Multiple league sources have informed us that All-Universe linebacker Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens has fired his agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker.
The reasons for the move are unclear. Two years ago, Barnes and Parker negotiated on Lewis's behalf a seven-year deal worth $50 million, with a $19 million signing bonus.
Barnes and Parker also were instrumental (we assume) in hooking up the curiously marketable former murder suspect with a deal to serve as the cover boy for EA Sports' Madden NFL 2005 video game, along with other endorsement deals.
Earlier this year, Lewis reportedly plunked down a sum in excess of one million to settle one of the wrongful death lawsuits resulting from the January 2000 incident that left two guys dead following a brief encounter with Lewis and his crew or posse or whatever the right word is for marauding group of thugs. With no immediate need for someone to negotiate a contract on his behalf, given that five years remain on the existing deal, perhaps Ray is hoping to redo his existing contract -- perhaps by converting future payments into a bonus.
Even if Lewis isn't looking for a new deal, his new agent (whoever it might be) has an incentive to work something out, since he won't earn any money under the deal negotiated by Barnes and Parker.
