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Q&A with SI's Peter King NFL makes mistake not suspending Lewis
Posted: Monday June 05, 2000 07:06 PM
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice as part of a deal that allowed him to avoid murder charges and jail time. CNNSI.com spoke with Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King about what impact the decision will have on Lewis, the Ravens and the NFL. CNNSI.com: The league has said it will not suspend Lewis. Will it reprimand him in any other way for his involvement in the crime? King: Since Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the brawl that led to the stabbing deaths of two men the NFL, by virtue of its violent crime policy, has the right to fine Lewis. But because he will not be convicted of the murders, the league will not suspend him. CNNSI.com: What do you think of the NFL's decision? King: I think it's a mistake not to suspend Lewis. Although he is perhaps most guilty of hanging with the wrong crowd, he at least in part obstructed the investigation into the deaths of two men. I don't understand why a couple of New York Jets [Jason Fabini and Matt O'Dwyer] can get into a bar fight and be suspended, and yet Lewis will not be suspended for being peripherally involved in the deaths of two men. CNNSI.com: Were the Ravens planning on Lewis returning all along? Some of their moves -- or non-moves -- indicate they may have been banking on him coming back. King: Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome told me last week that the Ravens would be looking for a backup linebacker in the current secondary free-agent market. Now, because Lewis probably will not miss any regular-season games, there may not be such a sense of urgency. I do think, however, that the Ravens will be looking for a minimum-salary inside linebacker -- someone like former Giants linebacker Corey Widmer -- to give them depth behind Lewis. CNNSI.com: What does Lewis mean -- as a football player -- to the Ravens? King: The reason why Lewis is so valuable to the Ravens is because, like Junior Seau in San Diego, he's listed as a middle linebacker but he really plays all over the field. He's a very willing run-stopper and one of the best linebackers in recent NFL history at covering running backs and receivers on short and intermediate routes. And he plays like a rabid dog. It's a treat to watch him. CNNSI.com: Will the team do anything about, as you referred to it, Lewis' propensity for 'hanging with the wrong crowd?' King: Only in that the Ravens will encourage Lewis to shed some of the bad influences of his Florida past. Everyone who knows Lewis has told me he's a good-hearted person who grew up hard in Florida. I believe the biggest problem the NFL has in dealing with its players getting into off-field trouble is exactly this: Too many bad apples from a player's past ingratiate themselves with the player and get him involved with things he probably wouldn't find himself involved with otherwise. This is what the NFL needs to address in trying to keep its players out of off-field trouble. CNNSI.com: How do you see envision Lewis' return? Will he be welcomed back with open arms? King: There's no question his teammates will receive him warmly. He is a well liked and professionally admired leader of that team. This isn't some John Rocker situation where half of the Braves wish they never had to see Rocker again. Lewis is popular and his teammates will not be put off by his involvement in this heinous crime. Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL for the magazine and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated.
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