Former Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis was forced to sell a Super Bowl ring due to financial difficulties and the team released a statement to say they respect his decision.
Jamal Lewis was one of the best running backs in the NFL when he was running through opposing defenses, including a 2,066 yard season en route to more than 10,000 rushing yards in his nine-year career, but life after the NFL has proved costly.
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Lewis filed for bankruptcy three years after he was out of the league and was forced to part with a Super Bowl ring from Super Bowl XLVII he received for being in the Ravens ring of honor. The ring is made of 10K white gold and has 3.75 carats worth of diamonds, so Lewis thought he could lift his financial burden by taking it to a pawn shop.
The Ravens issues a statement on Monday to discuss the sale of Lewis’ ring, via Pro Football Talk.
“Jamal Lewis informed us that he was forced to sell the Super Bowl XLVII ring due to financial difficulties. We understand and respect his decision.”
It was a gift so there was nothing the Ravens could do to prevent the No. 5 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft from selling his personal property.
An auction for the piece of sports memorabilia took place and fetched $50,820 on Sunday afternoon, so Lewis must be kicking himself for not putting it up for auction himself.
But when you find yourself bankrupt after a nine-year NFL career, you aren’t making the best decisions. Lewis’ story of bankruptcy isn’t necessarily the same story you hear from former professional athletes who blow through their millions on lavish houses, a deep entourage and a fleet of cars.
Lewis did spend too much on homes, he had five at the time of his bankruptcy hearing, and a fleet of cars, but a failed trucking business and his half ownership stake in a water part didn’t prove to be the wise investment he thought it would be.
It is easy to criticize athletes who experience financial hardship because everyday working class people work their life away without much of a chance at retirement, so it is hard to feel much sympathy for Lewis.
If Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti wanted to bring Ray Rice in as an employee when his playing career was over to help rookie acclimate to the league, then why not offer Lewis a similar job so he can educate rookies on saving their money.
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