A man on a mission: following a 2002 season that was cut short by an injury, the All-Pro linebacker is determined to come back stronger than ever - Interview: Ray Lewis

Football Digest, Oct, 2003 by Tom Worgo

GROWING UP, RAY LEWIS IDOLized Chicago Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary. This offseason Singletary became the Baltimore Raven's linebackers coach, and Lewis now is playing for him.

"He and I are a match made in heaven," Lewis says. "We relate to each other very well. It's almost like we played together."

Lewis is driven to eventually surpass Singletary and another Bears legend, Dick Butkus, and become known as the greatest linebacker of all time. He certainly is off to a good start. At 28, Lewis already has been a Super Bowl most valuable player, the defensive player of the year, led the league in tackles three times, and been to five Pro Bowls.

"They [the Ravens] are not the team that they once were, but he makes that defense three or four times better when he's out there," Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor says.

This season, Lewis faces an added challenge in his quest to be the best. He separated his shoulder in 2002, an injury that required surgery. It was the first serious injury in his seven-year career and it limited him to only five games and snapped his string of 63 consecutive starts. But Lewis worked harder than ever this offseason to get himself into playing shape.

Ravens coach Brian Billick isn't worried at all about Lewis regaining the form that has made him so great. The coach believes the linebacker's leadership qualifies alone make him an invaluable piece of the puzzle.

"He is one of the most naturally gifted leaders I have seen," Billick says. "He works very hard at it. The way he reaches out to players of all levels and all backgrounds, that is rare."

FOOTBALL DIGEST recently sat down with Lewis and talked to him about Singletary, his desire to be the greatest linebacker ever, the Ravens' chances of returning to the Super Bowl this year, and his role as a leader.

FOOTBALL DIGEST: How important is it to you to have Singletary as your new linebackers coach?

RAY LEWIS: You have to be careful what you pray for. Now that he is my coach, it's like, "Wow." As a man, he will bring me everything I need in my life. As a coach, it will be special to know a guy I idolized and grew up watching is fighting for the same common goal. For my career, it will be a big bonus. I have so much trust in him and respect for him. He knows my focus. We both have the same passion.

We will help each other out. He will fine-tune me--it will definitely help me in my career. Mike said there is only so high you can go in this game. He says I am at that level. My thing now is to maintain that.

FD: How do you want to be remembered as a player?

RL: I want to be remembered as the greatest linebacker ever. Why not? I don't play the game for any other reason. I play the game for that reason--period. I have to climb over Mike Singletary, Dick Butkus, and Lawrence Taylor. I think when you look at a player, you see if he can make people around him that much better, like Michael Jordan. People like that. People just want to say, "How? How? How?" But it's just drive and a passion. When the game is done, there will be arguments. That's all I want.

FD: The critics seem to be waiting for your play to slip. Baltimore lost eight starters from its Super Bowl defense in 2001, and you're coming off of shoulder surgery What's your response to those critics?

RL: I don't care what people think about my shoulder. It's 100% healthy. Once you have surgery, and if you are smart with it, as I have been, it comes back stronger. I just have a little scar.

Last year, there were people waiting to see how I played without Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams in front of me. I guess I disappointed them. People wanted to see how I played in a 3-4 defense. I guess disappointed them. There's nothing people can say that can slow me down.

FD: You played some of the best football in your career before the shoulder injury ended your 2002 season. Can you play the same high level early this season?

RL: It will be easy. I will just come out and play with energy. I want to see [Steelers coach] Bill Cowler's face when we play Pittsburgh the first day. I trained harder than I ever did in the offseason. If I did a certain number of reps lifting weights, then I would make sure I would break all of them. I just train so hard.

When I step onto the football field, everything else is like slower and easier. Now I take care of my body way better, and I train way harder. You do it because of your years in the league. Now I am at the point in my career where I just have to fine-tune things.

FD: The Ravens had the most rookies in the league last year, and the team will be one of the NFL's youngest again this season. Have you had to show more leadership over the past two years than you did with the Super Bowl team?

RL: Not really. The Super Bowl year, I was the same way. I know what it takes for a team to win. It's my job to let them know what we are here for. When you see something that needs fixing, you address it. It's because of what I do and how hard I work. Guys listen to me and respect me.