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Linebacker Ray Lewis, an unrestricted free agent this offseason, told NFL Network Thursday that the New York Jets are an "attractive option," as playing for the team would mean he'd be reunited with Rex Ryan, the former Ravens defensive coordinator who is now head coach of the Jets, the New York Post reports.
"You can take a young Jets team that has a lot of talent across the board when you try to wiggle (No.) 52 into that equation somewhere or other than that team goes from just being OK to, let's just win this," Lewis said. "That scenario by itself is always attractive. That's a great opportunity, reason being we (he and Ryan) have been together for years."
Lewis said that he has not spoken to Ryan since he became the Jets' coach.
Lewis' fellow Ravens linebackers, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott, are also unrestricted free agents. Suggs has said that he believes the three will be willing to give the Ravens "hometown discounts" in order to stay in Baltimore and keep the linebacking unit together.
But Lewis told NFL Network he would not give Baltimore a hometown discount. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life," Lewis said.
Lewis went so far as to hint that Brett Favre returning would be a factor in whether he decides to sign with the Jets, according to the Post, since it would indicate the Jets are in a win-now mode.
"That scenario you almost have to see where it goes to see what they're doing as an organization," Lewis said. "Then that's when you can jump in and pick up where they're going to leave off. If they're saying we are going to go after Brett, then that's when I am going to make a phone call."
"You can take a young Jets team that has a lot of talent across the board when you try to wiggle (No.) 52 into that equation somewhere or other than that team goes from just being OK to, let's just win this," Lewis said. "That scenario by itself is always attractive. That's a great opportunity, reason being we (he and Ryan) have been together for years."
Lewis said that he has not spoken to Ryan since he became the Jets' coach.
Lewis' fellow Ravens linebackers, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott, are also unrestricted free agents. Suggs has said that he believes the three will be willing to give the Ravens "hometown discounts" in order to stay in Baltimore and keep the linebacking unit together.
But Lewis told NFL Network he would not give Baltimore a hometown discount. "If you don't play less, you don't take less. That's just life," Lewis said.
Lewis went so far as to hint that Brett Favre returning would be a factor in whether he decides to sign with the Jets, according to the Post, since it would indicate the Jets are in a win-now mode.
"That scenario you almost have to see where it goes to see what they're doing as an organization," Lewis said. "Then that's when you can jump in and pick up where they're going to leave off. If they're saying we are going to go after Brett, then that's when I am going to make a phone call."
