Ray Lewis said he's not angry.
He's agitated.
On Tuesday, Lewis succinctly discredited and dismissed the Sports Illustrated report that he used a deer antler substance that contains an illegal NFL substance (IGF-1) in his recovery from a triceps injury this year.
On Wednesday, Lewis carried a smile on his face but went more on the offensive.
"I think it's probably one of the most embarrassing things that we can do on this type of stage," Lewis said. "The reason why I'm smiling and why it's so funny is because I never, never took what he said of whatever I was supposed to do. It's just sad that someone, once again, could have this much attention on a stage this big where dreams are really real."
Lewis never named Mitch Ross, the founder of S.W.A.T.S. who is at the center of the report, but he referred to him as a "coward" at one point and the "devil" in another.
"The guy has no credibility," Lewis said. "He's been sued four or five times over this same B.S. Just the entertainment, I can't, I won't and I just truly believe that he doesn't have the privilege for me to speak about it ever again."
Lewis continued to be asked questions, however. He struggled to hold his tongue, but was trying to remain unaffected.
He preaches to his teammates constantly that they, and only they, dictate their emotions and that other sources do not. Now that's being put to the test for Lewis in preparation for his final NFL game.
"Anything from the outside can never affect me to be angry," Lewis said. "I'm here to win the Super Bowl. I'm not here to entertain somebody that does not affect that one way or another."
Lewis talked with Head Coach John Harbaugh about the allegations. Harbaugh said Lewis laughed about it and told his coach that there's nothing to it.
"Ray's honest. Ray's straight forward," Harbaugh said. "He's told us in the past that he's never taken any of that stuff – ever. I believe Ray, I trust Ray completely. I know this man and I know what he's all about. It's just too bad it has to be something that gets so much play.
"I understand that that's something he's never, ever been involved with. It's kind of too bad that someone was given an opportunity to get some free publicity out there, undeserved, really for no reason. As a football team, it's not even a factor for us."
The Ravens said they won't be deterred by the distraction, which has taken over the Super Bowl media sessions.
"I tell [my teammates] all the time … don't let people from the outside ever come and try to destroy what's on the inside," Lewis said. "That's the trick of the devil. The trick of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy. That's what he comes to do."
Lewis' teammates stood behind their leader. They also said it doesn't provide additional motivation heading into Super Bowl XLVII. Instead of using it as a rallying cry, it seems the Ravens players are simply brushing the allegations aside.
"We're not really pissed off because we've kind of been getting it the whole playoff run," outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "Everybody's been trying to put a damper on the kind of run we're doing and the special things we're doing. We just take it in stride, man. We know exactly who our general is and we know who we are. We'll just continue to play football and we'll let everybody continue to say what they're saying on Sunday, Feb. 3."
Safety Ed Reed spoke to Lewis' work ethic.
"I know what he goes through physically and what he puts his body through to work out," Reed said. "The naysayers are going to be there. … At the end of the day, I know how hard Ray works."
