Now the 2006 Rookie of the Year will play the Baltimore Ravens and Ray Lewis, one of the top linebackers of all time.

"When you talk about middle linebackers, he's the guy," Ryans said. "He's the guy that everybody looks up to. Everybody wants to be the Ray Lewis of their team. The type of leader that he is, the way he has all his guys rallied around him, that's the template for every other middle linebacker on his team."

Ryans remembers first watching Lewis when the Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2001. He was impressed with the way any shot of him would just show him and a running back because he was so fast.

Lewis and Ryans spent time together at the Pro Bowl this year. Ryans said the 13-year veteran has an aura about him.  READ MORE