Ray Lewis called the possibility of playing for the Jets and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan a "great opportunity."

Then again, he used the same phrase in describing Dallas — and also referred to his current location, Baltimore, as "my city."

The Ravens linebacker, who is an unrestricted free agent, is in Honolulu for the Pro Bowl this week. When he sat down with the NFL Network yesterday for an interview, he was asked about several scenarios he might pursue as a free agent — including the Jets, who are coached by Ryan, who knows Lewis well.

"That's a great opportunity, reason being, we've been together for years," Lewis said.

Lewis said the two share the same "mentality."

"That relationship by itself is a match because of the relationship me and Rex have always had," said Lewis, 33. "That opportunity by itself looks attractive, seems attractive."

Lewis called playing in the media capital of the world part of the "upside" of New York, along with a Jets team he called a "young" one "that has a lot of talent."

"You try to wiggle No. 52 (Lewis' uniform number) in that equation somewhere, then that team goes from being OK to 'let's go win this,' " Lewis said. "That scenario by itself is always attractive."

Linebackers Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs also are Ravens free agents and also have expressed their admiration for Ryan. Free agency begins Feb. 27.

In the interview, Lewis was asked about playing in Dallas, home of enigmatic receiver Terrell Owens.

"I could definitely play with T.O.," Lewis said. "I see Dallas as a great opportunity. America's team."

He also expressed his affinity for Baltimore, where he has spent his entire 13-year career.

"There's nothing that I don't love about my city," Lewis said.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti hinted during his end-of-season news conference that he hoped Lewis would be open to taking a hometown discount to stay in Baltimore. Lewis said yesterday that will not be the case.

"I don't play less, so if you don't play less, you don't take less," he said. "That's just life."

UNION

NFLPA APPEALING PAYOUT TO RETIREES

The NFL Players Association is appealing a federal court decision ordering the union to pay $28.1 million to retired players for allegedly cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.

NFLPA interim executive director Richard Berthelsen told The Associated Press yesterday that the union contends the ruling "was wrongly decided by the jurors and that there was not sufficient evidence in the record on which to base the verdict they rendered."

A jury found in November that the union failed to include the retired players in deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the popular "Madden NFL" video game, and other companies.

The players' association filed its appeal Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Berthelsen said a timetable has not yet been established to hear briefings on the appeal.

PATRIOTS

NEW ENGLAND PUTS FRANCHISE TAG ON CASSEL

New England placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel yesterday, making it tougher for other teams to sign the free agent quarterback.

The Patriots might keep him if they have doubts that Tom Brady will be ready for the start of next season after sustaining a serious knee injury in the 2008 opener. If they're confident Brady will be ready, they could trade Cassel rather than pay him the $14.65 million offer for 2009 in the franchise designation.

Cassel remains a free agent, but the Patriots can match any offer made by another team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The franchise tag value is the average of the top five paid NFL players at a particular position.

If and when Cassel signs the one-year designation, he will be under contract to the Patriots and could be dealt.

ELSEWHERE

Law and order: Former Dallas receiver Terry Glenn was arrested on public intoxication and marijuana possession charges after appearing disoriented at a hotel, police said yesterday. The Jan. 25 incident came after a call of a suspicious person who was wandering the hallways checking door handles, said Irving, Texas, police officer David Tull.

Law and order II: Tennessee defensive end Jevon Kearse pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving yesterday in Nashville, Tenn. Kearse, who had been charged with drunken driving, was given six months' probation in General Sessions Court, fined $350 and will have restricted driving privileges for a year.

Law and order III: A prosecutor says Buffalo safety Ko Simpson has asked to enter a program that would remove from his record a charge of hindering police while they tried to make an arrest. Rock Hill, S.C., prosecutor Chris Barton said that Simpson likely will be accepted into the pretrial intervention program because he has no record and the charge is a misdemeanor. The program includes a requirement of at least 50 hours of community service.

Falcons: Atlanta offensive tackle Todd Weiner announced his retirement yesterday after an 11-year NFL career. The 33-year-old Weiner spent the past seven seasons with the Falcons after starting out with the Seattle Seahawks, who picked him in the second round of the 1998 draft from Kansas State.