Ray Lewis Clarifies Comments on Brady, calls him ‘One of the All-Time Greats’

Ray Lewis, the former linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens, made a harsh comment about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, stating that the tuck rule is "the only reason we know who Tom Brady is." Despite the jab aimed toward the veteran quarterback, Brady took the high road and praised Lewis's game instead, and now, Lewis has clarified his comments, calling Brady one of the league's greatest players.

The situation, although resolved, started when Lewis, who is now a football analyst, ranted on the radio with ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith. Lewis, who was initially asked about the call that went against Cowboys' Dez Bryant in the fourth quarter, started to rant about the tuck rule and how it made Brady famous.

He said: "When we - the first time we created something called a tuck rule, it's the only reason we know - I'm just being honest! - the only reason we know who Tom Brady is, because of a tuck rule! There's no such thing as a tuck rule! If the ball is in your hand, and I knock it out your hand, whether it's going backwards, forwards, lateral, sideways, however it's coming out, that's a freaking fumble! But guess what we created? We created a freaking tuck rule!"

Lewis went on to say that without the tuck rule, Brady would not have won the Super Bowl and the legacy that he has today would not have existed.

"They don't go to that championship game - they don't go to that championship game if that tuck rule, if that ball is not called a tuck! That's a fumble! Charles Woodson made that man clearly fumble the ball and they named it the tuck rule, something that we've never heard in today's game. So now you've got to ask yourself: When did the legacy really start?"

Despite Lewis' rant, Brady remained composed when asked about whether or not he was aware of these comments. The veteran simply stated, according to the Boston Globe, "Everyone has an opinion. I think Ray's a great player; he's a first -ballot Hall of Famer. I was fortunate enough to play against him."

After Brady complimented Lewis, the former player went on twitter to 'clarify' the statements he made against Brady. Lewis stated that he was frustrated with the tuck rule and not with Brady, adding that the tuck rule did not belong in the league.

He finished his twitter rampage by praising Brady, tweeting, "I have immense respect for Tom Brady and everything he has achieved in this game. He will go down as one of the all-time greats."

The tuck rule is no longer a part of the rule book.

Brady's eye, which was poked by Ravens defensive tacking Timmy Jernigan last week, is still red. However, the eye should not bother him during this Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts.