Tom Brady and Ray Lewis. The quarterback and the middle linebacker. Finesse and force. They are former Super Bowl MVPs, masters of their crafts, and the faces of their franchises - the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. Today they clash at Gillette Stadium, with the winner earning a trip to Super Bowl XLVI Feb. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Lewis is the man in the middle of the Baltimore Ravens, the team he’s been with since its inception in 1996. He has led the Ravens onto the field for 16 seasons, including 2000, when the Ravens beat the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. He is 250 pounds of power, muscle, and emotion, and has made a living separating running backs and receivers from the football. He could make you fumble just by yelling at you.
Brady has been the Patriots quarterback since September 2001 and has won three Super Bowls. He has thrown 50 touchdown passes in a single season and today commands the most explosive, quick-strike offense in the National Football League. He scares no one but beats everybody. He is polite, soft-spoken, and makes his living carving up opponents with surgical precision. GQ named him one of the 25 coolest athletes of all time.
The contrasts could not be more clear: This is smashmouth vs. the perfect smile. Noise vs. calm. Brutal defense vs. electric offense. A guy who once ran with thugs vs. a guy who sells Uggs. Ray Lewis talks trash. Tom Brady takes out the trash, careful to separate his recycling articles.
There’s harsh history between these two franchise players. Everybody’s been on their best behavior this week, but after the Patriots beat the Ravens in a regular season game in 2009, Lewis complained about Brady begging for a roughing the passer call. “That’s not football,’’ Lewis said. “It’s embarrassing to the game.’’
Baltimore’s Mount Rushmore of Sports would feature Johnny Unitas, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken Jr., and Lewis. Here in New England, Brady goes up alongside Ted Williams, Bill Russell, and Bobby Orr.
In the 21st century, Brady is the golden child of New England sports. His shoulder pads have been sprinkled with stardust since he burst on the scene as everybody’s All-America QB a decade ago. He is the latter day Joe Montana, playing at his best under pressure, beating teams without bravado. Patriots teammates have acknowledged being in awe of their quarterback, and Bob Kraft thinks of Brady as a fifth son. The ever-gushing Bill Belichick goes so far as to say, “when Tom says something, we all listen.’’
Lewis makes everybody listen. You can hear him from the parking lot. Face-painted, neck veins bulging, the Ravens middle linebacker whips teammates into a lather before the start of every game.