(NECN: Josh Brogadir, Foxboro, Mass.) - There's been a lot of talk about the Raven's Ray Lewis retiring after this season, and Patriots fans are hoping to see that happen Sunday night at Gillette Stadium.
But we caught up with another Ray Lewis - one that's already retired and is rooting for the Patriots.
Needham, Mass. resident Ray Lewis has been retired for 21 years - longer than the Raven's Lewis has been playing football.
In Patriots country, it's a tough week to be Ray Lewis.
The 37-year-old face of the Ravens, who could be playing in the last game of his career Sunday in the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium, is not exactly a fan favorite around New England.
Even this billboard along I-93 spells it out, clocking the countdown to Ray's retirement party.
But we caught up with another Ray Lewis - one that's already retired and is rooting for the Patriots.
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Needham, Mass. resident Ray Lewis has been retired for 21 years - longer than the Raven's Lewis has been playing pro football.
"Raymond Alonzo Lewis."
"And you go by?" We asked.
"Ray Lewis," he said.
And the Wakefield, Mass.-native - a veteran, a truck driver for many of his 83 years and lifelong Patriots fan - doesn't think much about his namesake when stacked up against someone else suiting up on Sunday.
"I believe he's a little bit of a show off. Now Brady, if you want to compare Brady and him. Brady is a man who gets up there and does his job," Ray Lewis said.
"So Tom Brady is better than Ray Lewis even though he has your name?" we asked.
"There could be a dog out in the street with my name too," Ray Lewis said laughing.
Linebacker Ray Lewis gets right in the middle of the action. We found out other Ray Lewis's are more elusive. We called more than a dozen, not many wanted to talk, most numbers were not in service.
Our search for Ray Lewis took us to the Schrafft Center in Charlestown.
"(My given name is) Raymond D. Lewis. I go by my middle name Dan. I was brought up as a third, my father was a Jr, so rather then being confusing having people call and ask for a big Ray or little Ray, I just went by my middle name Dan," said another Ray Lewis.
So this Ray Lewis works in information technology, and though he's lived in New England for 18 years, there's no information around that will convince him to cheer against the other Ray Lewis this weekend.
"(My team is) the Dolphins. I was very young when they went undefeated. And for some reason it stuck with me always a Dolphins fan, Dan Marino, great team," Ray Lewis said.
Give that other Ray Lewis some credit, 13 pro bowls, 17 years in the league.
Both Ray Lewis's we spoke with tonight predict the Patriots will beat Ray Lewis and his Ravens on Sunday.
