Ravens retaining Suggs and Lewis

 Like James, he would have made millions. Like James, he would have joined a high-profile club. Like James, he would have gone to a larger market with greater visibility. But unlike James, he didn't budge. He re-signed with the Ravens, all but guaranteeing he ends his career with them. "I was never going to Dallas," Ray Lewis  said after Friday's morning practice. "The tragedy in what men sometimes don't understand, and I'm using 'men' when I'm speaking of LeBron James, is this: Don't ever leave what God has promised you to go chase something materialistic.

"A dream? It fades. I don't care who it is. It fades. That's why you can go year after year and champion after champion after champion, but not that many people ever get to keep a legacy for a lifetime."

Lewis almost surely will. He was chosen by the Ravens in the first round of the 1996 draft and became one of the league's premier defenders, named 11 times to the Pro Bowl, twice chosen the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, named to the NFL All-Decade Team and selected the Super Bowl XXXV MVP. But he could have left following the 2008 season when all three of Baltimore's starting linebackers -- Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott -- became free agents.

As it turned out, Scott followed Rex Ryan to the New York Jets, with the Ravens retaining Suggs and Lewis -- but not before the city of Baltimore played to a nervous drama. Lewis was a free agent for nearly a week before signing a three-year contract with the Ravens.

Though some persons speculated he might leave, he said he never considered the idea ... and he thinks James shouldn't have, either.

"Your advice to him?" I asked.

"Don't you leave," said Lewis, who played college football for the University of Miami. "For what? To go do what? That's the million-dollar question. Money? Rings? Power? The power is all here [in Baltimore]. This city right here. I don't care what I ever do, this will remain my city. I could never leave.

"It doesn't matter where I go in this city, whatever ... that's power from respect; [it's] not going to be a Heat player who adds to another legacy of somebody else's. Yeah, you're going to be a great player, but, nah, for me to think about leaving here? That's why I told my owners. People are speculating about me leaving or I'm doing this, I'm doing that. I took six days out of free agency to get away from all of this."

In the final 15 minutes of practice, coach John Harbaugh yelled out "last play," signaling the start of a drill that simulates a do-or-die scenario at the end of the game. With the ball placed somewhere outside the red zone, the offense has one play to get into the end zone, and the players treat it like a win really is hanging in the balance.

On the first attempt, quarterback Joe Flacco threw a long pass up the seam to Todd Heap, who snagged the pass inside the 1-yard line and was brought down by a couple of defenders. It was unclear if the ball broke the plane -- think Santonio Holmes' game-winning grab in Baltimore two seasons ago -- and mass confusion ensued.

One official ruled that it was short of the goal line, but another ran in and signaled a touchdown. As the two discussed the call, pretty much every Raven involved in the play swarmed them and loudly plead their cases. Terrell Suggs reached out and playfully grabbed Donte' Stallworth so he couldn't argue with the officials.

Finally, after several seconds, a yellow flag flew out from the middle of the huddle. Defensive lineman Cory Redding had stolen an official's flag and tossed into the air. The players froze for a second, then laughed, argued for another second or two and then the crowd dispersed.

In case you are wondering, the ruling was no touchdown. But the offense was given another chance at the 1-yard line, and Ray Rice scored untouched on a running back draw.