09-10-2014, 06:20 PM
I didn't realize that Ray Lewis and Ray Rice are tight.
![[Image: raylewisrayrice.jpg]](http://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/raylewisrayrice.jpg)
Lewis weighed in about Rice's crime and NFL suspension. Lewis is kinda walking a tight-rope, IMO. Trying to be supportive of the Raven's decision to cut Rice and be supportive of his friend Ray Rice on a personal level -- while positioning his crimes and support from the Ravens as being incomparable to Rice's situation (he doesn't need to re-open that can of worms). I think Lewis did a good job of walking the line.
Snip:
When prompted by host Suzy Kolber about how the Ravens stood behind Lewis when he plead guilty to obstruction of justice in connection to a double murder, he was quick to distance himself from that comparison.
"There's no comparison, it's not about me personally," Lewis said. "Me speaking with the owner of the Ravens, Steve Bisciotti, just moments ago and just listening to what Steve was saying about the reason why Ray Rice will never play for the Ravens again is because when he saw this video himself he put anybody that's connected to him that's a female and in that position, you have to take a step back when you're an owner and you see that type of evidence that you haven't heard before, haven't seen before.
"One thing Steve made very clear: There is no comparison of me and Ray Rice. It's night and day. It's night and day of anything we've ever been through. And that's why both situations are totally different."
Lewis said he plans to speak with Rice soon in person and offer his advice. "Friends, sometimes friends tell you what you want to hear, best friends tell you what you need to hear," Lewis said. "I told him, 'I will be there to talk to him. I really want to sit down and know what's going on in his heart and what's next for Ray Rice.' I'm not talking about football. I'm talking about as a man. Where is your focus right now?'
"Me and him have been going back and forth via text. I wanted to let him know I'm still encouraged. A lot of fire and darkness are coming at you, but you have to stand still in the midst of this storm. How do you find your way out of this? You humble yourself. You figure out ways to get yourself out of this and you seek counsel. That's why I'm going home to definitely meet with him to be the same mentor I was the first time he walked through the door."
Full story: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/raven...z3CxBLKA3M
Lewis weighed in about Rice's crime and NFL suspension. Lewis is kinda walking a tight-rope, IMO. Trying to be supportive of the Raven's decision to cut Rice and be supportive of his friend Ray Rice on a personal level -- while positioning his crimes and support from the Ravens as being incomparable to Rice's situation (he doesn't need to re-open that can of worms). I think Lewis did a good job of walking the line.
Snip:
When prompted by host Suzy Kolber about how the Ravens stood behind Lewis when he plead guilty to obstruction of justice in connection to a double murder, he was quick to distance himself from that comparison.
"There's no comparison, it's not about me personally," Lewis said. "Me speaking with the owner of the Ravens, Steve Bisciotti, just moments ago and just listening to what Steve was saying about the reason why Ray Rice will never play for the Ravens again is because when he saw this video himself he put anybody that's connected to him that's a female and in that position, you have to take a step back when you're an owner and you see that type of evidence that you haven't heard before, haven't seen before.
"One thing Steve made very clear: There is no comparison of me and Ray Rice. It's night and day. It's night and day of anything we've ever been through. And that's why both situations are totally different."
Lewis said he plans to speak with Rice soon in person and offer his advice. "Friends, sometimes friends tell you what you want to hear, best friends tell you what you need to hear," Lewis said. "I told him, 'I will be there to talk to him. I really want to sit down and know what's going on in his heart and what's next for Ray Rice.' I'm not talking about football. I'm talking about as a man. Where is your focus right now?'
"Me and him have been going back and forth via text. I wanted to let him know I'm still encouraged. A lot of fire and darkness are coming at you, but you have to stand still in the midst of this storm. How do you find your way out of this? You humble yourself. You figure out ways to get yourself out of this and you seek counsel. That's why I'm going home to definitely meet with him to be the same mentor I was the first time he walked through the door."
Full story: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/raven...z3CxBLKA3M