Reading a statement on the arrest before he fielded a few questions, Ravens vice president for public relations Kevin Byrne said, "We have not had the opportunity to speak to Ray Lewis about this matter, and we can only hope that the charges against Ray are false. We recognize that this is a very difficult situation and we are concerned for everyone involved."

During a brief question-and-answer session, Byrne said virtually all of the information the Ravens were receiving regarding the Lewis arrest are coming from news reports out of Atlanta.

The murders occurred around 4 a.m. Monday near a nightclub in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. Police believe the two men who died were killed at knifepoint, not by gunfire.

An attorney for Lewis has claimed Lewis did not commit the crime but is being charged because he would not cooperate with police in giving them the information they seek with regard to the murders.

Byrne, in his statement, said, "We respect the investigative and judicial processes that are taking place. We are monitoring all of this as best as we can. This is a very serious matter to the Baltimore Ravens. Two young men died in Atlanta, and we offer our sympathies to their families and friends.

"At this point, this is all the Ravens will say until new information is available or circumstances change."

Ravens owner Art Modell was not available for comment.

"You guys are giving us more information than we know," Byrne said. "So we don't have much more than that. This is a very serious matter… We can only reiterate our hope that the charges against Ray Lewis are false.

"We've been in contact with (NFL security people) but, frankly, we're finding the information we have is information the media have."

Lewis also was charged with assault against a woman in a Baltimore area bar last fall before leaving the scene. But Byrne said it is "media speculation" that the team has raised concerns with Lewis about the kind of people with which he is surrounding himself.

Byrne added it is too early for the Ravens to be thinking of Lewis' status on the football roster.

"The only concern we have right now is really for the families and friends of the two young men who were slain. And concern and our hope that Ray is innocent of the charges," he said. "Beyond that, we really haven't thought about (Lewis' playing status). This is uncharted water. It is such a serious matter and one we take obviously very seriously."