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Ray Lewis: Work ethic makes Tom Brady “the greatest”

Divisional Playoffs - Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Linebacker Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens reacts after a play against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

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Ray Lewis has no objection to finishing behind Tom Brady on NFL Network’s list of the best players in the NFL.

Lewis, the Ravens linebacker who came in fourth place, says that Brady, the Patriots quarterback who came in first, deserves his lofty ranking because “he was willing to go beyond limits that people won’t go to.”

Brady is such a star both on and off the field these days that it’s easy to forget that Brady was once a rookie just hoping to make an NFL team, and that he did so much during his first NFL offseason that the Patriots’ coaches named him the hardest worker in the team’s conditioning program.

But Lewis, who refers to Brady as “the greatest of greats,” hasn’t forgotten that.

“You don’t find too many people playing that’s willing to sacrifice that much time to doing that,” Lewis said. “That’s why Tom Brady will always be considered one of the greatest of all time.”