The opinionated take of former Baltimore Ravens star and legendary linebacker Ray Lewis about his former teammate and Denver Broncos icon Shannon Sharpe has taken another turn, with fans and even the Hall of Fame tight end responding to the criticism.
During a discussion about Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ decision to trade Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, Sharpe turned his attention to Lewis’ comments.
He did not address them directly, but the message was clear.
Former Broncos TE Shannon Sharpe Choosing to be ‘Bigger Person’ in Ray Lewis Controversy
GettyFormer Denver Broncos star Shannon Sharpe attends a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces.
Sharpe went through an unceremonious exit from his post as an analyst for ESPN amid sexual assault allegations from a former girlfriend, which he settled out of court. Sharpe never mentioned Lewis, his Ravens teammate of two seasons (1999-2000) between Broncos stints.
“Whatever transpired, I’ll bite my tongue. I’ll be the bigger person. I’ll walk away. Hey, you right. Because, you know why? It’s low-hanging fruit,” Sharpe told Chad Ochocinco, his co-host on “Night Cap,” on August 30. “You know how I know? Cuz your boy, you looking at him. He low-hanging fruit, and there are a lot of people taking your shot at your boy.”
“Y’all can have it. Y’all got it, y’all got me. It’s all right.”
Sharpe, who won his first Super Bowl with the Broncos in 1997, has faced backlash for his response, as fans pointed out his stances on several issues, including matters of social justice.
Lewis’ issue was not with Sharpe’s success as a media personality. Lewis said he is “not surprised” that Sharpe is popular. Instead, Lewis accused Sharpe and others of peddling “ignorance.”
“I’m shocked at his content. I would in a million years, the things that Shannon has said now or did now, I would never believe that Shannon will say or do any of those things,” Lewis told Patrick Bet-David on the “PBD Podcast” in a clip shared on August 30.
“Take drinking. Shannon, in my entire career, I’ve never saw Shannon with a drink. Ever. Like, it was against the law, right, because he had some stuff in his family that he didn’t want to follow that. And, yeah, and then, so, I kind of started to watch him. And then, we kind of went our own separate ways because I’m like, ‘You’re going to take that route. I can’t go that route. Never can go that route.”
Lewis declared that he had too much respect for the women in his life to choose popularity, a path the ordained minister believes leads people away from God and to the devil.
He said that caused a personal split from the Broncos great, Sharpe, and several others.
Ray Lewis Under Fire After Shannon Sharpe Comments
GettyFormer Baltimore Ravens LB Ray Lewis looks on during the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games.
In addition to Sharpe, whom the Broncos drafted in the seventh round of the 1990 draft, fans are also coming for Lewis over hypocrisy, among other issues. Most notable was Sharpe’s defense during Lewis’ legal troubles during his playing days.
“Man if yall saw how Shannon was defending Ray when that #thing happened you’re as shocked as me that Ray would speak on him like that…,” one fan said.
“Cold game.”
Lewis was charged with double homicide in 2000, as his and Sharpe’s Ravens were preparing to play in the Super Bowl, after two individuals were stabbed at a party he was attending. Lewis went to jail over the charges but maintained that he had been falsely accused.
He has also said that tribulation was beneficial for him in the long run. He eventually beat the charges.
Sharpe was outspoken in his defense.
“I just wish the media, all 2,700 of you all, would print him being the best football player in the entire NFL with the same passion and the same prejudice you write that stuff about last year,” Sharpe said of the coverage Lewis received during that time, per Wayne Drehs for ESPN.com in 2000. “That’s all he asks. Give him a fair shake.”
Sharpe said at the time he loved Lewis “like I love my brother” and that “nobody knows him.”
“No one ever talks to him. Nobody wants to defend Ray publicly,” Sharpe said, per Drehs. They want to do so privately. I was aggravated with everything I had been reading, so I nominated myself for the job. There’s no question it’s important to be supportive of him.”
Ray Lewis, Shannon Sharpe Split Occurred Years Ago
GettyRay Lewis (L) and Shannon Sharpe (R) of the Baltimore Ravens celebrate after the AFC Championship Playoffs against the Oakland Raiders.
Another fan said Lewis “didn’t follow his own advice” about calling Sharpe to discuss their issues and even shared a clip of the legendary linebacker lambasting the TE on TV in 2017.
The comments followed Sharpe, who retired from the Broncos in 2004, expressing disappointment with Lewis on “Undisputed” over the ex-Ravens star’s take on player protests during the National Anthem.
Sharpe also responded to that call-out.
Lewis and Sharpe were rivals as members of the Ravens and Broncos, respectively, longer than they were teammates. Their once strong friendship seems to have eroded completely.
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