Ray Lewis apologizes to Ravens QB Joe Flacco for questioning his passion

Ray Lewis has apologized to Joe Flaccoafter questioning the Baltimore Ravens quarterback's passion for the game.

In a 2-minute, 20-second video posted on his official Twitter account Monday, Lewis, the former Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker, said his comments stemmed from frustration for not being able to emotionally rally the Ravens like he did for 17 seasons. The Ravens (5-5) are in first place in the AFC North, but they've lost five of their past seven games.

"I'm a Raven for life, but Joe Flacco, what I was talking about, my brother, it wasn't even about you," Lewis said. "It wasn't even personal. It was just me being frustrated of watching something that I had control over for so many years, which was men and inspiring them to go on and do things. And guess what, like everybody else, I lashed out at the quarterback, because quote unquote, that's the person who is supposed to carry us or do whatever."

On Thursday, Lewis told Fox Sports 1 that he saw talent from Flacco but never passion. A day later, Flacco said he has heard criticism about his demeanor throughout his career but was surprised to hear it come from Lewis.

In a video that appeared to be filmed in a car, Lewis apologized twice to Flacco on Monday. The video already had over 1,000 likes two hours after being posted.

"Brother, your personality is what it is," Lewis said. "You're a man, and you put your pants on one leg at a time just like everybody else. Listen, from a man, you'll never hear it again. Sorry for ever even calling out your name in the context of making you try to be anything that I am or anything that you're not."

Lewis and Flacco were teammates for five seasons (2008 to '12) and won a Super Bowl together in 2012, when Flacco was named the game's most valuable player. Flacco joined Joe Montana as the only quarterbacks to throw 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in one postseason.

"It's funny because I heard people speak all week about he carried me to a Super Bowl, he carried us to a Super Bowl," Lewis said. "Let me correct you. No, we carried each other. That's what champions do. That's what teams do. They carry each other."

At the end of the video, Lewis said he hopes Flacco can move on and focus on the big AFC North game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

"This is really for anybody: If you've wronged someone or you said something out your mouth that you know that you should correct, correct it," Lewis said. "Man to man. Woman to woman."