Rarely do football players sign seven-year contracts, then play each year on the deal. Baltimore’s Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis did.

Lewis played each of the seven years in the contract without it ever being redone or extended. Now, after this season, the contract is up, and there are questions about his future.

He wants to stay in Baltimore, the Ravens want him there, and the two sides figure to be smart enough to hammer out a deal. But so far, they haven’t come close, leading to the possibility that Baltimore might be forced to slap the franchise tag on Lewis, something that would not sit well with him.

The two sides have bigger concerns for now, mainly locking up an elusive playoff spot. But soon enough, the two sides’ focus is going to shift to their futures.

Seeing Lewis in a different uniform would be extraordinarily odd. But then, so is seeing quarterback Brett Favre in a Jets uniform.