Ravens will fly Sunday without Lewis
The Baltimore Ravens officially ruled out linebacker Ray Lewis for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons with a swollen back.
Lewis underwent a minor surgical procedure to have a pocket of blood drained from his back earlier this week.
The seven-time All-Pro will miss his second consecutive game. He severely bruised his back when he collided with teammate Ed Reed’s knee in a Nov. 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Team officials are hopeful the surgery will allow Lewis to play next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“The other guys have to step up,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said Friday. “You don’t have that comfort zone of always leaning on Ray. They have to make sure they pick up that leadership role as well.”
The Ravens (7-2) are preparing versatile outside linebacker/defensive end Jarret Johnson to start at inside linebacker with former practice squad member Dennis Haley filling in on obvious passing downs. Starting inside linebacker Bart Scott will move over to play Lewis’ spot.
Lelie wins arbitration hearing
The Denver Broncos must pay $220,000 to former receiver Ashley Lelie in connection with the dispute over his departure to Atlanta.
“We derive no enjoyment having to go down this road in the first place,” Lelie’s agent, Peter Schaffer said. “We never relish having to contest anything with the Broncos.”
The ruling was reported by the Denver Post, which said an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Lelie in his grievance against the team.
Broncos officials declined to comment.
Lelie, who led the league in yards per catch the last two seasons, skipped the Broncos’ off-season workout program, forgoing a $100,000 bonus.
He said he wanted out of Denver because the Broncos were misusing him and weren’t giving him the chance to be the featured pass-catcher with Rod Smith and Javon Walker on the roster.
Around the league
Cleveland Browns running back Reuben Droughns will be a game-time decision and cornerback Leigh Bodden will miss Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. … Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was upgraded to probable and is expected to start Sunday in Cleveland despite sustaining the sixth concussion of his career last weekend. … New York Giants halfback Brandon Jacobs revealed that the league fined him between $5,000 and $10,000 for shoving a football underneath his jersey Sunday night to celebrate a touchdown run against the Chicago Bears. … Jack Hinkle, a former running back and defensive back with the Philadelphia Eagles for six seasons, died of natural causes in Norristown, Pa., at 89. … Leo Anthony Nobile, a former Pittsburgh Steelers player who almost drowned in a mud puddle under a pile of players during a game in the 1940s, died of kidney failure at 84 in Coraopolis, Pa. … A state appeals court in San Francisco threw out a jury’s $34.2 million award to the Oakland Raiders over accusations that managers of the Oakland Coliseum falsely promised a sold-out stadium to lure the team back to the Bay Area.