Let's put it THIS way: If the Ravens are serious about making another Super Bowl run, they'll need to totally revamp the running game – O-line, RBs, blocking schemes, & play calling. Personally, I don't see Jamal Lewis as a part of that overall revamping. Thanks for your past contributions, JL, and all the best finding another team you can help.

Strong words from JaLew. I like it. He is 100% right. If the Ravens don't sign him he'll go to another team, be successful, and It'll leave a real bad taste in the mouth of Ravens fans. This guy should finish his career in Balto. He wants to stay here. He can still carry the ball any down and in the future he'll be a great goal-line back.

I'm a little worried about this aspect of the off-season. The Ravens need to improve the running game but dumping Jamal is not the answer. McNair needs pass the ball and open up the run. Also, Jamal can catch in the flat and run in the open feild very well, so why don't they call that play more often.

Replacements for Jamal are not out there. Anderson and Smith are compliments not feature backs. LT's backup M. Turner is mediocre and you can't bet on drafting a rooking starting RB. It's just not possible.

Ozzie if you can hear me, "KEEP JAMAL!"

Jamal is past his prime. He is no longer the strong straight ahead power runner he once was. The Ravens need to let him go and use whatever they save on the salary cap to go out and sign a young power running back. Jamal was a good runnning back when he came on board, but time has passed him by.

If the Ravens are serious about making another Super Bowl run, they will sign a running back who doesn't stutter step behind the line and can pick up more than 2.5 YPC. Sorry, Jamal, you're past your prime, and good running backs are a dime a dozen. No need to hang onto you for nostalgia sake only.

Well, I'm glad Jamal is still confident, and there'll always be a soft spot for the Ravens 2000 yard back. But I don't think Jamal is the right guy for another run at the Super Bowl. He's a power back who doesn't seem to have the ability to blow open a hole that isn't there anymore, and he's never had much ability to cut back. In the Indy game he bounced it outside a couple of times for nice gains, but that was the only game of the year he did that.

If the Ravens can draft a potential feature-back, Jamal becomes superfluous with Mike Anderson on the roster.

I wish him luck.

I believe the Ravens are serious about making it to the Super Bowl next year which is exactly why Jamal won't be relied upon. I felt like Jamal Lewis in the lineup was simple patch work because the team didn't have a better option.

i really feel that jamal still has something left to offer. did you see the way he was running against the colts in the playoff game? he played very intense and ran hard every down. i think we need to revamp the o-line and quite honestly the offensive play calling. dont forget that we also have mike anderson and musa (even though musa is unfortunately injury prone). i dont think HB is the major issue here with the running game. it has a lot to do with mike flynn and the offensive line's inability to successfuly run block/create holes. what about keeping mulitalo and moving brown to right gaurd? as for tony pashos, im really not too high on the guy. he makes a lot of mistakes and lets a lot of pressure get to mc nair. he did a lot better job this season on the pass blocking, ill give him that. i guess there just arent any quality right tackles available...

We need to keep Jamal. We can still use him for key running downs and GOAL Line downs.
Even if he is past his prime, just like Jerome Bettis was, way past his, and he was incredible with GOAL Line CONVERSIONS. Not to mention, The BIG BACK Presence placed FEAR into the OPPONENT.

DO NOT LET JALEW Get Away! We would regret that as RAVENS FANS. Just for the sake of the 3rd and 1 Goal Line Stand, and the BIG BACK Presence to Place FEAR into the OPPONENT.
There is not another one like him out there in the Free Agent market that can still perform the way he can and will.

Let's UPGrade the Offensive Line, and Look for a faster Running Back via Free Agency or the Draft.
Jan-Ryder, I agree with you.

Jamal,

I love you really I do. But if you are serious about another run at a Super Bowl consider this. The words I heard Ozzie today indicate that the team is gearing up to be consistent. 5 years of 10-6 and the playoffs each year yields a better chance of winning a Super Bowl than one 13-3 followed by a 9-7 then 7-9's.

Restructure you contract to stay with this team for the long run or its adios.

The same can be said for the other "Free Agents". This team is not the Orioles. Talent does not have to be overpaid and other quality players want to play here.

You want a Super Bowl. Sign-up for the long run J-Lew. Look at Bettis. He was so called past his prime for years. He stuck around to get his ring being realistic and wanting to Win Every Year. Not some big payday and 1 and out in the playoffs.

I disagree with anyone who believes J. Lewis is done. I believe our O Line did an outstanding job w/pass protection and were just weak in the run department. Jamal stutter stepped a lot last year and I feel this year he was less hesitant but ran into holes that were supposed to be open. Look at Tiki, Sean Alexander, Edgerin James. All these guys are Jamal's age or older and they still get it done. I'm not convinced Jamal is done and I pray that we keep the man. Plus I just purchased his jersey for this playoff run. lol

I think jamal injury had something to do with his game and they need to keep him. Remember he ran over joey porter and was dragging a lot of backs. I say keep him

And NOW it turns out that Lewis was injured the entire season although it was never reported? Doesn't that make a total farce of the official weekly INJURY REPORT? I feel as if the Ravens have landed in some poppy field with Emerald City on the distant horizon ever since they stepped onto the field against the Indianapolis Colts.

And as if that game weren't bad enough, almost everything that has emanated from the Land of OZ since that debacle has been reminiscent of nasty flying monkeys: Billick's description of how he "enjoyed himself" as OC, despite a dismal, pathetic offensive display against Indy; the smoke-and-mirrors promotion of Rick Neuheisel; Bisciotti's satisfaction with the 13-3/one and done performance of his team, coupled with his "confidence" in the team's future; and now this lovely revelation about Jamal Lewis.

Personally, I believe it's time fans paid a LOT closer attention to all these men behind the curtain. We’re definitely not in Kansas (City in December) any more, Toto.

I think these quotes by themselves demonstrate why it is imperative for the Ravens to cut Jamal ASAP. The Ravens would have made their playoff run in 2006 with or without Jamal. He was simply along for the ride. If anything he impeded the Raven’s progress by not overpowering defenses and taking over games, thus forcing “Billick Ball” to resort to the dreaded passing game. And how many times did he go to the media and call out the offensive coaching staff because he got less then 20 carries or only got a couple of carries in the fourth quarter? Not only is Jamal a less than mediocre player, but he’s also a locker room distraction.

This new revelation/excuse about bone chips in his ankle only shows that Jamal’s body is breaking down and that he’s due for a season ending type injury sooner then later. Injury or no injury he’s lost a step in this league. I wonder if Billick and Newsome were thinking about what Jones-Drew, Maroney or Addai could have been doing for the offense as they watched classic Jamal miss open hole after open hole and fall down after running two yards?

Jamal WAS a great back, but he is now too beat up, too slow, and too cautious. To quote a friend, he has become Jamal "Tippie Toes" Lewis.

He might still have moderate success with the Ravens next year, but he'd only be worth keeping around if he took a drastic pay cut. Despite what some posters have said, he is not good catching the ball out of the backfield (he is downright bad at that), and his pass blocking is average at best.

The Ravens should draft a speedy back and mix him in with Anderson and Smith; this offense really needs an explosive back. Running backs are not too hard to find, and their success is largely just a reflection of the offensive line and play selection.

Thank you Jamal for your great years in Baltimore, and for helping us win a Superbowl. You showed a great deal of heart against the Colts in the playoffs, and performed well in your limited opportunities.

With that being said, it's time the Ravens move in a new direction.

Jamal Lewis is a huge part of the Ravens today, in my opinion. Even those his yardage did not show it as much, he was dragging linbackers and knocking them over. Don't let Jamal Lewis go, the Ravens staff will be kicking themselves if they let him go, because he WILL produce yards next year. Signing him is a necessity and all those against it need to take a serious reality check.