Ray Lewis

Ed Orgeron, USC's interim coach, never said he intended to implement a star-studded guest speaker series in the Trojans' program. But it appears to be happening. A week after Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen addressed the Trojans, former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis on Tuesday spoke to the team in the McKay Center before practice. “I've never seen so many guys that quiet and that focused on one man,” quarterback Cody Kessler said. “He can make you believe you can go fly and jump over a building,” tailback Javorius Allen said.

UFC 172 takes place Saturday night with the UFC running Baltimore for the first time. The event is headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title contest between champion Jon Jones and challenger Glover Teixeira. Jones, a dominant champion and a fighter considered by many to be the pound for pound best in the world, is coming off the most competitive fight of his career against Alexander Gustafsson. The question is how Jones will respond in his next fight against a competitor who has won 20 straight fights dating back to 2006, when his training partner Chuck Liddell was still UFC light heavyweight kingpin.

The wife of New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker has apologized for her remarks about Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis in the wake of the Ravens' 28-13 win over the Patriots in the AFC title game. On her Facebook page, Anna Welker posted the following comment after the loss: "Proud of my husband and the Pats. By the way, if anyone is bored, please go to Ray Lewis' Wikipedia page. 6 kids 4 wives. Acquitted for murder. Paid a family off. Yay. What a hall of fame player!

Ed Orgeron, USC's interim coach, never said he intended to implement a star-studded guest speaker series in the Trojans' program. But it appears to be happening. A week after Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen addressed the Trojans, former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis on Tuesday spoke to the team in the McKay Center before practice. “I've never seen so many guys that quiet and that focused on one man,” quarterback Cody Kessler said. “He can make you believe you can go fly and jump over a building,” tailback Javorius Allen said.

Ray Lewis has been the feel-good story of the NFL postseason. The soon-to-be-retired Baltimore linebacker returned from what appeared at the time to be a season-ending torn right triceps in time to help the Ravens win three playoff games and advance to the Super Bowl. But a Sports Illustrated story released Tuesday linking Lewis to a substance banned by the NFL cast a cloud of the veteran player's media day news conference. According the story, Lewis used deer-antler velvet extract to help speed up his recovery from the injury.

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has found a new team to play for next season: ESPN. Lewis said Tuesday that he has been hired by the network to be an analyst for NFL games on ESPN radio and TV. "ESPN is such a big part of how fans watch and experience sports, especially the NFL, so I'm excited to join their team," Lewis said. "I'm ready to bring the same level of passion to this next phase of my life as I brought to the field during my years as a player. I can't wait to work with my new teammates, many of whom I've already known for years.

This post has been updated. See below. Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis has a full tear in his right triceps and most likely is out for the rest of the season. He has spent all 17 of his pro seasons with the Ravens, was the Super Bowl MVP in 2000, leads the team in tackles and is considered the group's emotional leader. Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss whether Lewis should call it a career. Feel free to join the conversation by voting in the poll and leaving a comment of your own. Aaron Wilson, Baltimore Sun Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis' legendary career should logically end now due to a torn right triceps.

Third of four breakdowns on the first round of the NFL playoffs: Hurtin' for certain? The last time these teams played, Baltimore players thought officials were far too quick to throw flags that kept the pass-rush heat off Tom Brady . In a conference call this week, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis sounded wary about reports of Brady's broken ribs and broken index finger on his throwing hand. "I think sometimes that's the biggest setup ever," Lewis said. "Look at all the great ones, man. All the great ones, man, every time you say they're hurt, they come out and have their best games.

Ray Lewis, one of the most feared men in the NFL for the better part of two decades, gave us a Bible lesson Sunday -- Psalm 91 in particular -- following his final home game as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. After the 24-9 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs, the soon-to-be-retired linebacker took off his jersey and pads to reveal a black sleeveless T-shirt with "Psalms 91" printed in small, gold print on front. The shirt received plenty of exposure as Lewis took a victory lap around M&T Stadium, surely sending many to their Bibles or computers to learn exactly just what message the two-time defensive player of the year was trying to convey.

Ray Lewis has been playing in the NFL for a long time. How long? The Baltimore Ravens linebacker started playing so long ago that his first career sack was against Jim Harbaugh, who now is head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. And it just so happens that the Ravens and 49ers will be facing off in Super Bowl XLVII, which also happens to be Lewis' last game before retirement. That first sack came during Lewis' rookie year in 1996, when Harbaugh was playing for Indianapolis.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler confirmed that he texted former coach Lane Kiffin the day after emotional postgame remarks in praise of interim coach Ed Orgeron were portrayed by some as a slam of Kiffin. "I didn't mean it that way at all," Kessler said Tuesday after practice. After USC's victory over Arizona on Thursday, Kessler said “I couldn't ask for a better head coach right now,” and that players “would go to war” for Orgeron. Kiffin, during an appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" show Saturday, praised Kessler and said, “by the time I woke up the next day, I had a text from Cody and from his mom and from his dad. … I would expect nothing less from those kids to support the next coach and the next one after that.” Kessler said he told Kiffin that he was thankful for everything Kiffin did for him. He said Kiffin responded by saying he knew that and that he appreciated the text.

Turns out Roger Goodell is the evil mastermind behind the blackout at the Super Dome that caused a 34-minute delay in Super Bowl XLVII in February. So implies Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs in an interview with ESPN's Lisa Salters as part of its "E:60" magazine series. “I thought he had a hand in it," Suggs said of the NFL commissioner. "Most definitely, he had a hand in it. " The Ravens had pulled to a 28-6 lead over the San Francisco 49ers early in the third quarter when the power outage occurred, causing the unprecedented delay.

Joe Flacco might have given former Baltimore Ravens teammate Ray Lewis the ultimate insult Wednesday, saying the retired-player-turned-analyst "is one of them" now. When he says "one of them," he's talking about the media. And he doesn't mean it as a compliment. Apparently, Flacco thinks all media members do is sit around and stir up trouble while discussing things they know nothing about. Which is pretty much true, at least in my case. Can't really speak for Lewis, who works for ESPN, or anyone else in the business though.

Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis has found a new team to play for next season: ESPN. Lewis said Tuesday that he has been hired by the network to be an analyst for NFL games on ESPN radio and TV. "ESPN is such a big part of how fans watch and experience sports, especially the NFL, so I'm excited to join their team," Lewis said. "I'm ready to bring the same level of passion to this next phase of my life as I brought to the field during my years as a player. I can't wait to work with my new teammates, many of whom I've already known for years.

It began with the light of the chorus from Sandy Hook Elementary school, saved children singing "America the Beautiful" in tiny voices that moved the soul. It was then pitched into 34 minutes of a murky darkness, the power out, the air conditioners off, the humid Superdome beginning a slow cook that frazzled the nerves. It ended, finally, in light again, the Super Bowl coming full circle on a dizzying Sunday night with a dramatically blinding finish of wrestling players, screaming coaches and winners doing snow angels in the purple and white confetti.

Ray Lewis has been celebrated throughout the postseason as one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history. He has also been vilified by some as a person who was involved in an incident during which two men were killed after the 2000 Super Bowl. It is a complex legacy, and one that his former teammate, Shannon Sharpe, asked him about before Sunday's Super Bowl. Sharpe, now an analyst for CBS, asked Lewis what he would say to the families of the two men killed. Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice after the incident.

The Baltimore Ravens won Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, 31-29, but also suffered a huge loss as middle linebacker Ray Lewis tore his right triceps and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. Worse yet for the AFC North Division leaders, their 13-time Pro Bowl linebacker will have company on the sidelines. Cornerback Lardarius Webb, Baltimore's best cover player, is also out for the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee. Webb has experience in bouncing back from knee injuries, having torn the ACL in his right knee as a rookie in 2009.

Ray Lewis appears to have provided a template for anybody looking to rehabilitate their image. Back in 2001, the Baltimore Ravens linebacker was the Super Bowl MVP but was passed over by Disney for its postgame theme park commercial, presumably because of his connection to a double murder in Atlanta. Now, the day after Lewis announced he will retire after the playoffs, SI.com is reporting he is close to signing a multi-year broadcasting deal with ESPN, which just so happens to be owned by Disney.

I never thought I'd say this, but good job, Bill Plaschke. I'm sick of the exaltation of Ray Lewis [Jan. 30] as a good guy, someone to be admired. It's sad that the NFL has allowed him to be built up as one of its stars. I'm glad Plaschke has taken the time to expose Lewis for what he really is. Rich Rudy San Diego :: After reading Ed Reed's tough talk about illegal hits to the helmet [Jan. 31], he is already showing signs of early-onset dementia — early aging and partial memory loss!

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis called the recent allegations that he took a banned substance to help him recover from a serious injury "the work of the devil. " A recent Sports Illustrated article said that Mitch Ross, owner of a business called Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (SWATS), recorded a call he received from Lewis hours after the player tore his right triceps in a game in October. Ross said Lewis asked for a shipment of deer-antler spray and pills, which contain the banned substance IGF-1, and that Lewis took some of those pills he already had on hand while they were talking.