Former Steelers CB Bryant McFadden Recalls Ray Lewis' Weird Grass Eating Entrance

The Pittsburgh Steelers are having to move on from an ugly loss in Week 4 against the Houston Texans and prep for rivalry week against the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers and the Ravens matchup is one of the most fierce and anticipated in the NFL. It always seems like regardless of how either team's season is going, they bring their best to the table against each other. One former Steelers player spent some time recently reminiscing about his time in black and gold and how tough those Ravens games were. 

Former Steelers cornerback, Bryant McFadden co-hosts a podcast with his cousin and current Steelers cornerback, Patrick Peterson. The show is called All Things Covered and they recently did an episode recapping the devasting loss to the Texans and prepping for the big game against the Ravens.  

McFadden, who won two Super Bowls in Pittsburgh, told Peterson that nothing compares to playing the Ravens. Peterson is new to the Steelers in 2023, so this will be his first time playing the Ravens as a rivalry. McFadden said during his seven seasons in the NFL, he is 7-7 against the Ravens, 2 of those wins coming during the postseason and while there are a ton of great stories from that time, one player's entrance sticks out above everything else. 

"I've been a part of a lot of Ravens-Steelers matchups. I remember my rookie year, we were getting ready to play Baltimore, back in those days the game was more physical than it is now, like people were getting put to sleep left and right," recalled McFadden.

Of course, the rookie McFadden knew of the legendary Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, but he said he didn't really "know" about him. Lewis was a member of the Ravens' inaugural team as he was drafted the year the franchise was created, 1996. He helped the Ravens win two Super Bowls and was selected to a whopping 13 Pro Bowls. McFadden said that seeing Lewis' stadium entrance for the first time set the tone for him on how special Lewis was and how different this game would be. 

"For the 10 defenders that came before Ray, they had a different song. When Ray came out, they switched the whole song, they put on Nelly 'Hot In Herre,' the lights went to flicking. In Baltimore, they got field turf, but for Ray, they put a little pallet out of real grass. Because he eats grass and he throws it in the air and do 'The Squirrel.' Fire was coming from everywhere, it was like a Beyonce concert. I said, 'Oh! It might get ugly.'"

McFadden said the whole crowd went wild as Lewis did his signature move, the "squirrel dance," sliding left and right, thrusting his hips, and then pumping his arms and chest, while letting loose a huge war cry. The fans were going wild and the whole stadium was shaking he told Peterson.

That explained to him why his teammates were acting so differently before the game. He said the Monday prior to the game, the team was prepping, everyone was getting in extra workouts with more time in the gym and training room. As a rookie, he couldn't understand why. He said the vets told him he needed to get in extra work or otherwise his body wouldn't survive the punishment. He marveled at all the running backs sitting in the cold tubs up to their necks. McFadden said he didn't believe them. 

Steelers And Ravens Rivalry Is Built On Mutual Respect

McFadden said that this education continued when they arrived in Baltimore. Prior to Lewis' extraordinary entrance, the whole team showed McFadden just how much they respected Lewis and what he brought to the game of football.   

"This is my first time ever seeing Ray Lewis in person. So back in those days, they used to call you out as an individual. Ray was the last person, so I was trying to figure out why our entire sideline was standing up. I said, 'Why y'all standing up?' Usually, guys are warming up, going through prep right before the game. One of the old guys said, 'Ray about to come out."'

While the Steelers and the Ravens combine to make one of the most anticipated rivalries in the NFL, and they may seem to "hate" each other on the field, they show tremendous respect for the talent of the opposing team. The matchup seems to bring out the best in both teams and fans are guaranteed a highly physical game. 

The two teams have met 58 times, including four times in the postseason. Of those games, the Steelers have won 33 times and the Ravens have won 25 times. The games are always low-scoring affairs, a battle of the defenses. In the 58 games, the Steelers have scored 1,175 points and the Ravens 1,134.

While Lewis might be retired now, the game is not any less important. The Steelers, despite their 2-2 record, have the chance to take control of the AFC North with a win. The Ravens, currently leading the AFC North after beating the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 are fighting to hang onto their spot. 

What is your favorite Steelers-Ravens memory? What did you think of Lewis?