[Lefty Noob]

The Baltimore Ravens have decided not to throw the franchise tag on RB Jamal Lewis, the 2003 Offensive Player of the Year. He only ran for about 900 yards this year and he had a ton of off-the-field problems with the cocaine conspiracy conviction. By franchising him they would have owed him $6 million. Word is they might still re-sign him, though.

Here's what surprises me. I assumed they'd let Lewis walk and Chester Taylor would be the new No. 1 back. But Taylor's a free agent too, and is NOT expected to resign with the team. Who structures contracts so that the top two runners on your depth chart become free agents in the same year?

[rmjvol]

Jamal's got unbelieveable talent. I've seen that since he was tearing it up at UT. But he's been so up & down the last few years and he's had a bit of an issue keeping his nose clean.

Hope he has a solid season in 2006.

[Mid-depth_Reporter]

Jamal Lewis? No thanks. His off-field problems create on-fields problems. In his short, five-year career, Lewis has 6,669 rushing yards. However, he only scored 36 touchdowns during that time.

Give me someone who can sniff out the white powder of the end-zone over the white-powder of the in-court-zone, anyday.