Ray Lewis Not Interested in Hometown Discount, Intrigued By Jets

After the Baltimore Ravens fell in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, owner Steve Bisciotti talked about the situation the team faces this offseaso with all three starting linebackers being unrestricted free agents. It's not exactly a good situation for a team that is so dependent on its linebackers, and Bisciotti mentioned how he would love to see Ray Lewis, the unquestioned leader of the team, take a hometown discount to remain in Baltimore.

Predictably, Lewis isn't interested in that option, telling the NFL Network, "I don't play less ... If you don't play less, you don't take less."

For Lewis, 33, this is probably the last contract he's going to sign in the NFL, so he's probably looking to cash in and, honestly, it's hard to blame him for that. So, who could be the highest bidder this offseason for Lewis' services?

The Dallas Cowboys, naturally, have already been mentioned as a possible landing spot, while Lewis also talked about the possibility of joining his former defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, in New York. Here's what Lewis said about the Jets, from Rich Cimini of the Daily News:

Lewis spoke highly of Ryan, and when asked about the prospect of a reunion in New York, Lewis said, "That opportunity by itself seems attractive. It sounds right. It's like, wow, if something does happen where I'm not back in Baltimore, hmm, the Jets wouldn't be bad ...it's a young Jets team that has a lot of talent across the board where if you (add) 52 in that equation, that team goes from being okay to 'Let's go win this.' That scenario by itself is always attractive."

Back to the Cowboys for a second, I can't think of a better landing spot. To be a fly on the wall in that locker room following a loss, or, heck, any game, would be priceless. And, let's not forget how Terrell Owens -- assuming he's still a Cowboy -- once mocked Lewis' dance after scoring a touchdown against Baltimore in 2004, the same year Owens refused to play for the Ravens.



Lewis claims that's all water under the bridge, and insists that the Cowboys simply need a player to step up and become a general. Also, you know Jerry Jones, desperately needing to field a winner in his new billion dollar stadium, is just waiting with a Brinks truck full of money, ready to drive it to Lewis' front door.

Of course, it's also important to keep in mind the Ravens still hold all the cards here with the franchise tag sitting in their back pockets. If they can't work out a deal with Lewis -- and it's looking like they won't, based on Lewis' comments -- they could always place the tag on him.

If the Ravens were to go that route, Lewis would make over $8.3 million in 2009, while the team would also have the option of trading him.

As great as Lewis has been for the Ravens, fellow free agent Terrell Suggs, who aside from being the team's best pass rusher, is also seven years younger than Lewis, should be the top priority for the team heading into the offseason, and the player that should be getting the long-term contract extension.