leadership proved pivotal in building the Ravens from a relocated team in 1996 to Super Bowl champions in 2000.
"From beginning to end as a Raven ... Wow!" Lewis said in a statement. "My heart is with the Ravens. My heart is with Baltimore and the great fans."
The re-signing of Lewis is unusual because few NFL stars have been able to play their entire career with one team.
Joe Montana finished his career with the Kansas City Chiefs after winning Super Bowls for the San Francisco 49ers. Emmitt Smith went to the Arizona Cardinals after setting the NFL rushing record with the Dallas Cowboys. Even Johnny Unitas played his final season with the San Diego Chargers after capturing the hearts of Baltimore Colts fans.
"I don't think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career," Lewis said. "I feel so fortunate that the Ravens did what they had to do to make this happen."
The Ravens were busy yesterday, keeping Lewis and adding free-agent center Matt Birk after he spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings. Birk, 32, a six-time Pro Bowl lineman, agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract and joined cornerback Domonique Foxworth, a Baltimore native, as the team's biggest free-agent signings.
The Ravens are hoping this splash offsets the losses of three starters - linebacker Bart Scott, center Jason Brown and safety Jim Leonhard - and allows them to make another strong playoff run this season.
"What a great day for the Ravens," coach John Harbaugh said. "To get the commitment from Ray means so much to the team, to the franchise and to our fans."
