Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is entering the final year of his contract.  The team has made clear its intention to keep him.

But if a deal is going to happen between the two sides, it’s apparently not coming any time soon.  According to Adam Schefter of NFL Network, talks between the Ravens and the MVP of Super Bowl XXXV are at a standstill.

Offers have been exchanged, but the gap is simply too wide.

If the Ravens can’t reach a new agreement with Lewis by February 2009, it’ll be interesting to see whether they apply the franchise tag to him.  Our guess is that the team wisely would opt not to risk angering the unquestioned leader of the team by restricting his ability to field other offers.

Owner Steve Bisciotti hinted several weeks ago that Lewis would indeed get an opportunity to hit the market — but that the Ravens would also top any offers that Lewis might find elsewhere.  “If he becomes a free agent next year, I think the Ravens would probably outbid other teams,” Bisciotti said.

What Bisciotti might have been saying is that he believes that other teams won’t break the bank for a guy who turns 33 a week from today, and who has experienced more wear and tear than a bunk bed in a brothel. 

But our guess is that some other team will park a big money offer on Ray’s front porch.  And, by the way, Ray’s kid brother currently plays for the Cowboys.