Things are going to be different for the Baltimore Ravens this year now that Ray Lewis has retired to pursue his dream of screaming pump-up speeches to frightened children before spelling bees (or whatever ESPN has him doing now). One player hoping to keep Lewis’ memory alive a little longer, though, is running back Ray Rice, who was spotted wearing a No. 52 jersey during practice on Tuesday.
Said Rice:
"It’s something Ray and I did the last two years — switching numbers — and I felt it was a cool gesture to keep him around for all he’s done in Baltimore. Ray said he might pull a little surprise Thursday night, (but) he probably won’t be in Denver. … He gets so animated watching games, he’d probably enjoy it more watching at home. I don’t know if he’ll tape a pre-game speech. But if I need one, I can give him a call (USA Today Sports)."
Lewis’ locker, adjacent to Rice’s, is now boarded up, which Rice says serves as a good reminder that one day they’ll all have to walk away from the game they love.
We can only hope that Joe Flacco takes over the pre-game speech duties in 2013.
[Source: USA Today Sports]