Ray Lewis backs up the talk

Last week, Ravens linebacker and bear whisperer Ray Lewis promised Rex Ryan and the Jets, who rarely passed up an opportunity to hype themselves up this offseason, that blocking him would be "a very hard damn task come Monday night."

As promised, Lewis made a seamless transition from big talk to big hits, silencing the rowdy New Meadowlands Stadium crowd when he thumped Jets tight end Dustin Keller in the closing minutes of the Ravens' 10-9 victory. Lewis' huge open-field hit on Keller topped the list of SportsCenter's top plays on Tuesday morning, and his impassioned play in the Week 1 grudge match prompted Ravens coach John Harbaugh to call Lewis "the best linebacker in football."

"Ray Lewis has lost a step? I don't think so," Harbaugh said at his post-game press conference.

After the game, Lewis kept the chatter to a minimum. (Really, what else did he need to add after his frenetic play and his inspired pre-game speech pushed his teammates to the win?) His parting shot in his war of words with his former coordinator: "I respect Rex. We won a Super Bowl together. But anytime you challenge a warrior, a warrior is going to respond."

And by respond, Lewis means on the playing field. Not at the podium. 

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(baltimoresun.com)
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