Make no mistake about it: Super Bowl XLVII is about Ray Lewis more than any other single player on the Baltimore Ravens. The entire team deserves credit for getting to New Orleans, but Lewis is the big storyline. Whether it’s his impending retirement, his alleged use of performance-enhancing substances or simply his obnoxious flare for the dramatic, Ray finds a way to hog the spotlight.
On Wednesday, former New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer criticized Lewis for what he called an “exhausting” routine.
“It’s definitely all about him,” Toomer told USA Today Sports. “Once a guy goes to the center of the field, goes into the victory formation on the last play of his last home game. … I just don’t think the Giants or any organization I’ve ever been a part of, even growing up, would allow somebody to single themselves out like that.
“If you single yourself out after you make a play, that’s one thing. But to walk out on the field reminds me of the WWE, like The Rock coming out. You’re becoming a caricature of yourself. It’s exhausting. I don’t know why somebody would want that.”
Outside of Maryland, I think most people are getting pretty tired of Ray. Wes Welker’s wife spoke for a lot of people when she ripped Lewis for not being a good role model, and Toomer hinted that he felt a similar way about Lewis’ constant religious preaching while also praising him for being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
“If you want to say you’re Mr. Religious and all of that, have a clean record,” Toomer said. “Don’t say all of that stuff if you know there’s stuff that might come back. Those are the things that, when I look at him, I just think hypocrisy.”
My thoughts exactly. If you think it’s all about Ray now, wait until you see the television coverage if Baltimore wins on Sunday. Lewis’ Ravens teammates would be thrilled to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but they might as well deliver their comments through the veteran linebacker and have him relay them to the media.
Photo credit: Evan Habeeb-US PRESSWIRE
