After 16 seasons in the NFL, Ray Lewis is at peace with his status — as what many consider the best ever at linebacker, and as a regular visitor to Honolulu as a runner-up.

Ball So Hard University has produced its first crop of graduates. Matt Richey, Kenny Silkworth and Robert “McFreshington” Norton have put their heads together to pump out “Ravens Nation,” a song dedicated to Naltimore’s 12-4 jaunt through the regular season that continues Sunday with a home playoff game against the Texans.

There’s an art form to getting away with pass interference — offensive or defensive — in the NFL. Essentially, it’s about not being caught.

A total of 31 players in the history of the NFL have intercepted at least 50 passes. But few have done more after the theft than the always-exciting Deion Sanders.

NFL players crowned their No. 1 on NFL Network’s “The Top 100 Players of 2011″ on Sunday night, completing a 10-week voyage that generated as much controversy as it did consensus before coming down to yet another battle between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. This time, it was Brady’s hour.

In nine NFL seasons, Ed Reed has amassed 54 interceptions in 128 career games, trailing only Darren Sharper all time among safeties.

When it comes to the greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history, the list isn’t terribly long. So it came as somewhat of a surprise to us that two of the best players ever to don a St. Louis Cardinals uniform celebrate birthdays one day apart.

Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski improved to 2-0 after securing a first-round knockout of Richard Bryant on March 12. And Zbikowski has signed up for two more fights, too. So we turned to NFL Network’s Bob Papa — who in addition to be a top NFL analyst calls boxing for HBO and during the Summer Olympics — to get the scoop.

So how about it, just how legit is Zbikowksi?

Injured players Antonio Gates and Ed Reed, both voted as starters for the AFC, will not play in this year’s Pro Bowl.

The Ravens have jumped out to a 14-point lead with a number of big plays, and the Steelers need to do the same thing here in the second half.

Check out this video for today’s nominee for wild-card plays you just don’t see every day.

Ravens safety Ed Reed will play in Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Chiefs. He has battled a rib injury and also dealt with the possible disappearance of his brother.

Without a doubt, Week 17 of the 2010 season brought us a lot to chew on from a statistical standpoint.

A look at some of the notable injuries around the NFL in Week 17, starting wtih updates on Michael Oher and Haloti Ngata of the Ravens.

A look at some of the most notable numbers, ongoing streaks and best performances from around the league, starting with Tom Terrific.