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 ESPN's Ed Werder looks at Brian Billick's lecture to the media regarding Ray Lewis.
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ESPN's Chris Mortensen looks at Kerry Collins' candid news conference with the media.
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One year later, the victims' families reflect on the Super Bowl murders.
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 Brian Billick is disturbed with the focus being on the Ray Lewis murder case.
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Brian Billick says Ray Lewis will speak "one time only" about the happenings at last year's Super Bowl.
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Tuesday, January 23
Collins, Lewis forced to face troubled pasts
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- Ray Lewis and Kerry Collins bring high-profile stories -- as well as high-profile pasts -- to Super Bowl XXXV.
A year ago, Lewis, the Ravens' Pro Bowl linebacker, was arrested in the murder of two people outside an Atlanta nightclub. He reached a plea bargain with prosecutors in exchange for his testimony -- and pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
Collins rebounded from alcohol and racial problems with Carolina and New Orleans to lead the New York Giants to the Super Bowl.
Their problem until Thursday morning is getting through more than
four hours of probing by the national media. No matter how many times they
tell their stories, they will be asked to recount them again and again. No matter how they
try to avoid reliving painful memories, inquiring minds still want to know.
And know. And know.
Last Thursday, Lewis sat at his locker at the Ravens' headquarters. A
reporter asked him if he didn't mind being asked questions about his murder
trial. "It's a free country," Lewis said before pausing while thinking
about the time he spent in jail. "Sometimes."
Reporters snickered. Lewis was in a good mood. Of course, there were
only two dozen reporters around him in Baltimore. Several hundred will await his
responses at Tuesday's Media Day at Raymond James Stadium.
Collins, who has told his story often this season, indicated that he would answer questions about his past this week on Monday only. The rest of
the week would be devoted to talking football.
Lewis has avoided talking about the events of last January. He spoke at length with ESPN The Magazine's Dan LeBatard and has broached the subject in television interviews. But he's tried to avoid it in regular sessions with the media this season.
"You can ask any question you want to ask," Lewis said. "And I
can answer any question the way I want to answer it."
That likely means Lewis will try to dodge questions in Tampa. He was fined $250,000 by the NFL and has appealed. The NFL is still considering the matter and has yet to make a ruling.
For Lewis, the irony is striking: He returns as a player to the Super Bowl a year after the Super Bowl postgame party almost destroyed his life and career. What a ride.
"It's not a bigger ride because of what happened in the last Super
Bowl," Lewis said of last year's problems. "The biggest ride is that I'm
in the Super Bowl. The biggest accomplishment is that I'm in the Super Bowl
at the age of 25.
"My mind is on the game. I know I have to do the media. For me, it
doesn't matter. I'm in the Super Bowl. The question is only brought up when
people bring it up. I'll deal with it to a certain extent. But that's not on
my mind."
The fact that both players are here will be testaments to how their
experiences changed them -- outwardly for the positive. Collins was out of control in
Carolina and New Orleans. Drinking got the best of him. It affected his
relationship with teammates when, after a few belts, he allegedly muttered a disparaging
remark to a couple of minority teammates.
His problems were ultimately on display after he signed with the
Saints and had a game in Carolina. Saints coach Mike Ditka trusted him
enough to let him stay overnight in Charlotte to visit friends. He was
arrested for a DWI and further embarrassed the Saints by coming out of
the police station chomping on a cigar.
What saved him was coming to a Giants organization that has a great
support system. The Giants have a staff psychologist and an owner with patience.
Christian Peter, drafted and then cut by the Patriots because of a troubled past in college, has done well in New York.
General manager Ernie Accorsi gambled and won on Collins, giving him a four-year, $16.9 million
contract which now looks like a bargain. Now, Collins is valued and secure enough to speak to players in
symposiums about his problems.
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I've accepted it. My
story is going to make people talk about it even more. And the success I
have I hope will be a success that will help others. ” |
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— Kerry Collins, Giants quarterback |
"I've accepted it," Collins said of his troubles this summer. "My
story is going to make people talk about it even more. And the success I
have I hope will be a success that will help others."
Lewis and Collins don't profess to be role models in life. But their
pasts can positively influence more players than some model citizens can
touch. Take, for example, Ravens halfback Jamal Lewis.
All rookie draft choices are required to attend a symposium run by the league every summer. Ray Lewis spoke about how the people you hang around could get you in trouble. Like many, Jamal Lewis followed the Ray Lewis trial. His words left a positive imprint in his lifestyle. Now as teammates, the two Lewises are tight.
"Ray made a big impression on people, particularly with him being
innocent and everything," Jamal said. "He said to be careful who you hang
around with. It was a big influence on a lot of people at that symposium."
Defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis didn't think there was a major
change in Ray upon his return to the team following the trial. As a player, Ray
was a coach's dream. He was responsible and talented. Ravens coach Brian
Billick reminds people that Ray is only 25 and is young and sometimes
dumb. Young and dumb can lead to mistakes, and those friendships put him in
bad situations that let him live on an unnecessary edge.
"Ray just has such a magnetic personality," Marvin Lewis said.
"He's such a responsible person. I'm a better person because of him. He
works so extremely hard, and the guy doesn't have a bad day."
Marvin Lewis said that Ray has only taken himself out of three
practices in five years. One was four days before the AFC championship game
against Oakland. His knees were sore and tired. He needed rest.
"With Ray, what you see in games is what you see on the field in
every practice," Marvin said. "He just goes out there and does it on every
snap."
Marvin Lewis sensed early that Ray was maturing because he listened
to thoughts he ignored for four years. His defensive coordinator preached to
Lewis that he didn't have to make every play. "Take a breath," Marvin told
Ray. At the end of last year, Ray tried to do everything.
"Now he realizes that he doesn't have to make every tackle,"
Marvin said. "That's been the biggest growth as a player he has made. He
knows he has a group of guys around him who can make plays. Once he
understood he didn't have to be Superman, that enabled him to be that much
better of a player."
Superman works within a team concept for a team that believes in
him. During troubled times, you learn who your friends are. That way Lewis
will never forget the emotional support of the Shannon Sharpes, Art Modells
and others.
Lewis and Collins are on the pedestal this week. Now, they aren't
proud of their past. But others can learn from their mistakes.
John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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