As he has done for so many previous summers, inside linebacker Ray Lewis began what could be his last go-round as a Raven with the signs that have long been taken for granted.

Lewis, 33, had the bounce of a rookie in his step throughout the team’s first, full-squad, training camp practice at McDaniel College on Friday. During team drills, he yelled out defensive signals, barked across the line of scrimmage at the quarterback, read plays quickly and always seemed to be close to the ball.

For a guy who is heading into his 13th season, not to mention the final year of his contract, Lewis looks remarkably ready to do what he has done while building his reputation as one of the greatest to play his position.

His 6-foot-1, 250-pound frame is as chiseled as ever, the product of another offseason of brutal strength and conditioning work. His feet look light, judging by the way he moved along the line of scrimmage to get to the ball carrier. He is as healthy as he could hope to be after 12 years of confronting huge blockers and slamming into running backs, after leading his defense with an all-out style that has bordered on reckless abandon.

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Besides being the captain of the defense, Lewis, a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is the dean, the lone original Raven still putting on the pads. Only 19-year veteran kicker Matt Stover, the last Raven to begin in Baltimore as a former Cleveland Brown, has been collecting game checks longer in Baltimore than Lewis.

“The amazing thing is [Lewis] keeps coming out here every year and he tries to get better every single year. That’s why I think he maintains such a high level of play,” Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said. “I would hate to work out with him. Sure, the great ones have God-given ability. But you can’t play at the level he does without the commitment he has.”

The list of linebackers who have come and gone in Baltimore since Lewis was drafted in the first round in 1996 is long. Lewis has been a defensive player of the year as a middle linebacker in a 4-3 defensive scheme, as the unquestioned focal point of the unit. He has been defensive player of the year in the 3-4 set as an inside linebacker. He was the team’s Super Bowl MVP in 2001. Ten times, Lewis has led the team in tackles. The only seasons (2002 and 2005) he did not lead the Ravens in tackles, Lewis had his seasons cut short by shoulder and hamstring injuries.

Lewis long ago established himself as the vocal leader of a defense that has usually ended up among the league’s top 10. As for his example to young players, no one comes to camp in better shape. In 12 seasons, has Lewis ever taken a play off?

And Lewis is coming off one of his better years. Lost at times in the mess last season became amid a sea of injuries and resulting ineptitude on offense and in the defensive secondary was Lewis, who was as physical, relentless and sure-tackling as ever. In 14 starts, he produced 184 of his franchise-record 2,022 tackles.

“You listen to [talk about] 13 years and ‘the older guy.’ I’m a big sports fan, and I watch a lot of guys who they say are old,” Lewis said. “They said Michael Strahan was old, but he beat every tackle that was in front of him, and he won a Super Bowl [for the Giants last year]. Old is [having] a lot of wisdom and a lot of knowledge. I don’t ever want to be 25 or 26 now. I know too much. I’m way past where I was. Now, coming to camp is kind of fun. My energy is incredible. You know how to come here in the best shape of your life, and you really appreciate the game.”