Why does Ray Lewis get a free pass?

[StJoe4Life]

You should try Google. He is very upfront with his past.

Where? I'm being serious. Can't find anything not from 2000 with him talking about his role in it DIRECTLY. I'm not talking about dancing around it.

Aside from that, I find him to be extremely smug and self-important. Just listen to his press conference yesterday. He made this game Sunday about him, not the team.

[Soup's Uncle]

^He said in "A Football Life" last night that he was 'wrongly accused'. He claims he was walking out of a club, and a fight broke out and his limo was sprayed with bullets.

That's all I've ever heard him say about it.

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Probably because he appears to be one of the few guys that has actually made a 180. Rey Lewis was involved in something wild one night in Atlanta but he got a second chance and made the most of it.

[StJoe4Life]

^He said in "A Football Life" last night that he was 'wrongly accused'. He claims he was walking out of a club, and a fight broke out and his limo was sprayed with bullets.

That's all I've ever heard him say about it.

Yep, that's my point. He has never once owned up to his role in it. Instead, he preaches to everyone else.

[doghouse4x4]

Where? I'm being serious. Can't find anything not from 2000 with him talking about his role in it DIRECTLY. I'm not talking about dancing around it.

Aside from that, I find him to be extremely smug and self-important. Just listen to his press conference yesterday. He made this game Sunday about him, not the team.

He spends a LOT of time going around the country talking to at risk kids about what he has seen and done. Not because of probation, or court ordered anything, but because he feels like he should. There is more to life for these guys than NFL press conferences and interviews. The info is out there, I am not doing the research for you, and really, it's totally your call how to feel about him, I totally respect that. It's just wrong to say he hides from it, when he is very vocal about it in truth.

[DM72]

Probably because he appears to be one of the few guys that has actually made a 180. Rey Lewis was involved in something wild one night in Atlanta but he got a second chance and made the most of it.

And for some strange reason people just don't want to let it go. The man a mistake "YEARS" ago.

[Rocky21]

Despite being named Super Bowl MVP, controversial linebacker Ray Lewis was rejected by both Disney and Wheaties for their post-Super Bowl ad company's endorsements. However, Lewis did get an endorsement with Double Murder Brand Peanut Butter

[StJoe4Life]

He spends a LOT of time going around the country talking to at risk kids about what he has seen and done. Not because of probation, or court ordered anything, but because he feels like he should. There is more to life for these guys than NFL press conferences and interviews. The info is out there, I am not doing the research for you, and really, it's totally your call how to feel about him, I totally respect that. It's just wrong to say he hides from it, when he is very vocal about it in truth.

Fair enough. I have never seen it, but I will take your word for it. Like I said, it's not the mistake he made, because we do all make them. It's the fact that he chooses to carry himself like a moral authority FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, up there on his high horse about what a great person he is, but his history (child support issues, kids all over the place, etc) don't seem to jive with it. Once again, my opinion only. It just really irritates me that as a louder voice he is really revered. He's had an AMAZING career, but quieter guys like LF don't get half the press because he chooses to make it about the people around him.

[BleedBNG]

edit: ....n/m

[thebluefood]

Three factors:
1.) The guy is an excellent football player. Actually, excellent is an insult. He is one of the all time greats. Whether we like it or not, he's going to be in same conversation as Butkis, Nitschke and Singletary.
2.) He's a leader. It's one thing to be a good ball player, which Vick is (or was, in some people's opinion). It's quite another to be an inspirational force like he has. QBs and head coaches have come through Bal'mer, but Ray Lewis has been steady as a rock
3.) (and the most importantly) Ray Lewis is, or at least seems, genuinely repentant. He hasn't tried to sweep it under the rug, he hasn't gone on bull****, PR speaking tours. This is a guy that seems to understand that he was a complete idiot and that he had to turn a new leaf. It's one thing to halfheartedly mutter a few words of regret. It's another to own up to it and turn your life around. Ray Lewis did that.

I mentioned this in the other thread, but you guys really need to see his episode of "A Football Life." Don't tell me that's a man that hasn't seen the error of his ways and genuinely tried to do some good in this world.

Man, if you guys ever royally screw up in your lives (and yes, something like what happened to Ray Lewis can happen to anyone) I hope society at large is more forgiving than some of you guys seem to be.

[StJoe4Life]

Three factors:
1.) The guy is an excellent football player. Actually, excellent is an insult. He is one of the all time greats. Whether we like it or not, he's going to be in same conversation as Butkis, Nitschke and Singletary.
2.) He's a leader. It's one thing to be a good ball player, which Vick is (or was, in some people's opinion). It's quite another to be an inspirational force like he has. QBs and head coaches have come through Bal'mer, but Ray Lewis has been steady as a rock
3.) (and the most importantly) Ray Lewis is, or at least seems, genuinely repentant. He hasn't tried to sweep it under the rug, he hasn't gone on bull****, PR speaking tours. This is a guy that seems to understand that he was a complete idiot and that he had to turn a new leaf. It's one thing to halfheartedly mutter a few words of regret. It's another to own up to it and turn your life around. Ray Lewis did that.

I mentioned this in the other thread, but you guys really need to see his episode of "A Football Life." Don't tell me that's a man that hasn't seen the error of his ways and genuinely tried to do some good in this world.

Man, if you guys ever royally screw up in your lives (and yes, something like what happened to Ray Lewis can happen to anyone) I hope society at large is more forgiving than some of you guys seem to be.

Well, the average person is going to do some time. And I'm one of the only ones in here who seems to very much dislike him, but for me it's really not about the crime. It's about his attitude. JMO of course.

[Henry]

I used to despise Ray Lewis. These days I've upgraded that to I don't care. I hope he's figured things out, but that's between him and him at this point. I won't be sorry to see him go, though.

[thebluefood]

Well, the average person is going to do some time. And I'm one of the only ones in here who seems to very much dislike him, but for me it's really not about the crime. It's about his attitude. JMO of course.

His attitude is why I respect him so much. There are few men in the NFL that are more widely respected than Ray Lewis because of his leadership abilities and his genuine love for football and family. The other guys that don't get "free passes" is because they lack one or both (usually both).

Also, Lewis isn't getting a free pass from everyone. When people talk about him, they will talk about the double homicide. That will always be a part of his legacy.

[Rocky21]

There are few men in the NFL that are more widely respected than Ray Lewis

I can't believe I just read this.

[thebluefood]

I can't believe I just read this.

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.