After years of resisting the notion of extending the contract of middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens are suddenly singing a dramatically different tune.

Owner Steve Bisciotti made it clear on Monday that the Ravens hope to extend the contract of the Super Bowl XXXV MVP, which contract expires after the 2008 season.

Bisciotti even took it a step farther, promising to outbid other suitors in the event that Lewis hits the open market.

“If he becomes a free agent next year, I think the Ravens would probably outbid other teams,” Bisciotti said, according to the Baltimore Sun.   “We know Ray’s value more than the other teams.  We know the leadership he brings to the team.  We know the commitment and the effort he gives to winning.”

Lewis will earn a base salary of $6.5 million in 2008 under the final year of a deal that was supposed to be his retirement contract.  Lewis made noise about getting an extension (and another $20 million or more in guaranteed money) a couple of years ago, but the team consistently resisted.

Of course, there’s no need to outbid anyone if the Ravens were to use the franchise tag on Lewis.  Currently, the franchise tag has been applied to defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs.

Bisciotti’s goal in vowing to outbid any other team might be to scare them away.  Then again, if it’s clear that the Ravens will do whatever they have to do to keep Lewis, and if the franchise doesn’t want to potentially alienate him via the franchise tag, another team (like the Bengals) could drive up the price merely to force the Ravens to commit more cap room to Lewis.