Why does Ray Lewis get a free pass?

[FletchLives]

This was touched on in the retirement thread, but i didnt want to take over that thread.

I am just curious why Ray gets so much support from fans. Other players like Vick and Burris have pretty much ruined their reputations, but Ray comes out a hero. And not only is he a hero, but non-worshippers are attacked for even mentioning his criminal past?

Ok, he wasnt found guilty of murder, but neither was OJ. Yet I don't hear all the Lewis groupies defending Mr. Simpson.

[doghouse4x4]

I don't think Lewis gets a pass. Everyone knows his history, and he is extremely candid about it, which is rare. Ray made some mistakes, and hasn't hid from it. I think he is making a positive contribution to everything these days, and anyone who knows or played with him will tell you the same.

FWIW, I think most people think Plax got shafted. He basically went to jail for being dumb. The fact he got that much time while Vick got half is ludicrous. Plax doesn't help himself with his attitude obviously, but as far as criminality, it was pretty overblown.

[KDawg]

I don't think Lewis gets a pass. Everyone knows his history, and he is extremely candid about it, which is rare. Ray made some mistakes, and hasn't hid from it. I think he is making a positive contribution to everything these days, and anyone who knows or played with him will tell you the same.

FWIW, I think most people think Plax got shafted. He basically went to jail for being dumb. The fact he got that much time while Vick got half is ludicrous. Plax doesn't help himself with his attitude obviously, but as far as criminality, it was pretty overblown.

Plax is used as more of a punchline than as the poster child for a bad human being.

Talk about shooting yourself in the leg

[doghouse4x4]

Plax is used as more of a punchline than as the poster child for a bad human being.

Talk about shooting yourself in the leg

Burn.... lol.

[Cooleyfan1993]

Plax is used as more of a punchline than as the poster child for a bad human being.

Talk about shooting yourself in the leg

yeah, bruce allen would really be shooting himself in the leg if he signs plaxico burress.

[Son of Gadsden]

FWIW, I think most people think Plax got shafted. He basically went to jail for being dumb. The fact he got that much time while Vick got half is ludicrous. Plax doesn't help himself with his attitude obviously, but as far as criminality, it was pretty overblown.

No kidding. Even though he was a filthy Giant, I don't fault him for any of it. Skins fans more than anyone should feel that way. Who knows what happens if ST has a handgun rather than a machete (I think that's what he had). Maybe we've still got a great safety. This being AFTER that...after hearing about ST, if I'm a football player I carry a handgun everywhere. NY doesn't allow CCWs, but I would have had one anyway. How does the saying go "Rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6."

Yeah, he shouldn't have been in a night club if he feels like he's in danger in the public. Yeah, he obviously wasn't being safe if he shot himself in the leg, and he could have shot someone. It's against the law, so he deserves what the courts give him, but I personally think the law is BS, so he gets no flack from me. He shot himself in the leg, I think he regrets that. I think a lot of people feel that way.

Vick on the other hand, a lot of people take that a bit more seriously. I thought "eh, over some dogs?" until I heard the raw stories about slamming dogs on the ground until they are dead....doesn't matter if it's a dog. Anyone who has that amount of cold blooded cruelty is a danger to society.

Ray, I don't know his story. Have heard about it, but if I don't know a lot, I'm not going to judge the guy.

[DM72]

I don't think he gets a pass. I think he was a young man that made a mistake and from what I can tell, he has owned up to that mistake.

[BigMike21]

He doesn't get a pass. And I've always considered Ray Lewis overrated in certain aspects. On the other hand I do believe in contrition and forgiveness.

[No_Pressure]

Ray wasn't accused of murdering anyone. He witnessed a murder and lied about it to the police. He didn't actively participate. He still did the wrong thing of course, and I think a lot of people want to forget about that in the same way that almost all Redskins fans wanted to forget about Sean Taylor wielding a gun and getting into trouble over some ATVs prior to his tragic murder. If he was still alive today we wouldn't be talking about his ATV problem in the past, we would be talking about what an incredible player he has been, and when people would bring up his mistake years ago we would get annoyed. That's what happens with Ray Lewis. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, compounded a mistake by lying about it, and didn't come clean until much later. Most people just want to forget about it, and whether anyone agrees with that or not, witnessing a murder and lying about it is much different from literally shooting yourself in a nightclub or running a canine auschwitz. Ray was wrong place, wrong, time, bad friends, very stupid mistake. Vick and Plaxico weren't just in the wrong place at the wrong time, they committed the crimes in question. Big difference.

[DM72]

He still did the wrong thing of course, and I think a lot of people want to forget about that in the same way that almost all Redskins fans wanted to forget about Sean Taylor wielding a gun and getting into trouble over some ATVs prior to his tragic murder. If he was still alive today we wouldn't be talking about his ATV problem in the past, we would be talking about what an incredible player he has been, and when people would bring up his mistake years ago we would get annoyed.

That's a very good point.

[chipwhich]

Ray wasn't accused of murdering anyone. He witnessed a murder and lied about it to the police. He didn't actively participate.

This is what is contested.

He was close enough to the murders that he was covered in blood.

He also was originally pegged as being in the fight, but stories changed.

I don't know that people actually remember the story. Rays bloodied clothing magically disappeared too.

[ddub52]

Ray wasn't accused of murdering anyone. He witnessed a murder and lied about it to the police. He didn't actively participate. He still did the wrong thing of course, and I think a lot of people want to forget about that in the same way that almost all Redskins fans wanted to forget about Sean Taylor wielding a gun and getting into trouble over some ATVs prior to his tragic murder. If he was still alive today we wouldn't be talking about his ATV problem in the past, we would be talking about what an incredible player he has been, and when people would bring up his mistake years ago we would get annoyed. That's what happens with Ray Lewis. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, compounded a mistake by lying about it, and didn't come clean until much later. Most people just want to forget about it, and whether anyone agrees with that or not, witnessing a murder and lying about it is much different from literally shooting yourself in a nightclub or running a canine auschwitz. Ray was wrong place, wrong, time, bad friends, very stupid mistake. Vick and Plaxico weren't just in the wrong place at the wrong time, they committed the crimes in question. Big difference.

Ray saw what happened, let the murderers into his limo and took them to dispose of the evidence. Then he lied about it. Ray was also accused of beating his girlfriend in college but she dropped the charges. Dude definitely gets a free pass imo.

---------- Post added January-18th-2013 at 12:09 AM ----------

When his retirement was announced yesterday, everyone from Chuck Pagano (his former coach in Baltimore) to Adrian Peterson to RGIII commented on his impact on the game.

Like it or not, he's one of the all time greats. When you're that good at what you do, do it at that level for so long and when you have his leadership abilities, you're going to gain the respect of your peers.

Ehhh, I think a lot of it is hype by the media. Honestly, aside from leadership, Ray hasnt been performing at an above average level for years. He jumps on top of piles after plays are made then dances around like he did something.

---------- Post added January-18th-2013 at 12:12 AM ----------

who knows what happens if vick has a handgun rather than a machete (i think that's what he had). Maybe we've still got a great safety.

st?

[jnhay]

Ehhh, I think a lot of it is hype by the media. Honestly, aside from leadership, Ray hasnt been performing at an above average level for years. He jumps on top of piles after plays are made then dances around like he did something.[COLOR="Gold"]

30 tackles in 2 games means he hasn't just been jumping on piles in the playoffs.

The Ray Lewis trial wasn't nearly as public as the OJ trial. The trial happened before the bulk of Ray Lewis' success in the NFL, not after. Top it off with him being a likeable guy (aside from the always-present people who think he's a fake or so likeable he's unlikeable) and it's easy to see why "he gets a pass."

[Bubble Screen]

30 tackles in 2 games means he hasn't just been jumping on piles in the playoffs.

The Ray Lewis trial wasn't nearly as public as the OJ trial. The trial happened before the bulk of Ray Lewis' success in the NFL, not after. Top it off with him being a likeable guy (aside from the always-present people who think he's a fake or so likeable he's unlikeable) and it's easy to see why "he gets a pass."

I do think he's always gotten a pass on this because of how good a player he was. And he won a SB shortly after this incident, and was a dominant player in the league for many years after.

But what I most don't like about the guy, is how he preaches all the time in his interviews. Funny, Tebow gets destroyed for doing the same thing, yet it's perfectly fine when Ray Ray does it? Nah. That **** don't fly with me. If it's not ok for one guy to do it, it's not ok for anyone.

[DCsportsfan53]

But what I most don't like about the guy, is how he preaches all the time in his interviews. Funny, Tebow gets destroyed for doing the same thing, yet it's perfectly fine when Ray Ray does it? Nah. That **** don't fly with me. If it's not ok for one guy to do it, it's not ok for anyone.

I think there's a difference between the two in this regard. The whole virgin thing, missionary upbringing, doesn't curse, ect give Tebow an aura of someone who is or thinks he is somehow better than the average person, as a person. Much of that is likely the public's own insecurity, we don't like to believe people can really be that pure, we're cynical. Ray wears his flaws on his sleeve and doesn't come off that way. The way he talks about religion it feels more like it's a superstition, and it's usually related to fortunes on the football field. It's just a completely different feel, at least for me. Also, there's more to his public persona and personality whereas with Tebow, his religion is what defines him publicly. I don't see it as an apples to apples comparison in terms of the flack they do or don't get for that because I think it's presented to us very differently for each.