Here’s something you learn relatively quickly. It doesn’t matter if you’re an established veteran of journalism. It matters even less if you’re a Baltimore Ravens staff writer or a beat guy grabbing work when you can. Years must be invested to be as great with words as Ray Lewis was as a player.

He had it all. He had the football IQ, leadership, unquestioned skill, and passion, so even though he hasn’t put on his shoulder pads since February 2013, it doesn’t matter. When Ray Lewis speaks, we still feel compelled to listen and soak it all in.

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The Ravens‘ social media team asked him to do them a solid by sharing his thoughts on two Hall of Fame finalists. On Wednesday, they had Lewis, Ozzie Newsome, and Jonathan Ogden argue Marshal Yanda’s Hall-of-Fame case, and you know the old saying. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Ray Lewis, Ozzie Newsome, and Jonathan Ogden make Terrell Suggs’ Hall of Fame argument.

The next Hall of Fame class will be announced soon enough. Marshal Yanda and Terrell Suggs are both finalists. Making the case for their induction is easy. Any fan or media member can do that in their sleep, but just for kicks, how about we let three Ravens legends do the job for us?

It’s hard to follow that, but let’s try. Suggs is a two-time Super Bowl Champion. He’s a member of the Ravens Ring of Honor. This former PFWA All-Rookie Team Member was also named 2003 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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He only got better with time, eventually becoming a seven-time Pro Bowler. He was named Second-Team All-Pro in 2008 before becoming First-Team All-Pro and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011.

That résumé alone is extraordinary, but the man affectionately known as ‘Sizzle’ is more than an award winner. He was the edge-setter and a tone-setter. He helped define Baltimore for 16 seasons.

So, to back the poetic offerings of Lewis, Newsome, and Ogden, Suggs’ statement was pretty poetic in its own right. He’s one of the best to ever don the jersey. He’s more than deserving of having his bust carved and placed in Canton, Ohio.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens legends offer support for Terrell Suggs’ Hall of Fame induction