Unlike the past greats like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Jack Lambert, Ray Lewis said he is not close to calling it quits.
"It's incredible. Some people say you go reverse once you hit the 30 mark, but I think I'm going the other way," said Lewis, 32, whose Ravens begin their final minicamp of the offseason today. "So where I am right now, it's scary because now I can really see that my best football is ahead of me, and so that's what's more exciting than anything, for me."
Lewis probably can expect to play longer than Singletary, Lambert and Butkus because athletes train better now. But, in the same respect, Lewis has taken hits from bigger, stronger blockers than linebackers did in previous eras.
Recently, time and those hits have taken their toll on Lewis. He hasn't played a full season since 2003, and he has missed 24 games over the past five seasons because of shoulder and hamstring injuries.
But the two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year contends he is healthier than he was over the past couple of seasons.
"I don't have any nicks, no real bruises," he said. "I just feel good. I feel real good. I'm happy right now."
May 2007 - Baltimore Ravens Wiretap
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