Ray Lewis Could Be Close to a Huge Contract Extension With the Ravens

Multiple reports have surfaced that the Ravens and Ray Lewis are close to a contract extension, and while nothing is inked yet, it appears that the 33-year-old linebacker with more miles on him than your grandmother's station wagon could be in Baltimore to stay.

WNST reported earlier today that while no deal has been confirmed, multiple team sources are saying that Lewis and Baltimore could be in the midst of signing a 5-year deal that would include a tremendous signing bonus, thus alleviating potential salary cap issues for the team.

A Ravens official confirmed all of this (to WNST) earlier this week by saying, "Ray's going to be in Baltimore next year and for a while after that...it's been discussed and reviewed and nothing has changed in our mind. Ray is going to be here and he's going to finish his career in purple. We know the numbers, financially, and we're going to make them work."

After the WNST report was posted, Florio at PFT talked to a person with knowledge of the situation that said no such deal has been agreed on, even if it is nearing completion.

"The deal isn't signed, but it might as well be. . . . Ray's staying. And he'll eventually wind up inking a 5-year deal that will help the team fork over a mammoth signing bonus and yet not strap the team salary-cap wise through 2013."

I see it going Ray's way. As a person that deals with a ton of Ravens fans (points at sister), Lewis is the ears, nose and mouth of this franchise and losing him would basically cripple the fan base. Sure, they have some younger stars to build around but nobody can get the crowd pumped for a mediocre team like Lewis can. If he was gone the Ravens would have to turn away from the franchise player who has been around since the Ravens were a part of Baltimore.

My assumption is the team will do what they have to do to keep Lewis, even if it is throwing him a huge paycheck so the heart of this team will stay intact. For the sake of passionate football, I sure hope that is the case.