LEMON: The Super Bowl down in New Orleans marks the end of a great NFL career for Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis. The Ravens chose him in the first round way back in 1996. Now he is hoping to head into retirement with a Super Bowl victory. Our Rachel Nichols has more from outside the Superdome.</s>RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN AND TURNER SPORTS: Ray Lewis, one way or the other, win or lose, he said he is walking away from the game. And really an interesting moment. Because over his 17-year career he's not only become for fans just such a presence. You're used to him being the premier middle linebacker really for his entire career, but for other players as well. Over the past decade I would say he's become kind of the godfather of a lot of NFL players to the point where dozens and dozens of other players, not just on his own team, but around the league regularly talk to check in with him, ask him for advice. I think some of that will continue once he leaves the game. But obviously, it's going to be a bit of an end of an era for many people around the league when Ray Lewis walks off the stage. There's fans who are conflicted about that, given some of his history both on the field and in the courtroom. But there is no question that for the players on his team, the emotion he's shown this week to them, it's not over the top. They say that for them they feel just this incredibly strong rush. As Ray Rice, one of his teammates, the running back on the Ravens, has called it a rush of destiny. They feel that they're going to feel it walking out of the tunnel today and maybe the fans will, too. They think it's going to be a big part of them winning this game. We'll have to see if it does come true.</s>LEMON: All right. Thank you, Rachel. International controversy over Iran's claim of launching a monkey into space. Iran's government says it has an explanation. You'll hear that story. That's next.
Ray Lewis Playing Final NFL Game