Ray Lewis was credited as one of the biggest leaders of the Baltimore Ravens during his time with the team. When Lewis retired the Ravens knew they had a big hole to fill, not only at the linebacker position, but also from a locker room perspective. Apparently Lewis feels like they have not done a good enough job of filling that void after Jacoby Jones was injured on a party bus.
Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed the TMZ report that wide receiver Jones was injured in a brawl on party bus early Monday morning. He was reportedly hit over the head by a champagne bottle from a stripper. Harbaugh promised the receiver, who is nurturing a knee injury, was fine and will be in team meetings.
Lewis believes lacking leadership created by himself and the departure Ed Reed as the reason for the incident.
"We talk about the transition of losing so many guys, a guy like myself and Ed Reed and other guys that are based off leadership, I've said it earlier: 'Where would the leadership come from?'" Lewis said on ESPN's Monday Night Football pre-show. "Because the leadership being strong in the locker room and winning games, listen talent sometimes can win you games. But when you talk about what's going on off the field, that's the most important place where leadership steps up."
Lewis notes that an incident like Jones' can be summed up to a lack of leadership because a leader would "find some way to dissolve everything that's going on and actually dissolve it before it comes to that type of head or even gets to that point."
Wide receiver Torrey Smith is disputing the report by Lewis that leadership is lacking in the locker room. He notes that leadership is not an issue with the Ravens and the former linebacker is simply overreacting to the original report. Smith believes the team has handled the situation and unless it becomes a habit, there is no real issue.
Fullback Vonta Leach is another Ravens player laughing at the idea that leadership is a big issue with the team.
"Leadership on our team is good," Leach said, via the Baltimore Sun. "I don't think necessarily there's a question about our leadership. It's bad publicity, but no one got hurt or arrested. It could have been worse. Things happen. It's all right."
Things seem to be ok from a locker room perspective despite what Lewis is claiming. Harbaugh remains displeased by Jones' decision considering he is still out with injury after hurting his knee in the season opener. The head coach notes that he spoke with both Jones and the entire team and things have been put to rest.
