Lewis has his priorities in order

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis says he has important reasons to retire after this season — his sons.

Lewis has been one of the NFL’s biggest stars and greatest players during his 17-year career. He missed a large chunk of this season with an injury, and that allowed him to watch two of his boys play high school football. The eldest will be playing in college next season.

“I knew I couldn’t split my time anymore,” Lewis said this week. “When God calls, He calls. And He’s calling. More importantly, He calls me to be a father.”

That’s an important message particularly for the black community, where too many children are raised in homes without their fathers. Lewis himself was raised that way, and “that damaged me a lot,” he said. “I didn’t want my kids to relive that.”

He could have returned next season for big money, but Lewis clearly has his priorities in order.

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