BALTIMORE (AP) – If Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis runs into Vinny Testaverde and Eddie George during pregame warmups today, he will greet them with an affectionate hug.

After the opening kickoff, Lewis will seek to again wrap his arms around his friendly rivals. He will then attempt to deposit both members of the Dallas Cowboys onto the unyielding artificial turf.

Testaverde and Lewis played together on the Ravens for two seasons, and Lewis has been banging helmets with George since they entered the league in 1996. Baltimore’s All-Pro standout has enormous respect for both players, but that won’t stop him from hunting them down Sunday and doling out no small measure of punishment.

“I’m always excited to play against Eddie,” Lewis said. “Eddie’s a good friend. Eddie’s one of those classic warriors that you love to step onto the football field with. He’s going to do his thing, I’m going to do my thing, he’s going to talk, I’m going to talk.”

Lewis and George used to run into each other – literally – on a regular basis when George carried the football for the Tennessee Titans, who were in the same division as the Ravens. Realignment ended that duel, but George’s move to the Cowboys during the offseason brought about one more clash between the former first-round picks.

“For him to be in Dallas, and now we’re playing them, everything has run its course,” Lewis said.

The Lewis-George confrontation used to receive attention because both players were stars on Super Bowl contenders. The Ravens (6-3) still have designs on winning the championship, but the Cowboys (3-6) are in the midst of a nightmare season after going 10-6 a year ago.

There are plenty of reasons for the demise of the Cowboys, although little blame has been heaped upon the 41-year-old Testaverde. Yet plenty of Dallas fans are calling for Drew Henson, 24, to take over at quarterback.

It’s a situation that Testaverde knows too well. After being run out of Tampa Bay early in his career, he latched on with the Cleveland Browns, who moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens in 1996. Testaverde threw for 4,177 yards and 33 touchdowns in 1996, then put up credible numbers in 1997. But he was benched in the latter part of the year and left Baltimore in a huff. He returned to Baltimore with the New York Jets in 2000, coming up short in a 34-20 defeat, and was ultimately displaced by Chad Pennington. Now Testaverde is clinging to the starting job while looking over his shoulder.

“It’s their decision, and I don’t have to like it,” he said.

Testaverde’s quarterback rating is 84.4, far better than the Ravens’ Kyle Boller (70.4), but Boller has the backing of running back Jamal Lewis and a Ray Lewis-led defense.

“He can tear you apart, surgically rip your heart out,” Ravens coach Brian Billick said of Testaverde.

Ray Lewis said, “Vinny, to me, is one of the most accurate throwers in the game. I don’t think you can sit back there and let Vinny throw the ball all day. You have to get in his face and don’t let him get comfortable.”

As far as Testaverde is concerned, it’s better to be uneasy in the pocket than to watch from a comfy spot on the sideline.

“I’ll continue to go out and try to help this team win football games,” he said. “That’s the way I’ve always approached it.”

AP-ES-11-18-04 1742EST