Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis addresses the media during a press conference in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
As if you needed further proof that the Ray Lewis retirement party has given the Baltimore Ravens extra motivation and inspiration we’ve got some. Like John Elway at the end of his career the Ravens have willed there way through the playoffs to get to Super Bowl XLVII and are trying to send their emotional and vocal leader out with another ring.
Of course, Elway hadn’t won a Super Bowl before his second to last season, where as Lewis is already a Super Bowl Champion and MVP. Everyone assumes this “last ride” has given the Ravens extra motivation and determination to get the job done. Now we have a Raven confirming it.
Ravens safety James Ihedigbo went on WFAN radio in New York and talked about the announcement.
“He’s our leader, he’s our general and when he spoke to the team guys truly got goosebumps, and not only that, there was a change in that locker room, there was a change when we had that conversation,” James said, via Sports Radio Interviews. “And I’m not going to go into depth of what was said, but from that point on it lit a different type of fire under us. We got guys healthy, we got guys back in the starting lineup and we continued to play at a high level. When you look at when we played the Giants at home, going on from that point, it was a whole different Baltimore Ravens team.”