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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ravens then and now: Lewis the link

Teammates expect their inspirational leader, ‘The Raven,’ to have them ready for team’s 2nd Super Bowl

Ravens owner Stephen J. Bisciotti gets a victory hug from Ray Lewis. (Associated Press)
David Ginsburg Associated Press

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – When the Baltimore Ravens last went to the Super Bowl, Art Modell was the owner, Brian Billick served as head coach and Trent Dilfer was the starting quarterback.

Now, 12 years later, they’re back with owner Steve Bisciotti, coach John Harbaugh, QB Joe Flacco and one significant link to both teams: Ray Lewis.

Drawing inspiration from Lewis, their long-time middle linebacker, the Ravens bullied their way past New England 28-13 Sunday night to win the AFC championship and set up a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. It ended a lengthy dry spell for a franchise with one Super Bowl appearance in its 17 years.

Lewis was voted Super Bowl MVP after the Ravens beat the New York Giants 34-7 on Jan. 28, 2001. He announced earlier this month that he would step into retirement after Baltimore completes its current playoff run, and his teammates were determined to make sure that didn’t happen before the Super Bowl.

“Ray is a guy who’s been here since the beginning of this franchise,” strong safety Bernard Pollard said Monday.

“He’s a guy who is ‘The Raven.’ We respect him when he speaks. Everybody stops and everybody hears him. He’s kept this team together, he’s kept this organization together in so many ways.”

Lewis knows what it takes to win. He knows about playing in the Super Bowl. Most of all, he knows how to get his teammates ready to play with unyielding intensity.

“Everyone knows what kind of player he is and what he’s meant to this team and this organization,” center Matt Birk said. “There’s probably not another leader like him.”

Lewis got to the Super Bowl in his fifth season, then had to wait until his 17th to get back. In between, Modell sold majority ownership to Bisciotti in 2004 and Harbaugh replaced Billick, who was fired after the 2007 season.

Harbaugh on Monday paid homage to Modell, who died in September, and voiced praise for the current owner.

“Art Modell is the foundation, the bulwark of this organization,” Harbaugh said. “He and Steve come from the same place, kind of how they see things.”

Dilfer, meanwhile, was released within months of his solid performance in the Super Bowl. He was replaced by Elvis Grbac, who played one season before retiring. The Ravens then went through a half-dozen starting quarterbacks, including Anthony Wright, Chris Redman, Kyle Boller and Steve McNair, before drafting Flacco in the first round of the 2008 draft.

Flacco took over as a rookie in the season opener and has started every game since.

A day after throwing three touchdown passes and outplaying the Patriots’ Tom Brady, Flacco couldn’t fully comprehend he’s going to the Super Bowl.

“I think we’re still on a little bit of a high from the game,” he said. “I don’t know if anybody quite believes it yet, but it’s pretty real.”