Few players wield as much influence with their NFL teams as Ray Lewis. Lewis, a nine-time Pro Bowl linebacker, is as much the face of the Ravens as star quarterbacks Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Brett Favre are with the Colts, Patriots and Packers. For 12 years — all with the Ravens — Lewis has been one of the most dominating presences in the league and the marketing focal point of the franchise.

If owner Steve Bisciotti’s comments about Lewis this past Saturday at the announcement of head coach John Harbaugh’s hiring are any indication, the star’s power inside the team’s Owings Mills complex will not diminish any time soon — even with his contract expiring at the end of next season.

Bisciotti was asked about a perceived lack of discipline inside the organization. After tackling the query, Bisciotti veered off in a defense of Lewis, one of the team’s least penalized players on the field. Lewis, though, is the team’s most vocal member.

When he speaks, people listen — even Bisciotti.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“Everybody knows that Ray Lewis is the player and the leader that he is,” Bisciotti offered, unprovoked. “Everything you know about Ray is true. He’s truly one of the greatest leaders that I’ve ever been around in my life. It’s genuine, it’s constant, it’s so deep-rooted, that he can’t possibly be anything but a great influence for the other players. People say, ‘This is Ray’s team. It should be, it shouldn’t be, whatever.’ Leaders rise to the top, and Ray has since the time he was a young man.”

Almost immediately after the Harbaugh news conference, members of the media buzzed about Bisciotti’s diatribe. Sports talk radio stations and Internet message boards also discussed the subject, with many fans pointing out the random nature of the Bisciotti’s comments about Lewis.

Lewis had not publicly addressed former coach Brian Billick’s dismissal on Dec. 31 until he served as an analyst for ESPN this past Sunday. In the midst of sharing his excitement about a phone conversation with Harbaugh, Lewis slid in: “One coach out. One coach in.”

Lewis famously criticized an offensive play-call by Billick this past season on his radio show. Bisciotti claims he did not confer with the players before firing Billick.

Lewis and Bisciotti have developed a friendship, which includes the owner occasionally taking Lewis to University of Maryland men’s basketball games.

“It bothers me that Ray would ever be perceived as caring more about his own agenda than he would about winning a championship,” Bisciotti told reporters Saturday.

Both men likely will need to separate business from pleasure in 2008 as Lewis enters the final year of a contract that will pay him $6.5 million next season. The Ravens are in negotiations with another linebacker, Terrell Suggs, over a long-term contract extension, and Lewis likely will seek deal that could be too salary cap heavy.

But Bisciotti does not appear ready to part with Lewis.

“You see Ray Lewis running around this year doing what he did at 32 years old,” Bisciotti said. “There’s no end in sight for Ray Lewis.”

mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com