USA TODAY International Edition
Rice gives Lewis another run
Pays tribute to retired LB as he steps up for Ravens
OWINGS MILLS, MD. A younger, smaller, faster version of Ray Lewis was wearing the retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker’s No. 52 jersey Tuesday, catching passes from Joe Flacco and causing double takes during practice.
It turns out, running back Ray Rice was channeling his mentor for the last five seasons as the Ravens prepared for Thursday’s NFL season opener against the host Denver Broncos — their first opener without Lewis in the franchise’s 18- year existence.
Wearing another player’s jersey is a team tradition during the final practice before a game. Defensive end Chris Canty wore injured tight end Dennis Pitta’s No. 88 jersey, and linebacker Terrell Suggs dressed in punter Sam Koch’s No. 4. But the tribute by “Little Ray” ran deeper.
“I felt it was a cool gesture to keep him around for all he’s done in Baltimore,” Rice told USA TODAY Sports. “Ray said he might pull a little surprise Thursday night, ( but) he probably won’t be in Denver. He gets so animated watching games, he’d probably enjoy it more watching at home. I don’t know if he’ll tape a pregame speech, but if I need one, I can give him a call.”
Rice dresses next to Lewis’ old locker, which is boarded up. The Ravens haven’t built a shrine, but they have decided not to let another player use Lewis’ locker this season.
“The boarded- up thing I look at from a different perspective: We all have to remember our lockers are going to be boarded up one day,” Rice said. “It’s a unique deal to Ray. The way he put his cleats to rest, a lot of people only dream of.”
In order for the defending Super Bowl champions to succeed in Denver, they’ll need Rice to come close to duplicating his 131- yard, onetouchdown rushing performance in January’s 38- 35 divisional- round, double- overtime win. Rice and tagteam partner Bernard Pierce will be keys to sustaining drives and keeping Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning on the sideline.
Rice, the featured back, said he wasn’t worried about coach John Harbaugh’s plan to distribute touches to Rice and Pierce based on how Harbaugh feels the game is going. “I know in crucial situations, I’ll be in there,” Rice said.
Since 2009, Rice owns a leaguebest 7,506 total yards from scrimmage ( 5,066 rushing) and has a league- best 39 games in which he has gained 100 or more yards from scrimmage. And until last postseason, Rice had lost only six fumbles over five seasons. How does he put those three fumbles last postseason, including one in the Super Bowl, in the rear view?
“I know I’m not a fumbler,” Rice said. “I worked on that this offseason. I’m sure, in my case, the good outweighs the bad. I’m a playmaker. I’m not afraid to be a playmaker.”
His teammates remember Rice’s most famous play from 2012 — a fourth- and- 29 conversion catch against the San Diego Chargers that sparked a Nov. 25 comeback victory.
“We didn’t realize it at the time, but that play was huge for our Super Bowl season,” guard Marshal Yanda said. “It just shows the ( kind) of a football player Ray Rice is.”