There’s no telling how effective Ray Lewis will be Sunday against the Colts after missing 12 weeks with a torn right triceps.
Fortunately, for the Ravens, he already has provided an emotional lift.
With his announcement that he will step into retirement after Baltimore completes its 2013 playoff run, Lewis gave the slumping Ravens a boost heading into their wild-card game.
“Just having him back on the field is an inspiration,” Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees said.
There are plenty of engaging story lines for this game, which pits Baltimore’s current NFL team against the one that left the city in a caravan of moving vans during a March 1984 snowstorm. The matchup features the return of Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, who served as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator last year and is back on the sideline after being treated for leukemia.
What’s more, Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell was head coach at Indianapolis for three seasons, culminating his up-and-down run with last year’s 2-14 debacle.
But nothing is more noteworthy than the pending retirement of the 37-year-old Lewis, who has been Baltimore’s starting middle linebacker for as long as the Ravens have been the Ravens.
On Sunday, Lewis will don his gear inside his home arena for perhaps the last time. He will then emerge from the tunnel to perform his ceremonial dance for the fervent, appreciative crowd.
“That’s when it’s going to hit me the most,” Ravens running back Ray Rice said. “That it could possibly be the last time coming through that tunnel.’’
Lewis has always had an impeccable sense of timing, and his calculated announcement served as a perfect example. Baltimore (10-6) needed a boost after going 1-4 in December, and Lewis provided it Wednesday by telling his teammates “this would be my last ride.”
49ERS: Placekicker David Akers said he received death threats on Twitter and has closed the account. Akers says the threats came last week. He reported them to team and NFL security personnel.
Akers, who has slumped this season, so much so the 49ers signed veteran Billy Cundiff on Tuesday to challenge him as San Francisco heads into a second-round playoff game next week, underwent double hernia surgery last February following his All-Pro season. Akers went to see the same doctor in Philadelphia this season to have injections.
VIKINGS: Cornerback Antoine Winfield did not practice yesterday and plans to wear a bigger cast on his broken right hand against Green Bay tomorrow night.
Winfield sat out all three practices this week, but did some individual work yesterday to test how the hand responded with a bigger soft cast. Winfield said he plans to play against the Packers.
So does quarterback Christian Ponder, who has been limited all week with a sore throwing elbow. Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder will be fine for the game.
SEAHAWKS:
Brandon Browner said he didn’t mind being forced to sit out the final four games of the regular season due to suspension because it was fun watching his teammates continue to roll toward the postseason.
Browner spoke for the first time since dropping his appeal on Dec. 5 of a four-game suspension for using a banned substance. The starting cornerback is expected to play Sunday in the Seahawks’ playoff opener at Washington, although coach Pete Carroll said he was not sure if Browner would start.
PACKERS: The team plans to cut off alcohol sales at the beginning of the third quarter for tomorrow night’s playoff game at Lambeau Field.
Normally, alcohol is sold through the end of the third quarter.