An Open Letter to Ray Lewis

Dear Raymond Anthony Lewis:

Let me start off by saying I admire you. You have the toughness that can't be topped by any one alive. You are a true Baltimore legend. But you have been through your hitches.

The murder trial, the heroin addiction, the whole nine yards. But the city of Baltimore has stood by you. We always will. Recent rumors have shown the Dallas Cowboys are interested in you.

Sign or don't, I want you happy. I wish that for all my players. You've been loyal to the city, and in return, we have to you. We stood by you during the murder trial. In 2001, we did not boo you.

In 2008, we don't boo you. We never will. Even if you sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, we won't boo you. As I stated, you are a Baltimore legend.

Baltimore loves you, Ray. I hope you remember that before you sign a contract—anywhere. While I hope you don't leave Baltimore, I don't think you will. I know you love Baltimore.

You have said on many occasions that you are a 'fan of Flacco.' We are fans of Flacco, too. But that isn't important right now. We are CRAZY for you. You are more important to Baltimore then Favre is to Green Bay. Yes, I went there.

I don't think you would leave, either. You anchored our defense and almost partially led us to our second Super Bowl appearance in team history and rumor has it you're heading for a team who hasn't won a playoff game since we were founded?

Regardless of your decision, I want you happy. And I like to think you're happy in Baltimore. Throughout the time I've seen you off the field, you've always had a smile on your face—even in the darkest times. It's mostly the reason I admire you.

You had a smile on when we were 5-11 last season and in deep, you were on a rebound mood after the murder trial and you have always been a positive guy and I'd be honored to be a teammate of yours—just for a day.

I'm sure newbies such as Jim Leonhard, Brandon Ayanbadejo, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are honored to be around you. And getting compliments from you is only a bonus.

I'm sure Packers fans felt the way I feel right now. A star on the brink of a departure. Yes, it's just sports. And things matter more. But this is not just about sports. This is partly about love, life lessons and faith.

It's love because we have loved you for so long and you have loved us back. I hope you remember that. It's life lessons because one of the lessons I have learned is to not take anything for granted. If we have taken you for granted, I am extremely sorry.

I'm sure we all have. But I hope it's the faith we have shown that you'll always appreciate.

Leave or don't leave, Ray. But regardless, I want you to be happy. I want that with all my players. I want that with all athletes. Sure, there are athletes I dislike: Michael Vick, Plaxico Burress, many more.

But I could never wish unhappiness to anyone: especially someone who has worked so hard to accomplish a given dream. Ray, please don't leave. Baltimore loves you. Retire. Re-sign. But don't leave.

Sure, the AFC Championship loss was disappointing. But it showed the Baltimore Ravens journey to a Super Bowl isn't done yet.

And even if we go and win without you, it will never be the same. Ray, you deserve more rings then any other football player I've ever seen play. You play with a certain passion, aggression and at the same time sportsmanship that hits me, Ravens fans and hopefully NFL fans.

You belong in purple. Ray and Ravens just mix. Ray and Ed co-exist. Not Ray and Roy or Ray and Dallas.

If you'd be happy in Dallas, sign. Do it. Go for it. Do what makes you happy. Because at the end of the day, isn't that what we all want? Yes, O's fans wanted Mark Teixeira. But can you blame him if he's happy in pinstripes?

Yes, the Eagles wanted Larry Fitzgerald, but can they blame him if the best situation for him is Arizona? So on and so forth. Sports really is about happiness. Yes, we talk about pain in football, but it really is a sport involving love.

It's a sport involving 53 men working for a common goal and it's a beautiful thing. And Ray, you have inspired those 53 men. No matter where you are next year, I hope I speak for all Ravens fans when I say: I want you to do what's best for you.

The Baltimore Ravens' team, front office, coaching staff, and entire fanbase LOVE and adore you. Now I certainly hope that you being happy equals you spending your final years in Baltimore. If this your last hurrah, we'll certainly miss you, but it will also feel good knowing that we had an NFL legend in all his years.

I want you to re-sign. You seem happy here and you are that close to getting your second ring. Hopefully, you can do it with the organization you and I know as the Baltimore Ravens.

But that said, don't do what makes me happy. Don't do what makes Joe Flacco happy. Do what makes YOU and you ONLY happy.

Yes, I could sit here and say that you must re-sign. And that it'll make you happy. But I don't truly know. I hope it would make you happy. I think it would, too. You seem quite positive and seemed like a great leader throughout the year.

If you go to Dallas, I'd swallow the pill. I wouldn't love it, but I know you'd be doing what's best for you, and isn't that what you have to be willing to cope with when you love someone?